Trainees as the Main Stars of the Course

“This is not a passive course where applicants just repeat what the lecturer says. Here, the students actually chose and created their own original work and project.” - Dragana Mandić

Troughout this course, students learned how to create short character animations, they were introduced to acting and performance in animation, and the body mechanics in humans and animals, as well as the anatomy behind it. One of the most important things about this course is the fact that the course trainees created their own authentic work which, week after week, together with Dragana, they analyzed, peer-reviewed, criticized and improved.

Dragana Mandić, the incredibly experienced and successful animator and lecturer of this course, said that she couldn’t be prouder of how far the applicants got and how much they have learned.

“It was a dynamic and intense course but above all an incredible and amazing experience. We talked about the creative technical aspects present in an animator’s work as well as the social aspect – the way animators should accept healthy feedback from their supervisors and how it affects the quality of their work,“ said Dragana.

This is one of the many things that makes the IES Internal Training Center special. As Dragana herself mentioned, even though she’s the one teaching them all these things, the trainees are actually the main stars of the show.

'They're Batman... I'm Robin'

“My main goal is to guide them on the path to becoming successful animators. They’re Batman, I’m Robin. What people receive here in the ITC is knowledge specific to specialized fields which cannot be found anywhere else. The ITC has a great infrastructure, and it was a privilege to watch these students grow and be part of the forming of their career path.”

Character animation is one of the most important things in the creation of an animated film or series. Generally, courses in 3d character animation and creature animation are incredibly popular and valued right now, not just in Serbia, but around the world. That is why this course is such a unique experience.

Mileta, Storyboard Director and ITC Manager, emphasized one of the most important things to remember after a course such as this:

“Keep working. Keep creating. Whatever you do, don’t let yourself forget about all the important tips and tricks you have learned, and stay dedicated to your projects, practice, and the results will follow.”

IES is grateful to everyone who was involved in this thrilling 11-week adventure, from Dragana Mandić, and Mileta Poštić, to the hard-working course participants and members of our team and staff. The IES Internal Training Center will continue to develop and organize new courses and workshops in the upcoming period with the aim of guiding young artists and helping them kick-start their career in animation.

TESTIMONIALS

“I would describe this course as a battle against dragons – such as Autodesk Maya, rigging, and plenty of other animation aspects. But at the end of the day, of course, this was a major breakthrough for all of us and a truly wonderful experience. The most exciting part of this course? The moment we uploaded our files each Friday to see the improvements not only of our own work but of the whole group.” - Teodora Lečić, Course Participant

“I think that the Internal Training Center is one of the best IES projects and I’m honored and grateful to be a part of it. As artists, we should constantly strive to learn new things, grow, and figure out all the ways in which we can better at what we do. That is why I’m really looking forward to future lectures and projects within the ITC.”   - Tamara Simić, 2d Storyboard Artist at IES