The mission of the Desktop Academy is to help traditional hand-drawn animation thrive and grow. Through its online services and its companion coursebook, "How To Make Animated Films" we hope the learning of the solid principles of animation is possible anywhere around the world, regardless of resources or access to fulltime educational programs. In this current tough economic climate many would-be students can neither afford to consider a fulltime education in animation, or else have no hope of finding a fulltime educational establishment in their particular neck of the woods. Consequently, the Desktop Academy is attempting to bridge this gap by offering online feedback and mentorship opportunities for everyone who is disadvantaged in this way.

As a important part of its mission, the Desktop Academy also offers a 'Certificate of Animated Excellence' program that provides for committed of students to economically and practically work through all the assignments in Tony White's comprehensive "How To Make Animated Films" coursebook...then even have the assignment work graded as it is completed. With successful 'pass' grades in each of the 10 assignments required by the coursebook, students can earn recognition of their achievement by receiving the Desktop Academy's 'Certificate of Animated Excellence'.

Independent and professional animators might also wish to submit scenes of their own creation to the Desktop Academy for top-level critiques and/or mentorship.

Studying through the Desktop Academy will not necessarily guarantee a job in the animation industry. However, what it will do is provide a basic knowledge of the core principles of movement, to a level where serious students should acquire significant skills that will make them confident of taking on any animation challenge that they might be presented with. It has to be stated however that the Desktop Academy does NOT teach animation 'software' or 'technology'. Instead it simply guides students through the essential, core principles of movement that that any animator should know, whatever kind or animation they ultimately choose to undertake.

The Desktop Academy has been established by award-winning animator and best-selling author, Tony White. Tony has almost 40 years experience at the very top of animated Film and TV productions. He established his own highly-respected, award-winning studio, Animus Productions, in London from 1978 until 1998 and in that time directed and/or animated over 200 TV commercials, 2 x TV Specials, numerous Short Films and even conceived/designed/directed "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" movie titles when he was a director/animator for the three-times Academy Award-winning animator, Richard Williams.

Tony has studied under such notable animators as the late, great Ken Harris (principle animator for Warner Brothers on 'Bugs Bunny' and 'Roadrunner'), the late, great Art Babbit (the 'tenth old man of Disney animation', responsible for major work on 'Pinocchio' and 'Fantasia' during the 'golden age' of animation) and also as Richard Williams' own assistant prior to him becoming a director/animator at the studio of the same name.

Tony's three successful books on animation technique... "The Animator's Workbook", "Animation from Pencils to Pixels ~ Classical Techniques for Digital Animators" and "How to Make Animated Films" (to be released in June, 2009)... underline Tony's extensive knowledge and expertise in the art of 'making things move well' through animation.

Tony is also founder of the 'Animaticus Foundation', a non-profit organization dedicated to the 'preservation', 'education' and 'evolution' of traditional, hand-drawn animation underlines Tony's passion for furthering the art of traditional 2D animation in ways never considered before. His acclaimed '2D OR NOT 2D Animation Festival' has brought to home-base Seattle some of the finest exponents of the animated artform, including Roy E. Disney, Don Hahn, Michel Gagne, Dean Yeagle and Tom Wilson.

For a more detailed account of Tony's resume and list of awards won, please click HERE.