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At CalArts Hillenburg would have access to one of the country’s
largest state-of-the-art animation laboratories. He would also partic-
ipate in animation portfolio development workshops and learn from
renowned visiting artists.
Experimental Animation Program
Hillenburg was accepted into the MFA program at CalArts that year
to study experimental animation. At CalArts the Program in Ex-
perimental Animation has a well-known international reputation
for excellence and innovation. The program’s faculty, students, and
alumni have won top awards at film festivals across the United States,
Europe, and Asia. Graduates of this program are often credited with
helping define animation as it is created today.
The CalArts experimental animation program gave Hillenburg a
foundation to pursue his future animation projects. In this program
Hillenburg learned a variety of animation techniques and concepts.
He took courses in 2-D drawing and direct animation. He learned
how to use stop-motion.He also worked with 2-D and 3-D computer-
animation programs. In animation history classes he examined all
forms of animation art. He says:
I was in the experimental program where you actually learn ev-
ery aspect of making a film, and there the idea was that you were
the director and the creator of the project, that you would actu-
ally design and write and do all the editing and in some cases
the music. . . .That was for me invaluable because I wasn’t just
studying how to be a character layout person for a commercial
job.The hard facts are that in the industry, things are broken into
jobs, and that experience helpedme . . . to see thewhole picture.
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After completing basic required courses, students in the experi-
mental animation program work closely with CalArts faculty to
create an individualized course of study. Students and faculty tailor
coursework to each student’s specific interests. Hillenburg worked
with members of the school’s faculty to develop and experiment with
his own animation style and vision.
