THE STORY THAT CREATED THIS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

When I was teenager, I dreamed of having a place where I could grow in the art and creative expressions that were inside of me. I loved movies, cartoons, Hollywood and artistic media. I loved to draw and experiment with cartoon animation. I wanted someone to show me how I could get really good at it. I wanted a community I could be a part of that would affirm and encourage who I am as a creative person. The problem was that none existed that was either affordable or accessible to me. Eventually, I enrolled in an expensive art school that failed to provide any lasting community to support me on my journey. Today, creative youth are experiencing that same frustration. I discovered this first hand as a public school art teacher. Many of our in-school art programs are restrictive and limited to academic requirements that do not allow artistic students to truly explore their creative interests and ambitions. Today’s students are inspired by their heroes and the pop-culture stories that they have come to love and respect. This is why I have created the Animation Production Group After School classes. This is a place where students who love animation, digital media, or pop-culture art can grow in the skills and expressions that they dream of mastering. Students in this program have told me that not only do they love what they learn in these classes, but also that they love to come because it is a safe place from the stresses and pressures of life, and that it provides a peaceful atmosphere where they can relax and enjoy their creative gifts, and enjoy the company of others who share that same passion. They tell me it’s the best 90 minutes of their week! Artists need mentors and friends who share their passion and will walk with them as they pursue their creative passions.

Animation Production Group is an after-school program to give students experience working together as animators, character designers, script writers, and voiceover actors to create their own cartoon animated productions.

I am the founder of the Animation Production Group after school program. I am an art teacher, a creative art director, I have created animation for broadcast television, and I have won multiple awards for my graphic design, book cover, book illustration, and website design work. I have loved animation since I was a kid.

I have mentored youth in the creative arts as a 6th – 8th grade art teacher at Rocky Mountain Classical Academy. I have worked with high school and college students through the Elevate Creative Arts program at Mountain Springs Church. I have also mentored high school and college students through the internship program offered by the Ideas Ablaze graphic design and media arts company.

In 2015, I started a high-demand class on storyboarding and comic book production. Over time and as the digital tools for animation became easily accessible to the class, the students and I shifted our focus to animation production. As a result, in the Spring of 2017 the Animation Production Group was founded with 48 students enthusiastically participating every Friday after school.

After that school year ended, half of our students were strongly requesting to continue the Animation Production Group through the summer break. This website, our online community, and the Animation Group after school and summer classes are what has grown organically out of my love for animation, movies, storytelling, and the amazing students who enjoy participating in it.

My passion is to train and release this upcoming generation of young artists and empower them to have their own voice of influence in arts and entertainment. I have been a professional artist for over twenty years. I have also worked as an animator for the Kamp Kreatures children’s TV show which aired on Smile Of A Child TV and Trinity Broadcasting Network. I offer these years of experience and developed expertise to help young artists move into their passion in the creative arts.

Sincerely,
Nathan Fisher
Animation Group Founder and Teacher
Animation Production Group

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
– Vincent Van Gogh
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
– Walt Disney