Festival allows students to practice animation skills
Four SDSU students will travel to the national Kalamazoo Animation Festival.
Andrew LaFrance
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: News
To be considered for KAFI, each team's students must submit a four-minute reel of their work. Hardin said the reel was of each individual's work, but that they seemed to work well together as a team.
"These students really stepped up to the plate when they submitted their entry to this competition," Hardin said.
SDSU's acceptance to the competition might have come as a surprise since classes such as classical animation and a motion class for graphic designers are new to SDSU. Hardin said students of any major can take a class.
"The program may be very new, but we're making a great effort. We have journalism and biology majors in our classes right now. Animation can take a huge effort, but when it is achieved, it pays off big."
The four students traveling to Michigan are hoping that their efforts pay off in the competition as well as in the classroom.
"One person can think of something that, with a team effort, can spawn into an even better and bigger idea," Biewer said. "That's the neat aspect about working with a team."
Hardin said he is hopeful that SDSU's team will win.
"The winning teams get scholarships for their animation departments. It would be neat to be able to expand our new department further."
Still, no matter what happens at KAFI, the students hope to enjoy themselves.
"I look forward to animating a film in such a short amount of time," Lobien said.
Biewer agrees. "Actual animation studios may not have such extreme deadlines, but this competition is designed to test you."
Hardin said he is sure that the SDSU team is ready.
"Our team has never gone before. I hope we can be the wildcard and bring some unique perspective since we are from a location that is totally different.
"But whatever happens," Hardin said, "the students will have fun and learn a lot about intense artistic collaborative effort."
More information about KAFI can be found at www.gokafi.com.
"These students really stepped up to the plate when they submitted their entry to this competition," Hardin said.
SDSU's acceptance to the competition might have come as a surprise since classes such as classical animation and a motion class for graphic designers are new to SDSU. Hardin said students of any major can take a class.
"The program may be very new, but we're making a great effort. We have journalism and biology majors in our classes right now. Animation can take a huge effort, but when it is achieved, it pays off big."
The four students traveling to Michigan are hoping that their efforts pay off in the competition as well as in the classroom.
"One person can think of something that, with a team effort, can spawn into an even better and bigger idea," Biewer said. "That's the neat aspect about working with a team."
Hardin said he is hopeful that SDSU's team will win.
"The winning teams get scholarships for their animation departments. It would be neat to be able to expand our new department further."
Still, no matter what happens at KAFI, the students hope to enjoy themselves.
"I look forward to animating a film in such a short amount of time," Lobien said.
Biewer agrees. "Actual animation studios may not have such extreme deadlines, but this competition is designed to test you."
Hardin said he is sure that the SDSU team is ready.
"Our team has never gone before. I hope we can be the wildcard and bring some unique perspective since we are from a location that is totally different.
"But whatever happens," Hardin said, "the students will have fun and learn a lot about intense artistic collaborative effort."
More information about KAFI can be found at www.gokafi.com.
The Collegian is not responsible for any comments made by contributors below.
However, The Collegian will exercise its right to moderate and edit comments which are deemed to be offensive or unsuited to the subject matter of this site.
Be the first to comment on this story