Toon Age Moments

A NEW EXHIBITION OPENS AT THE KZNSA ON TUESDAY 11 MARCH 2008
EXHIBITIONS CLOSE 30 MARCH 2008

The KZNSA is pleased to announce that its two upcoming exhibitions will show a selection of star students from two of Durban’s prestigious institutions of learning: the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and the Centre for Fine Art, Animation and Design (CFAD). The participating artists were selected according to their academic excellence, technical mastery and conceptual depth. Collectively they represent the cream of the crop of mature students from the two schools, and give an indication of the future of South African fine art and animation production.

TOON AGE MOMENTS: Animation Projects by Centre for Fine Art, Animation and Design showcases the animation projects completed by CFAD. Social satire, observation and commentary are key to many of these works. Taxi, by lead animators Zayne Nakamura and Ryan Janse Van Rensburg, deals with Durban public transport. Birds relates to environmental issues. Also on view is an animated 3D robot created by Chris De Jaager.

The majority of animation projects and assignments completed at the private art school are industry-based, with students having created award-winning clips for Life-Line, the World Wildlife Fund, Childline and a range of HIV and AIDS awareness campaigns.

CFAD was established in 1994 by Nanda Soobben to provide previously disadvantaged students with access to the latest computer, animation and design technology and has, since then, developed into a contemporary, thriving art school where a system of mentorship is used as the educational methodology. CFAD works closely with the Parsons School of Design in New York, the San Francisco Art Institute, the University of California and the National Institute of Design (NID) in India. The centre’s close relationship with the design and printing industries, and with the education sector, allows students to participate and contribute to “live” projects. CFAD’s Academic Director, Krish Moodley said,”This is the first for Durban. This exhibition proves that this city has the animators and resources to produce high quality short form and long form animation.”

Jacob Zuma Cartoon

Nanda Soobben's most recent cartoon about Jacob Zuma and the Pledge is featured on the East Coast Radio Blog. Click here to view the cartoon and read the comments. Click on the image below to visit Daryl Ilbury's website.

Toon Boom Animation now in Durban

The world’s top animation software is being taught for the first time in Durban. The Centre for Fine Art, Animation and Design (CFAD) is the first tertiary institution in Durban to offer training in Toon Boom Animation. The Canadian based Toon Boom Animation software company chose CFAD as the preferred training institution in Durban. Toon Boom is the perfect training tool for any student embarking on a career in animation production and the software is recognized as the industry standard cartoon animation tool in the world’s top production houses for all media platforms.
Popular animated stories like the Simpsons and Sponge Bob are created using Toon Boom animation software.

Established in 1994 by Nanda Soobben to provide previously disadvantaged students with access to the latest computer, animation and design technology, CFAD has been developed into a modern, thriving art school where through a system of mentorship, students can develop strong design and animation skills. Nanda Soobben, who apart from producing daily cartoons for major newspapers, also works on animated films commissioned by television studios, supervises the animation programme at CFAD. Soobben’s book of cartoons, “Witness to a Decade” has become a sought-after collector’s item as it serves as a controversial record of South Africa’s first 10 years of democracy. He has also won the prestigious Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award for 2006. In 2007 Soobben was presented with awards from the San Francisco Leadership Academy, the Mayor of San Francisco and the United States Congress in recognition of his achievements as a cartoonist, animator and journalist.

Krish Moodley, Academic Director of CFAD stated: “The skills obtained here are highly marketable and over the past fifteen years this institution has produced high quality graduates who are employed as graphic designers, animators, web designers and creative directors at major organisations both locally and in countries such as Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.”