Tag: ADP - Durham College

Durham College (DC) animation grad Daylan Belsey recently won top spot in the Ubisoft Toronto NEXT Challenge, landing him a coveted internship at Ubisoft Toronto.

More than 300 aspiring game developers from across the province participated in the annual event, submitting projects across nine categories.

Participants in the Animation category, including Belsey, were challenged to display an understanding of body mechanics and acting through body language. Belsey’s winning submission expertly captured the category’s theme of shock both literally and through the emotion of his characters.

A 2024 graduate of DC’s Animation – Digital Production program, he leveraged the skills and professional growth he acquired during his time as a student.

“There are so many different places to take inspiration from with this sort of project,” said Belsey. “I actually submitted a piece in last year’s competition, too, but at the time I didn’t have an eye for some of the mistakes I was making and didn’t quite know how to strengthen the theme in my piece.”

While participating in the Ubisoft Toronto NEXT Challenge is not a mandatory part of the program, it is encouraged and students are able to use their submission as a project in class.

“Regardless of how the competition went, my side goal was to improve my workflow, acting and body mechanics, and to have a great demo reel piece – my expectations were blown out of the water when I placed first,” he said. “Everybody at the studio was so kind and I’m excited for the opportunity to learn from them.”

Student’s in DC’s Animation – Digital Production program have access to state-of-the-art equipment including the Mixed Reality Capture Studio, as well as supportive, expert faculty. Belsey fondly remembered the pride and comradery he felt during the program’s final All-Years Screening where students debut their work to faculty and peers. He also highly values the essential soft skills he developed in the program such as collaboration and problem solving.

“I was happy, although not surprised, to see Daylan win,” said Faculty Member Gary Chapple. “He was always one of the hardest working students, he thrived on feedback, was very dedicated to pushing himself – and is also just a super nice person.”

This summer, local teens are trading in lazy days for a dynamic learning experience at Durham College’s (DC) Summer Shorts workshops. Hosted by the Faculty of Media, Art & Design, these week-long workshops offer hands-on learning in Animation, Game Development, Broadcast Journalism, Digital Design, and Digital Photo and Video. Students like 13-year-old Bianca Bruni are learning in industry-leading computer labs and using state-of-the-art technology and equipment to build a digital portfolio.

Bruni, who is preparing for Grade 9 in September, said her decision to return to the workshop for an additional week was easy to make and that the skills she learned during Week One were built upon in Week Two. “The teachers are amazing and so friendly – I learned so much in 3D animation and wanted to learn more,” she said. “I have a lot more fun here than just being at home all summer.”

DC’s Summer Shorts provide participants several opportunities to find a workshop that suits their interests. Megan Pickell, Summer Shorts Program Coordinator, says there really is something for everyone.

“There are many different aspects of each workshop that may stand out to participants, such as building their own level for a video game, producing a live on-air podcast at our on-campus radio station, developing their own signature brand using the Adobe Creative Suite, or learning how to capture stunning photos and videos using our photography studio spaces and camera equipment,” she says.

During her time in the animation workshop, Bruni had mastered the intricacies of animation rigging, successfully manipulating the movements of a 3D dinosaur which she controlled through various computer functions.

“When you first look at the program it’s overwhelming,” said Bruni. “But we’re using only 20 per cent of the controls. Right now, we’re just learning the basics, and once you get the hang of it it’s not as difficult as it seems.”

Her journey through the workshop underscores the transformative power of hands-on learning and expert guidance provided at DC, equipping Bruni with an impressive digital portfolio, technical skills, and increased confidence in her animation capabilities.

Thanks to her experience, Bruni plans on enrolling in DC’s Animation – Digital Production program after she graduates high school, with her sights set on an animation career developing her own show or working for Disney. “Doing animation is really cool, but doing animation for a job is even cooler,” she said. “I would be really happy to wake up in the morning and go to my job as a 3D animator.”

Pickell emphasized the skills each Summer Shorts student learns throughout their time at DC. “They really learn to push themselves and explore their creativity in a digital space,” she said.

In addition to DC’s Summer Shorts, the college offers many summer camp opportunities for youth seeking new and fun experiences, including a variety of sports and cheer camps as well as Skills Ontario summer camp at DC’s Whitby campus that introduces young students to the world of skilled trades.

DC grad Daylan Belsey places first in Animation at the Ubisoft Toronto NEXT Challenge

Durham College’s Summer Shorts program helps prepare youth for future careers in media, art and design