The creative team behind the animated blockbuster Toy Story 3 will be in town to share their experiences with 600 animation professionals and students next month.

Participating in what is called the Pixar Toy Story 3 Lecture Series, the nine international animation specialists from Pixar Animation Studios will be on hand for three full days.

Tan Chin Wee, joint general manager of The One Academy of Communication Design, said it is timely for such an event because the skills of Malaysian animators have attained high, world-class standards.

Many of our animators have worked on several Hollywood blockbuster movies and this has impressed Pixar enough to allow its staff to make the trip here, he said. He could not name the movies because of non-disclosure agreements between the movie-makers and the animation houses.

"This is the first time a major production house is sending most of its animation team over, and despite the fact that it is busy working on Cars 2 which is scheduled to hit theatres next year," Tan told In.Tech. "Something like this would not have happened five years ago. We are very grateful."

The lecture series is presented by MSC Malaysia and One Academy. It will cover the entire animation process - from concept to storyboard to lighting to simulation and effects.

"The idea of the seminar is to help increase the quality of local animation even further. And what better way to do this than to get the team from the most famous animation house in the world to teach its techniques to Malaysian students and professionals," Tan said.

Who should attend?

The Pixar Toy Story 3 Lecture Series comprises a two-day 3D animation masterclass for professionals and a separate day-long animation seminar for college and university students.

One Academy said the masterclass will be on Aug 10 and 11, from 9am to 6.30pm at the Technology Park Malaysia in Bukit Jalil. A seat will cost Malaysians RM350 each while foreign participants will be charged US$350 (RM1,125) each.

The seminar for students will be held on Aug 12 at the same venue. It is priced at RM50 a seat for Malaysians and US$50 (RM160) for international participants.

"Tickets for both events are going fast and there is much interest from South Korean animators to join the masterclass," Tan said.

Go online to www.toaevents.com/masterclass, or call One Academy at (03) 5637-5510, to reserve your seat.

Several members of the Pixar team will also be giving a free 90-minute talk on careers in the animation industry and the making of Toy Story 3 to 200 secondary school students in the Klang Valley on Aug 11. Attendance is by invitation only.

Expert advice

Among the speakers for the lecture series are concept artist Timothy Evatt, shading and grooming artist Beth Albright, matte painter/shader painter Paul Topolos, layout technical advisor Mahyar Abousaeddi, animator Allison Rutland, Sim/FX technical director Martin Nguyen, character and set modeller Mike Krummhoefener, set modeller/set dresser technical director Amy Allen, and lighting technical director Minhyung Lee.

The One Academy was established in 1991 with the aim of promoting the region as the world's centre of creative reference. It is today one of Asia's top institutions in art, design and creative multimedia, and is renowned for its graduates who are in successful careers in the creative capitals of the world.

Courses at One Academy cover multimedia design, digital animation with game development, comic book illustration, advertising & graphic design, and interior design.