FoAD launches long awaited animation short course

Students are trained on specialised 2D and 3D software in a state-of-the-art environment by course facilitator, Clare Louis. Photo Supplied.

FoAD LAUNCHES

long awaited animation short course

The Durban University of Technology’s Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD) has launched the first phase of an animation short course which promises to develop exponentially over the next few years. The animation industry is expanding rapidly in South Africa, more so during the pandemic.

Forbes cites South Africa as seeing, ‘the emergence of some of the largest animation studios on the continent … Africa’s answer to DreamWorks, Disney, and Pixar’. Opportunities exist both in SA and internationally for 2-Dimensional, 3-Dimensional and Motion Graphics Animation in media, advertising and movies.

The project is the brainchild of Dr Dianna Moodley, who is extremely elated about offering students career exposure, entrepreneurial ventures and creative portfolio advancement in the animation industry, media, advertising and movies. “We aim to equip our students with foundational terminology, concepts and principles in animation, she says, thus enabling them with fundamental skills in rendering actual animated cartoons. We want to empower them to articulate into formal education in the field or even make it big, as multimedia artists in the industry,” said Dr Moodley.

According to course facilitator Clare Louis, herself a 3D Animation Producer, Director and Animation Studio owner, “Durban has been earmarked as the next breakout city for animation. This is one of the ways that will ensure that we are ready”.

FoAD’s Executive Dean, Professor Runette Kruger, is proud to announce that this offering (starting with the short course and developing into a fullyfledged programme over the next few years) will put the faculty and DUT on the map in KwaZuluNatal and nationally, as a vibrant centre of training for a growing discipline.