July 12, 2011 – Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Film School (VFS), Canada’s premier entertainment arts institution and one of the most distinguished in the world, is thrilled to welcome animation industry veteran Chris Bailey, who will be spending two days with students in VFS’s Animation & Visual Effects programs. An animator on such Disney classics as The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Hercules, Bailey has risen through the ranks to become an Animation Supervisor on Alvin and the Chipmunks, X-Men 2, and this year’s Hop.

Bailey will visit with students in the Classical Animation, 3D Animation & Visual Effects, and Digital Character Animation programs, and impart the wisdom he’s gained from being a part of and leading the creative teams behind high-profile productions on every level. He will also share in-depth knowledge of how animation giant Disney has evolved over the years, a subject of particular interest to students hungry to join the industry. 

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Chris Bailey and we're thrilled to have someone of his calibre join us as a guest speaker this week,” says Marianne O’Reilly, Head of Animation & Visual Effects. “Chris is a sought-after Animation Director and Supervisor by the major Hollywood studios, and many of his films far exceed global box office projections.”

A passionate teacher and in-demand speaker at post-secondary institutions and conferences, Bailey has been honoured with an Emmy nomination for his work as an Executive Producer and Director of Disney’s Kim Possible. He made a successful directorial debut in 1995 with the Oscar-nominated short film, Runaway Brain, starring Mickey Mouse. Since then, Bailey’s creative input has been called upon in consulting roles for Blue Sky Studios and Fox.

About Animation & Visual Effects at Vancouver Film School
Founded in 1987, Vancouver Film School is Canada's premier post-secondary entertainment arts institution and one of the most distinguished in the world. With 13 production-oriented programs and a world-leading one-year education model, VFS prepares students to join the creative economy. The Animation & Visual Effects department at VFS includes three distinct programs: 3D Animation & Visual Effects (one year), Classical Animation (one year), and Digital Character Animation (six months). Graduates of the Animation & Visual Effects programs have a profound effect on the entertainment industry and have played key roles behind the scenes on productions such as Avatar, The Princess and the Frog, and Rango.

Contact Person: Kate Harbinson, Public Relations Coordinator

Company Name: Vancouver Film School

Telephone Number: 604.631.3562 or toll free in North America 1.800.661.4101

Email Address: Email Contact

Website address: vfs.com