Moana motivates budding animators

Students of Southern Cross Campus (SCC) who have shown an interest in animation now have access to 15 specially set up computers.

Donated by the Animation College, the students will learn all there is to the art - from preproduction through to the finished product.

Animation College sales and marketing director and 2D animator, Gene Harris saw a real need to help the students at SCC after seeing they didn’t have PCs set up for animation.

‘‘There are a lot of super talented kids in south Auckland and we are keen to provide some exciting new opportunities and career paths for them,’’ he says.

He has also been talking to software partners to offer access to digital software training and computer hardware.

Through access to their supplier partner Xcerio who offers certification for digital software, they have discussed providing a ‘‘free login to online learning tools, specifically training in Adobe Creative Suite,’’ he says.

Year 12 student and animation enthusiast, Natalia Natini says the latest Disney flick Moana has inspired her to get serious about it. She wants to learn how to ‘‘control cartoon characters’’.

If she had the chance to create her own animation film, she says it would be based on Polynesian characters.

Another student, Mahuta William says he would base his characters on the Japanese manga series Naruto and ninjas.

‘‘Naruto influences me to cre- ate my own characters,’’ he says.

Most of the students have shown an interest in drawing characters like Manga and anime.

‘‘A lot of our students are into Naruto and Dragon Ball. At the art department, we broaden that [interest] with local influences. We look at the animation that has come through New Zealand,’’ Head of Visual Arts at the school, Susie Gilroy says.

The school’s principal Robin Staples says it’s about understanding new career opportunities for the students.

‘‘It’s not only about the money for the hardware and software, it’s about seeing how animation works in careers for the kids. And the connection of traditional art with digital animation is hugely exciting.’’

A new Animation College Manukau campus is set to launch in April delivering a Diploma in Applied Animation Level 6.