Officials of Cal State Northridge's
Animation Area are proud to announce its acceptance into SONY's Imageworks Professional Academic Excellence program (IPAX), strengthening CSUN's enduring relationship with SONY.
The IPAX program is designed to develop faculty and student exposure to real-time production issues and the standards expected of future artists. Northridge's acceptance into the program will ensure opportunities for student internships as well as invitations to SONY's educational programs.
"We are very proud that our animation area has been accepted into Sony IPAX's program," said
Mary Ann Trujillo, coordinator of the animation program at CSUN. "It is great that the industry has noticed our program and that we have been growing due to the work and experience of our outstanding faculty."
Each year, the IPAX program does a review of curriculum for each school inducted. The review ensures the incorporation of the latest developments in technology and techniques used not only at Imageworks but throughout the visual effects and digital animation industry.
Located within 20 minutes of the heart of the industry, CSUN's animation program facilitates student participation in the industry events and internships with Disney, DreamWorks, Warner Brothers, Nickelodeon and Film Roman.
Some of the program's alumni include
Robert Castaneda, director of animation for Technicolor Interactive, whose work includes games "Gears of War" and "God of War II" as well as computer animation for the film "The Matrix Reloaded;"
Artak Avakyan, cinematic animator for Sony Computer Entertainment America, whose work includes the games "God of War II" and "True Crime;"
Chance Raspberry, character layout artist for Film Roman Studio who worked on "The Simpson Movie;" and
Tyree Dillihay, a director and flash animator and development artist currently working on a project for BET.
Trujillo said a strong relationship between the school and animation industry serves to attract top students at CSUN.
"The animation industry demands the brightest, most talented students with good work ethic," she said. "When students see the industry reaching out to us at CSUN, they realize that their dream of a creative career can come true if they work hard enough. It definitely motivates students to excel."