COD Hosts Sixth Annual Animation Night May 19

Animation students in College of DuPage's Motion Picture/Television program will screen their work during the sixth annual Animation Night, a free event at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, in the Playhouse Theatre at the McAninch Arts Center.

Animation Night will showcase projects from 12 students that demonstrate a variety of techniques, styles and stories. MPTV Professor Tony Venezia said styles include traditional hand-drawn animation, sand animation and a "South Park" cutouts-style technique.

"Our program emphasizes a foundation in animation concepts," he said. "My philosophy is that you learn it by hand first and then translate those skills on the computer. This event allows our students to show off their developing individual styles. For example, I have one student whose work is ethereal and abstract and based on a dance."

Syed Minhaj Hossain describes his project as "an inspirational story for the young generation." He combines hand-drawn animation and digital painting to tell the story of a retiring CEO who, in hand-picking his successor, gives potential candidates one year to complete a task before judging who is the most honest applicant.

Hossain has been drawing ever since he was a child. He initially attended university in his home country of Bangladesh to study business administration. However, after two years, he knew it wasn't for him and he began studying animation in the Multimedia and Creative Technology department at Daffodil International University.

He then saw an advertisement for the Community College Initiative Program offered through the U.S. State Department. He applied for the program and, after a 10-month process, was selected to attend College of DuPage.

"Bangladesh is a developing company," he said. "Everyone wants to go to America but there are some misconceptions. What I found is that people are helpful, friendly and, in many ways, the same as us."

After earning his MPTV/Animation certificate in May, Hossain plans to return to Daffodil University and finish his degree. He has two career dreams: to work in Hollywood at a major animation studio and to promote animation in Bangladesh, where he would like to open his own studio.

"I want to teach students in my country what I have learned here," he said. "Being part of the CCI Program wasn't just about animation, it was about taking advantage of a big opportunity. What I found at College of DuPage were a lot more resources than I ever had before."

New to Animation Night this year are one-minute video introductions of each project created by the students. The event includes refreshments and a chance to speak with the students, who also will display their other work in the MAC lobby.

"It's such a great show," Venezia said. "It's so much work, but once people see the finished projects they realize how much talent our students have so the work is all worthwhile."

For more information, call (630) 942-2020, email venezia@cod.edu or visit www.cod.edu/mptv.