First, I was being worked to death in production and needed to get away from it for a while. JM: The biggest lure for me was two-fold. At the time, being in 3D animation was somewhat akin to being a magician… you didn’t tell how the tricks were done.ĪCR: What was the biggest lure for you going from industry to academia back then? In fact, it was considered somewhat taboo to teach the deep specifics of what we were doing in 3D back then. It helps us keep the quality high.Īt the time I started teaching here, there was no home Internet for people other than dial up, so there was no such thing as the massive amount of video tutorials like today. We are accepting about 25% of the students that apply to computer animation. The enrollment here is intentionally held low.
I became department head in 2000, and by that time we had seven full time faculty members.
I was one of only three full time faculty members teaching in the major that year.
Jim McCampbell: I accepted a faculty position at Ringling in June of 1995. When did you join the faculty and what was it like in the early years? We hope you enjoy! (This interview was done via email and has been edited minimally for clarity).ĪCR: Much has changed in the last two decades since Ringling began its now renowned Computer Animation program. We ask him everything about his program- from its origins and its evolution to its industry connections and the students who continually rise to the challenge. In our latest feature Q&A, we are excited to catch up with Ringling’s Computer Animation Department Head Jim McCampbell.
Computer Animation students learn the entire animation pipeline in just four years- something their graduates often attribute to their professional flexibility and unparalleled opportunities. Its curriculum reflects both the tried and true foundations of the craft along with an adaptive approach that considers industry input and demand. While the intimate, private college sits just blocks from the sunny shores of Florida’s Gulf coast, you’re more likely to find its Computer Animation undergrads enjoying the most advanced equipment that the industry has to offer indoors.Īn early leader in CG animation education, Ringling continues to lead the way. If there was an Ivy League for animation students, Ringling College would be in it along with a select few others that offer a rigorous art education.