CityVarsity | Animation Department

Lecturers

Rosalind Burr (Head Of Department)

Campus: Cape Town

Rosalind started her education in Fine Art (drawing, anatomical studies) and Theatre, which lead into an Honours Degree in Animation, and a post graduate certificate in Character Animation from Central St Martin’s London (in advanced Maya animation) in which she gained a distinction.

She believes a background in acting gives one an edge in character animation and story creation.

Rosalind started her working career in the UK in children’s television production in 2D and mixed media animation and advertising. She has experience in managing pre-production, productions and liaising with partners abroad in India, Japan, and Hungary. Rosalind has lived and worked in London, Hamburg and Tokyo but now considers SA her new home. Before relocating to SA she worked on a number of block buster feature films and for SONY PlayStation as a 3D animator and motion capture facilitator.

Rosalind has been teaching and managing academic departments in SA for 6 years. The last 3 years with CityVarsity as national head of department and previously lecturing at the University of Stellenbosch and the Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography.
Rosalind has also been called upon to use her experience to speak at gallery openings, as a judge at the Cape Town ‘Games Jam’ as held at UCT and as part of an academic board discussing strategies for animation education in South Africa.

On a lighter note Rosalind loves dachshunds and ice-cream.

Pierre Bezuidenhout (Lecturer)

Campus: Cape Town

Pierre is an avid technical artist, since birth, and now, beyond. With his B-Tech behind him, he jumped straight into the advertising industry where he tread water like a pro (read “duck”). Now, with multiple broadcast ads behind his name, and countless hours of R&D, he dabbles in web- and game development in his down-time. And still, through it all, he manages to nurture his complicated relationship with the world of animation, and his tool of choice (read “mistress”) Maya. Long may they prosper in their unique relationship.

Pierre is also at the forefront of curriculum development of the 3rd year specialisms of 3D Maya animation and our very popular games creations specialism. Pierre regularly makes game for fun and never cease to amaze staff and students with his technical skills and loving eye for beauty.

Rhyder Key (Lecturer)

Campus: Cape Town

Rhyder started his working career in the hotel and events management industry while still studying Animation. While involved the event industry Rhyder project managed the contracting of resources, staff and equipment, as well running events from start to finish.

Once he finished his studies to become a 3D animator he relocated to the UK to work for a leading online gaming company, where he held the position of a texture and animation artist. Due to personal reasons he returned home to South Africa where he free-lanced as 3D Animator in TV and Film until he was offered the role of VFX Supervisor at Condor/Waterfront Studios, and progressed into the role of VFX Producer.

While at Waterfront he spearheaded the company’s interests in a joint Venture project to create an hour of 3D animation per day. This proved to be possible through the merging of real-time motion capture and Next Gen Game Rendering solutions. Even though the project achieved every goal set before it, the project was cancelled due the economic collapse of the Local Broadcasting authorities.

Since then Waterfront studios has closed its doors and Rhyder has come to spread his knowledge to anyone who can’t run away from his constant verbal overflow.

Ilhaam Mullagee (Lecturer)

Campus: Cape Town

Ilhaam has Bachelor of Arts (Motion Picture Medium) from AFDA where she majored in Animation and Visual Effects. Thereafter she specialised in 2D Digital Animation (Tradigital) at Touchvision. She has been an active member of the film and visual effects industry since she embarked on her journey by having multiple broadcasts behind her name ranging from Music videos, Documentaries, Commercials and Short Films. She has also worked as a visual effects artist on a feature film. She is a freelancer in the post production field, in Animation, Visual Effects and Editing within the industry.

In the department she is lovingly known as our diamond as she is surprisingly tough for one so elegant.

Louis van Zyl (Lecturer)

Campus: Cape Town

Louis career to date has been star studded gaining numinous commendations, awards and firsts. Louis studied and Diploma in Graphics and Web Design and a Bachelors Degree in Arts Motion Picture Medium from AFDA.

Career wise Louis worked for eTV as a senior motion graphics designer for Morning news and was in charge of broadcasting live news graphics and creating real time animations and graphics for breaking news events. For Tractor Productions Louis worked as a Graphic and Web Designer creating corporate ID’s, branding and billboard design. At Lara Courseware Louis displayed his skills in Flash as a designer and animation in the design and developed interactive training modules. Louis has worked in motion graphics, animation and post production on various television commercials, shows and other products including the motion graphics and title sequence for Blast Beat tv.

Louis joined CityVarsity in 2012 where from day one displayed exceptional social and communication skills as well as passing on his passion for animation and teaching. Louis is a great healthy influence in the department and as role model to the students. A real gentle giant, Louis maintains vegetarian diet and actively encourages the students to participate in yoga and meditations classes.

Events
	-	2013 Industry Feedback

Department areas
	-	3D digital animation
	-	Games creation
	-	2D animation
	-	Stop frame
	-	2012 student showcase
	-	Student life
	-	Alumni and brag spot