Crash Bandicoot on McDonald's Happy Meals

Hello friends! It's a happy month for Happy Meals at McDonald's as Crash Bandicoot is featured for December. Imagine my joy! This is at least the second time and maybe the third that Crash has been on Happy Meals for kids. Spyro the Dragon is also in this latest nationwide campaign. Here's a video of the commercial ...

Super Mario Bros Director Aaron Horvath - My Student

It's a blockbuster!

Super Mario Bros has grossed $782,452,239 worldwide as of this writing. After 21 days in release it has remained king of the box office with 3 consecutive weekends at number 1. The film has nearly 60% of total box office revenues. Broke the record for a 5 day release for animated features.

And my student Aaron Horvath directed the movie!

He was a student at my school The Academy Academy in 2002 - 2003. Super talented artist. He was great even then. He went from student to character design instructor and got his break in 2003 with Comedy Central's animation department. He went on to become the Producer / Director / Executive Producer of Teen Titans Go! on Cartoon Network for many years.

Then came the Super Mario Bros Movie and astonishing success!

Click on this link to see samples of his student work when he was enrolled with me 20 years ago.

Beyond proud!

Great things happen when you Keep Creating!

Bandicoot Valentine

 

The Animation Academy is 25 Years Old

The Animation Academy is a school I launched 25 years ago today. 

On this day in the evening of January 19 in 1998 we had our first session in the back room of the Coral Cafe in Burbank California with 20 students. It was the flagship class of the Academy. I started the school with a small mailing list and $15 for stamps and envelopes to send flyers and enrollment forms. All available seating sold out.

Today after a quarter of a century I'm happy to say that the Academy is still going strong.

Thank you to everyone who has ever been a part of this great experience. My affectionate gratitude for these past 25 years and what they have meant.

KEEP CREATING FOREVER !!