Spring Show 2009 Top Industry Quotes

I for one appreciate the serious art education you provide your students, as the demands for quality increase; the Academy of Art continually stands out.
Todd Harris – Disney Interactive Studios SLC

I thought the show was very well planned. The accommodations for portfolio review were excellent. I was impressed by the talent and credentials of the attending professionals. I thought several students were industry-ready. I am, in fact, hiring one student to do a job for me right now.
Axel Alonso, Alumnus – Marvel Comics

It's always a pleasure to participate in the Spring Show. I so much admire the talent of all the artists that attend the school. I really enjoy the design arts and I saw some amazing photography this year. I did see better reels this time around.
Anjelica Casillas - Rhythm & Hues Studios

A talented group of artists once again. I have to say of all the schools I have visited so far in this job, yours is one of the most impressive.
Ernie Edmondson – Walt Disney Animation Television

I believe the planning and hosting of the event is one of the best parts of the show. It’s very well organized and easy to review the work as well as mingle with other professionals - great food and beverage quality also. Overall, the school feels very dynamic and inspirational and it’s amazing to watch the school continue to grow every year. You guys really know how to throw a party and we will be back next year.
John Cupit – Nissan Design America

I thought the event was terrific. I was most impressed by the Illustration, Animation and Fine Arts Depts. I felt that the depth and uniqueness in style and concept really showed through in those three.
Mike Nuttall - Mattel

I can honestly say that the Academy put on the best show I’ve been to. Planning and hosting were perfect. Your students definitely seem industry ready.
Mark Harvey – American Greetings

We do plan on making at least one offer based on meeting that person at the show!
Marilyn Friedman, PDI/ DreamWorks

I was greatly impressed by the show. The work was top notch.
Matt Delorenzo – Road & Track

I was most impressed by their broad skill set which the graduate program instills... They not only knew usability principles, but also web design and coding — all functions that I normally hire 3 different people for. I think they are well-positioned to go into interviews telling the hiring managers that they can “do it all.” I would definitely consider hiring a few of the graduates that I met.
Colleen Noonan – Hearst Digital

The work that I saw this year was very impressive. There were a handful of talented animators with strong and well organized reels. Most of the students that I met with were very professional and had excellent attitudes. There are a few animation graduates that I will consider hiring if they are still available in the late fall.
Michael Franceschi, Alumnus – Nickelodeon Animation Studios

Spring Show 2009 Student Placement and Praise

Marvel Comics has hired Chris Staggs (BFA-ILL, SP09 grad) and is testing Mark Simmons (BFA-ILL, SP09 grad) for a possible future job.

Rhythm & Hues Studios has hired Amy Gohal (BFA-ANM, FA08 grad) in the rigging department.

American Greetings hired Yuka Wanamaker-Parker (BFA-ILL, SU09 grad) as a summer intern and is interested in hiring Se Heui Oh (MFA-ANM, SU09 grad) for an animation position at their LA studio, kiwee.com.

Monica Dannehl (BFA-GR, SP09 grad) began work for Twist Studio the day after Spring Show.

PDI/ DreamWorks is extending offers to Hyoung Joong Seo (MFA-ANM, FA08 grad) and Keira Cheng-Chia Yang (MFA-ANM, FA09 grad) to be entry level Character Technical Directors.

Nissan Design America invited Roman Mistiuk (BFA-IDS, SP09 grad) to San Diego for an on-site interview for a digital modeling position.

Mattel is very interested in Anne Mayoral (BFA2-IDS, FA08 grad) and is flying her down for interviews.

The GREY/ NY Recruiting Consultant will be presenting 3 Advertising grads to the creative management team for consideration.

The Walt Disney Animation Television Recruiting Coordinator will present the work of select graduates to Directors and Network Executives for test consideration on the fall TV line up.

Susan Friedman Ltd. will help find work in New York for Inez Machado (BFA-ADV, SU09 grad) and Sahar Mozaffar (MFA-ADV, SP09 grad). Susan will also assist Matt Sartain (MFA-PH, SP09 grad) into breaking into NY galleries. Susan was also wowed by the work she saw from Kyle Silber (BFA-FA, SP10 grad) and Katherine Nieh (BFA2-GR, SP09 grad).

PhotoInduced.com did a Spring Show write up and featured the bio and work of Rosanna Anson (MFA- PH, SP11 grad) and Unnikrishnan Raveendranathan (BFA PH, FA10 grad)

American Artist will likely run an article on Hsin-Yao Tseng (BFA-FA, SP09 grad) in their next issue and is considering a possible future feature article on Katherine B. Young (MFA-FA, SP10 grad).

The Road and Track editor was impressed with the work of David Torres (BFA-IDS, FA09 grad) and Herman Delos Santos (BFA-IDS, SP09 grad) and found the MetroMorph concept of Roman Mistiuk (BFA-IDS, SP09 grad) intriguing.

Mattel expressed interest in Herman Delos Santos (BFA-IDS, SP09 grad) and Steve Goodrich (IDS) f or possible contracts.

Blizzard Entertainment interviewed 52 students and requested more work from Karl Lindberg (BFA-ILL, SP09 grad) who they missed at the show.

Adams Morioka felt the work of Antonio Mah (BFA-GR, SP09 grad) really stood out.

Blizzard Entertainment, Mattel and Zoic Studios all thought the work of Carolyn Lim (PEUG) was outstanding.