The much anticipated Services SETA and Cape Film Commission-funded Animation Industry Development Initiative (AIDI) officially launched The Animation Academy at the False Bay College, Good Hope Campus on 25 March 2010.

The launch is a culmination of the 16-month pilot project to develop talented young animators in the Western Cape.

The theme of the event will be “Bridging the digital divide - creating sustainable employment in the film industry for the youth of Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain.”

The CFC and the film industry have committed themselves to create a strong animation and new media industry and to this end they have pledged their support to help facilitate the creation of 10 000 jobs by 2030 within the Animation Industry on the Cape Flats.

The Services SETA and the Cape Film Commission has made 100 bursaries available to students from Cape Town’s underprivileged communities to study the National Certificate in 2D Animation at the Animation Academy network. 

The Animation Academy will not be an outreach programme but will be established on the Cape Flats so as to contribute to alleviating poverty and creating jobs.

False Bay College is enthusiastic to be the base of operations for the academy. “Of course we’re thrilled. The Animation Academy is an academy of excellence,” says Gary Kachelhoffer, who heads up the Khayelitsha campus of False Bay College.

In the first year, placements will be offered to 120 students: 100 are bursaries, 10 are Animation School students and 10 are from Learn 2. These 120 will be divided into two groups, where one half will study at the Mitchells Plain campus and the other at the Khayelitsha campus.

The curriculum is similar to the one used by City Varsity, where Gary previously held the post of head of animation, but he insists that the Academy students will be getting an education of a higher standard.

“This academy is the culmination of five years hard work and effort. We have a team of excellent lecturers ready to train these students to the highest standard of animation and the best digital trainers in the country. Our students will get a wide variety of skills and there will be a large digital component to it, to make them more marketable.” When asked for a sneak peak at the faculty list for the Academy, Gary highlighted two names: Archie Birch, who was the previous head of animation at AFDA, and, of course, Gary himself. The Animation Industry Development Initiative was launched in 2007 with a partnership between Animation South Africa, representing contributing industry partners, and the Cape Film Commission in an attempt to address the critical Animation skills shortage in South Africa.

This fledgling partnership has grown significantly thanks to the continued dedication and support of the industry partners in Cape Town and the strategic drive of the Cape Film Commission as well as the Services SETA as an important skills funding partner.

The success of the project to date can be attributed to the strong partnership and shared vision between the local Western Cape Animation industry, the dedicated training providers, contributing sector education training authority and the Cape Film Commission.

In addition, the international benchmarking and skills exchange programmes facilitated by the Services SETA and the Cape Film Commission have resulted in international support for the project from companies such as Toonboom and Aardman Animations (Wallace and Grommit, Chicken Run).

The Cape Film Commission is honoured to welcome David Sproxton, co-founder and executive chairman of Aardman Animations, who will officially open the False Bay College Animation Academy.

Animation companies currently hosting interns include Character Matters, Clockwork Zoo, Solid Pictures, BlackGinger, Sunrise Productions, Triggerfish, Waterfront Studios and CFX Productions.

The committed training providers are False Bay College, The Animation School, Learn 2,  Concept Interactive and the Entrepreneurial Business School.

Other highlights to look forward to at the launch will be an exhibition of the work done by AIDI students, as well as showreels. New students will also have the opportunity to meet their lecturers.

Following the launch, Judy Robison from ConvergSA, who has been consulting on the Animation Academy project, will be speaking at the March Film and Event Monthly Wrap Party at the Adderley Hotel in Adderley Street, Cape Town.

Judy will be providing an overview of the current and future skills development projects being undertaken by ConvergSA and will introduce the opportunities for further supported development in the creative industries.