Portfolio: Supinfocom * part 2.(digital arts school's educational programs for computer graphics)

In last month's Portfolio, we highlighted some senior animation projects from the 2006 graduating class at Supinfocom, a digital arts school in Valenciennes, France.

In all, there are approximately 50 students who are accepted into the school's digital arts program each year--a number that represents close to 20 percent of those who apply to the facility. So, just signing a tuition check does not guarantee placement. In fact, the admissions process is quite rigorous, requiring potential students to submit a small project that adheres to guidelines set by the school. This provides the evaluators with a baseline for judging a person's capabilities and talent.

Supinfocom has a diverse student body, with some budding artists calling China, South America, and Portugal home. Each class comprises close to 20 students, offering an intimate learning environment. As for the faculty, most commute to the school for classes from nearby cities where they hold professional jobs in the CG industry.

As part of the curriculum, the students submit storyboards and concepts in their junior year, and later, 16 ideas are chosen by a faculty panel to proceed to the animation stage. The students, working in groups of two or three, then must produce a 2D animatic of the project by the end of their third year. The groups continue working on the project when school resumes in the fall, and before graduation, they submit their animated short film--required to be four to nine ...