By Randall Mah
In fall 2001, the long-awaited animation major will be officially accepting students into the program.
The program has been in the making for nearly 10 years, said Associate Professor of industrial design and animation, Brent Adams. Until now, students who desired to enter the animation industry have taken plenty of extra animation classes while majoring in other areas of interest, Adams said.
Beverly Thong, 21, from Mukilteo, Washington, majoring in animation, said she is one step closer to making her dream come true.
'It has been my life long dream to see my name in the credits of a big production movie,' Thong said. 'I didn''t want to be that Chinese girl that majored in accounting. I wanted to be different.'
According to Adams, the program is different because it allows undergraduates access to the super computer and the interactive reality auditorium, something most programs do not offer.
'Our competition is private art schools that cost from $10,000 to $12,000 per semester and do not have the facilities we do,' said Adams.
Special resources that make the animation majors competitive in the industry include a 15 million dollar super computer and an interactive virtual reality auditorium equipped to view stereo video. Students who choose the animation major are strongly encouraged to minor in computing to increase their marketability.
'The goal of the animation major is to create leaders to influence the industry,' Adams said.
Industry and faculty mentors are a critical part of the program.
Some of the already committed industry mentors are BYU graduates who are successful in the animation industry, Adams said.
Vern Wilbert, an animation supervisor at Digital Domain, received a B.F.A. for industrial arts from BYU five years ago. Since then, Wilbert has received two Cleo awards. Digital Domain was responsible for the effects in the 'Grinch' and 'Titanic.' Wilbert also received an Academy Award for the effects in 'What Dreams May Come.'
Dan Lemmon, effects lead at Digital Domain, received a B.F.A in industrial design from BYU and has worked on 'Titanic' and 'Fight Club.'
For information about major requirements visit http://byu.edu/cfac/animation/Animation_homepage.htm.