Animation Foundation: how do you optimise your chances of success at the interview?
Admission to the Animation Foundation is mainly through an interview and a review of the student's academic record.
At Atelier de Sèvres, we focus on a discussion with candidates, during which you will have the opportunity to present yourself, to talk about your knowledge and your artistic skills, and also, and above all, your motivation, the only real criterion to be accepted onto the Animation Foundation course.
How do you optimise your chances of success during the interview? Catherine Totems, head of the Animation Foundation and Animation Degree Course at Atelier de Sèvres, shares her advice.
Prepare a comprehensive portfolio
Once you have obtained an appointment at Atelier de Sèvres to meet the admissions officer, you will be called for an individual interview lasting about 30 minutes.
During this interview, you will start by presenting your academic background. You can then discuss the reasons you would like to study on the Animation Foundation at Atelier de Sèvres, as well as your future ambitions in the Animation industry.
You will then present your portfolio to the head of admissions. This must contain carefully assembled recent personal work. During their review of your portfolio, the admissions manager at Atelier de Sèvres must be able to learn more about you, your knowledge of the arts and your skills and techniques, in order to better evaluate your level.
During this interview, it might be relevant to comment on your choices and your work by referring to your preferences and your relationship with drawing or any other means of expression (photography, painting, video, sculpture, etc.).
Be aware that Atelier de Sèvres encourages a great eclecticism in its classes, which is why all styles are interesting from our perspective.
Above all, your portfolio must be a reflection of the artist within. So do not be afraid to be creative!
Optimising your chances during the interview for the Animation Foundation at Atelier de Sèvres
Show your enthusiasm
At Atelier de Sèvres, we focus primarily on our future students’ motivation. While knowledge of the industry and animation professions is obviously appreciated, we believe that motivation, creativity and open-mindedness are essential components in order to successfully complete the animation foundation and be accepted at the top animation schools.
Whether or not you have academic experience in the arts will be assessed, but the most important thing is to show you that you have ambition and want to learn.
The courses offered at Atelier de Sèvres are there to train you in the Animation professions and to give you the keys to successfully pass the competitive exams for the most prestigious schools. But, as far as enthusiasm is concerned, that’s down to you.
Do your research
During the interview at Atelier de Sèvres you must demonstrate that you know about the Animation Foundation itself and the various sectors of the Animation professions.
Again, this will demonstrate your motivation to the admissions officer. In order to do this, you can consult the websites of different schools, as well as that of Atelier de Sèvres.
For example, you can obtain information on Atelier de Sèvres and the work produced by Animation Foundation alumni.
Continuing in this same vein, you should be interested in art and animation in general. Go to exhibitions, visit museums, discuss with those around you and read. Artistic knowledge is essential, and although the courses at Atelier de Sèvres bring you their share of knowledge, it is to your advantage to arrive on the day of the interview with a certain cultural background.
"For me, being motivated, curious and nice is essential, in addition to having an idea of what cinema and animation are. It’s also important to cultivate references beyond Miyazaki and Disney, watching short films as well as series and feature films. You should prefer drawing from observation to drawing from photos and also show drawing from imagination, and enjoy looking for and telling stories." –Catherine Totems
Remember that Atelier de Sèvres focuses primarily on your motivation, your thirst for knowledge and your creativity. If you want to join the Animation Foundation at Atelier de Sèvres, call us to arrange an interview.
