Schools (and school boards) are increasingly emphasizing science and math at the expense of the arts, so when Elite Animation Academy opened in Orlando in 2012, its fate was unclear. Would there be enough students to sustain it? Three years later, Elite has become a well-known name around Orlando and regularly sells out its classes. Now the Academy is spreading its wings and reaching out to students in Tampa, just in time for summer camp season.
Located in Westchase Town Center, Elite’s second branch is preparing for the summer haul. “We’ve had students from Tampa making the commute to Orlando for years,” said Gladys West, founder and executive director. “When we decided to open a second location, it was only natural that we come here to cultivate the raw talent Tampa has to offer.”
Cultivating untapped talent is a fundamental belief for Elite: creating opportunities for kids interested in the field and giving them the skills to succeed, and having fun in the process.
“So many kids out there are interested in drawing and animation, but there wasn’t a place for these students to go to learn about these interests until they’ve grown up,” said West. “We are teaching these kids animation techniques, both on the page and digitally, that most people don’t have the chance to learn until college. We even have a few college professors on staff with us.”
In addition to the profs, Elite’s staff includes past employees of Disney, Marvel, and other major movie studios. West herself was involved with the Disney films Pocahontas, Mulan, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In addition to proficiency, West looks for instructors who are comfortable with students. The Tampa branch will be run by Jessica Paz (computer animation, FLASH and Photoshop) and Dana Corrigan (traditional animation, character and storyboard).
“The preparation these kids get for a career in animation is phenomenal,” said Paz. “If something like this had been around when I was a kid, I would have been here as often as my parents let me.” Corrigan calls it “a unique experience that houses potential for a new generation of animators.”
Elite has no age max for its students, who range from 8-adult. All ages are welcome, making it the perfect family activity this summer.
Elite offers 24 week-long camps over the course of the summer — 12 for drawing and 12 for traditional animation — from June 1-Aug. 21. Camps run Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with an hour lunch; the cost is $300 per camp per week. Classes at both the Tampa and Orlando branches are already selling out.
“The summer camps are always popular,” said West. “It’s when kids have the most time to learn what they’re interested in. Most students enjoy the summer camps so much that seven out of 10 will return for our autumn, winter, and spring courses, which are more in-depth and specialized to cater to each student’s skill level.”
With a curriculum that goes above and beyond and a warm and inviting atmosphere, Elite Animation Academy could be just the thing for any kid, or adult, interested in scoping the animation horizon.
“It’s a wonderful thing that happens in here,” said West with a smile. “You don’t wanna miss it.”
Matthew Cruz is a CL summer intern. He is a student at USF.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2015.