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On July 17, 2024, 26 fourth-year Entertainment and Multimedia Computing (EMC) students visited Top Draw Animation (TDA) studio in Manila, marking a key milestone in the partnership between TDA and the School of Computing (SoC), formalized by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The collaboration provided EMC students with valuable industry experience at TDA’s studio.

The partnership began when SoC invited TDA to give a talk on November 7, 2023 for the EMC students at Saint Joseph’s Hall (SJH) Academic Hall. Industry insights were shared and the MOU was signed. This agreement offers EMC students the chance to work and train under one of the country’s leading animation studios, opening up significant opportunities for their future careers.

Top Draw Animation Studio is renowned for its excellence in animation production. The studio has gained acclaim for its high-quality animated series and feature films such as “Johnny Test” and “Static Shock,” and has contributed to international hits including “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “My Little Pony: The Movie.”

The initial plan was to include 3rd-year EMC students before their upcoming internships. Even with a set schedule, managing off-campus activities outside the EMC Program curriculum proved challenging. With the assistance of EMC Chairperson, Prof. Jeanky Mendez and EMC Practicum Coordinator, Prof. Timothy James Camiling, who reviewed the OJT manual, the visit was successfully arranged. However, due to these difficulties and to make the most of the opportunity it was ultimately given to the 4th-year students. The required number of visitors for those selected to join was only thirty, only twenty-six students came along with four professors from SoC, including the Dean Dr. Tayag. Prof. Camiling announced the visitation in their MS Teams group and participation was on a first-come, first-serve basis to ensure fairness.

The students found the experience at TDA highly motivating and valuable. Philipp Gonzales, a fourth year EMC student who was one of the participants stated, “I was encouraged even more to pursue this career – seeing their office was just like a bigger SJH-601… It makes me comfortable knowing that what they do is just what I’ve always been doing while studying as an EMC student in college but you get to be involved in big projects”. It was also mentioned that the EMC students got to meet Animator Crispin Castro, a fellow Kapampangan, a respectable figure in the company and the industry as a whole which served as an inspiration. The visit offered significant insights into the animation industry and fueled the students’ passion for pursuing careers in the field. Observing the animation process up close and interacting with the directors provided them with a deeper appreciation for the work involved and the expertise required.

Prof. Mendez also mentioned, “There will definitely be a follow-up to this… but we will discuss this thoroughly. The targets [participants to go to the studio] are the third-year students in preparation for their internships, as well as those who are interested in preparing their portfolios.” She emphasized that there would be another visit to the TDA studio soon, giving the current third-year EMC students something to look forward to.

This visit to Top Draw Animation Studio took place just days after another significant event, the blockchain seminar, which focused on technical aspects of the School of Computing (SoC). The diverse range of events, from technical discussion to creative industry insights, showcases the breadth of the SoC community and highlights its commitment to providing the students with a well-rounded education.