Osborne brings passion, energy to animation program

By Ana Winters | Staff writer

When you walk into the animation lab in University Hall at Augusta University, you'll find Professor A.B. Osborne calm, focused and unmistakably in his element.

Osborne is not just teaching students how to animate in class he is teaching them how to collaborate and to create something that could be so much bigger than just that class.

“I had previously worked in industry and taught at several colleges…there was a clear need to build more Animation programs that had private art  school quality but public University prices.  I knew we could build something special here.” said Osborne.

Osborne has been interested and actively animating since he was in middle school. He graduated from the Savannah College of Art & Design with a degree in animation before coming to Augusta University.

“I had worked on a wide variety of projects before landing here, including surgical simulators, documentary, e-learning, animated cartoon shorts, and video game projects.  I had also taught at a few colleges part-time while I worked in the industry.” said Osborne.

All of these experiences have shaped his approach to teaching. Osborne has this way of blending creativity with real-world practicality. With his professional and creative background, he is able to have a good understanding of how complex and collaborative animation is.

When Osborne became a part of the Department of Art and Design, he began to add and create something new and special.

 “There was a clear need to build more animation programs that had private art school quality but public university prices,” he explained. “I knew we could build something special here.”

And he has. Over the past years, Osborne has helped shape the program into one that is as rigorous as it is supportive and one where students are treated like professionals in training right from the start.

“We work on big productions together.  Animation is very collaborative.  Before students graduate, they take two semesters of a class called "Production Animation,” he said.

In the production animation class, teams of about fifteen students work together for nearly a year to produce a short animated film from scratch.

It is more of a  crash course in collaboration, time management and perseverance, and there are so many things and concepts to learn in collaboration.

 “Everyone has a job and needs to roll their sleeves up and get to work,” Osborne said. “I make sure students get to work with roles they’re interested in. We’re all pitching in on story, crafting assets, animating. My job is to oversee it and make sure it comes together at the end.”

When the project is over and completed, it is then entered in competitions and goes to festivals, where students can see their work recognized beyond the classroom. For many students it is their first step toward a career in animation.

When asked what he enjoys most about teaching Animation at AU, Osborne answered, “We've built a really strong program. Our animation faculty know the industry.  The students build each other up and craft a culture of making excellent work.  We work long hours, but we have fun while doing it.”

What makes Osborne so popular and such a great teacher is that he loves what he does.

“I absolutely nerd out over this stuff,” he said. “I love the process. I love teaching students. And I like working on big projects with my students.  If I won the lottery, I'd probably still be doing this.”

In today's world when technology and art are more intertwined than ever, Osborne reminds students that creativity is not done on your own but instead built together, through collaboration and passion.

 Contact Ana Winters at anwinters@augusta.edu.