Beginning February 2021 After-School All-Stars will launch its new All-Star Academy—Cartoon Academy. This academy is for students who love to sketch, draw, illustrate or enjoy another form of the visual arts. The inaugural Cartoon Academy will include drawing and illustration of comic book and/or cartoon characters.
Students will work their way through three phases of learning to build skill and knowledge in the creation of superhero characters, cartoons, and other forms of illustration and drawing. Students will further their learning through Cartoon 201 and Cartoon 301 subsequent sessions.
Industry Experts
Click on each expert's image to learn more.
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Ruben Aquino
World-Renowned Animator
World Renowned Animator, Ruben spent over 30 years working at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Among his vast portfolio are the following animation developments: Ursula from Little Mermaid, Adult Simba from the Lion King, Shang from Mulan, Great Mouse Detective, Jake the Kangaroo Mouse from Rescuers Down Under, Maurice from Beauty & the Beast, Winnie the Pooh & Eeyore (from the 2011 version), Eudora & James from The Princess & the Frog, Francis the Bulldog from Oliver & Company, and Pleakley from Lilo and Stitch.
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Peejay Catacutan
Creator | Illustrator | Art Director
Peejay Catacutan is a Filipino comic book creator, illustrator, and is the Art Director for OSSM Comics, where he worked on XenoGlyphs and Monomyth. He has produced card illustrations for Marvel Comics under the Upper Deck company and is currently working on comic covers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin and Power Rangers.
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Keith Dawkins
Founder/CEO, Rock Hill Media Ventures
Founder/CEO of Rock Hill Media Ventures, Keith Dawkins has over 25 years of experience in the media/entertainment, professional sports and social impact space. Experienced in overall business operations, setting company strategy, leadership and management of people, deal negotiations, and driving revenue growth…with a strong background in marketing, content strategy and creation, digital/social media strategy and execution and forging strategic partnerships with high-profile brands. Keith’s a former senior executive at a big media company and CEO in the non-profit (social impact) space.
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Dillon Gemmill
Writer + Producer
Dillon Gemmill is a writer of Power Players for Man of Action Entertainment. He also has an extensive background in Post Production for both film and television.
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Margaret Loesch
Executive Chairman, Kartoon Channel!
Throughout her formidable career, Margaret Loesch has held senior roles with numerous leading companies as both a creative and business executive. In 1990, she became the founding President and CEO of Fox Kids Networks Worldwide, growing the channels across all metrics, where it was eventually sold to the Walt Disney Company for $5.5 billion. During this time, she launched a multitude of hit series, including the billion-dollar brand Power Rangers, growing Fox Kids into the top children’s program service on television.
Prior to Fox Kids, Loesch served as President & CEO of Marvel Productions. Previously, she was President of The Jim Henson Company, and the Founding President & CEO of the U.S. Hallmark Channel and Crown Media U.S. Most recently, Loesch served as President of the HUB, which was a joint venture between Hasbro Toys and Discovery Communications, where she had oversight of all business and creative areas of the network. In addition to Power Rangers, her resume includes launching some of the most successful animated children’s properties in the world, such as Batman, Spider-Man, Steven Spielberg’s Animaniacs, Transformers, My Little Pony, X-Men, Muppet Babies, and Fraggle Rock.
Academy Students
Click on Student images to learn more about each Student.
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Favorites
Captain America, Joy from Inside Out, Mulan, Veggie tails.Favorite Things To Draw
Cartoon characters and my dogs.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "We can draw certain things to make a difference and inform and help other heal with the beauty in art."
- "Really I feel like life right now is hard for a lot of people and I believe that we need to come together to get through it."
- "Even when things get hard you still persevere through it and if you don't like something you do something about it you change it for the better."
- "Art helps me with my emotions."
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Favorites
Anime and vintage Disney.Favorite Things To Draw
People, and personally created characters.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "I make my own characters to create my own world in a book I am making."
- "I just enjoy drawing."
- "I want people to know my art style, anime and cartoons in realism."
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Favorites
Ash from PokémonFavorite Things To Draw
Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "I try my best to be creative."
- "Illustration, drawing and sketching are important to me because it shows who I am."
- "Art can help relieve some stress and learn about others."
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Favorites
Bat woman because she works as a superhero to save/fight off people, Mario is a game/hero who also saves his friends, and Spongebob is a funny show who works in Krusty Krabs. Favorite Things To Draw
I like to draw anything that makes me happy but I like drawing people.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "I started drawing then I realized it was fun and I said to myself 'Art is my new subject', I decided I want to be an artist when I grow up."
- "Art can reflect you and speak about you on different things, whether it's a building or a fictional character, art can help you because it's a form of religious activity, growth mindset, and expression."
- "I think art can make you smarter than you are because you have to figure out what you want to draw and how to draw it and copy it from another device and/or your brain."
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Favorites
Lightning McQueen, Spongebob, Lamelo BallFavorite Things To Draw
Basketball players, carsQuotes About Art + Drawing
- "I like art because its fun and I can create pictures that I like."
- "Art can help me and my community during this challenging time because I can make things that make me and others happy and not sad."
- "Sports inspire my illustrations and drawings."
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Favorites
I like hunger games and a lot of books.Favorite Things To Draw
I like to draw astronauts and roses. Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Art can express different things to different people."
- "Art is fun and entertaining."
- "I like art and think it's fun."
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Favorites
I really like the Raina telegamere graphic novels, and also She-Ra the princess of Power is a show that I really enjoy.Favorite Things To Draw
I paint more things, but I like to paint more jokey stuffQuotes About Art + Drawing
- "I find art very relaxing, and the artist community is very kind."
- "Art is important to me because it is a way of showing my creative side, and there are no rules to painting."
- "I think what will inspire me is my dogs and where I live, I have always wanted to paint my dogs but I have never had the materials to do so, and I feel like this will help with that, and my backyard is very foresty, and it would be a beautiful painting."
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Favorites
The Grinch, Danganronpa(anime)Favorite Things To Draw
Anime characters and animals.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "I want people to know that I'm enjoying art and not doing it to impress anyone."
- "I do art for fun and it helps me keep my mind off of other important things."
- "I don't like drawing things in the outside, I like fantasy."
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Favorites
Venom, Spider Man, Deadpool, How To Train A DragonFavorite Things To Draw
Cartoon characters.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Art relaxes me, it let me be creative and use my imagination."
- "Art can create hope and inspiration, take your mind off your troubles and bring people together."
- "I want people to know I am an artist that tries to do her very best at something I love."
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Favorites
Teen Titans has be there for me it made me chase after one of my dreams which is to be cartoonist.Favorite Things To Draw
Some of my favorite thing to draw are landscapes any type. But also to try and draw my favorite anime, as well as animals.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "I want people to know that I will put mindset in something that I want complete something, I also love to sew or create new thing. "
- "Who inspired me to become an artist has to be the people who create the cartoon, as well the people who make the anime, because they take so much to touch everything even small detail. "
- "I love [to] listen to music or watch things when I do things. I also like to learn to cook and I love to have fun."
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Favorites
Spongebob Squareparents was my whole elementary, I loved his enthusiasm and I still do. One of the first few graphic novels I read was "Smile," the first graphic novel series being "Maximum Ride." I'll read ANY and I mean any manga, especially manga from anime that I watch. Favorite Things To Draw
I love to draw anime characters, especially characters from animes I favor such as "Haikyuu!" and "Danganronpa." Sometimes I like to draw random people that come to mind or character combinations.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Illustrations just seemed to express more to me than words."
- "Art is a way you can express your feelings and what's going on around you."
- "One person's art can inspire another person to do good, lighten up their mood, or spread awareness."
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Favorites
A TV character that means a lot to me is the cartoon Little Einsteins.Favorite Things To Draw
Parts of the face, nature, and different things using lots of colors.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Art can help you during challenging times because you can put your anger into it and draw what's happening and express your feelings."
- "Something that I want people to know about me as an artist is that I draw by hand. Something else I also want people to know about me as an artist is that the art pieces that I made take time and are made with love and creativity!"
- "Illustration, drawing, and sketching are important to me because when you sketch you add your love, creativity, details and texture."
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Favorites
Dion from Raising DionFavorite Things To Draw
EverythingQuotes About Art + Drawing
- "I like to draw anything."
- "Art is important to me because it helps me accept myself."
- "The world we live and the hope I have for the future inspire my illustrations and drawings."
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Favorites
AnimeFavorite Things To Draw
Charadcters/AnimeQuotes About Art + Drawing
- "I like drawing for fun."
- "Art helps me relax."
- "During these times art calms me down. "
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Favorites
I really like the vampire diaries, The originals, legacies, criminal minds, I love the characters my fav cartoons/shows are bobs burgers and also gravity falls. Favorite Things To Draw
People like diff body figure like big or small and also like diff figures like things that inspire me like things from pinterest or gaming and social apps. Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "I don’t draw just to draw I draw off what is very meaning full to me. "
- "Drawing is important to me cause I get to put my mind into paper what am feeling and want to see on paper."
- "I think it will be a very exciting experience and am exciting to learn new things and learn the meaning behind the art I and other people draw."
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Favorites
Well the one series I adore would be Undertale (it's an indie game) why I like this game so much is because the game is so deep the entire game is a fourth wall break, but other than that it has a cast that you just get hooked on and the music (while being composed by one person) is crazy good and it helps show the feeling of the scene well.Favorite Things To Draw
My favorite thing I "try" to draw is comics.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "I usually make art for me like my old comics usually only a few people saw those, but it would be cool for others to see my ideas."
- "For me the best thing about drawing is getting set on something, making it, and then seeing what you have done. It's a great feeling especially looking back on something that you made a long time ago."
- "I could only hope what I draw can put a smile on someone's face."
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Favorites
Superman and Batman/The Muppets/Warner Bros. CartoonsFavorite Things To Draw
Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes, Popeye the Sailor, Super Mario Bros.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera inspired me to be an artist."
- "I stay focused with good thoughts, and happy when I do art during challenging times."
- "Sound effects, models, personalities, and movement inspires my art. "
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Favorites
Fast and Furious. Avatar the last airbender.Favorite Things To Draw
Anime, Cartoon characters, Cartoon styles charactersQuotes About Art + Drawing
- "I m creative artist who wants to be a positive inspiration to everybody. To feel bless and happy."
- "Art can help us draw to stay positive and happy.when we are frustrated with things, we can use that negative energy toward art and do good things."
- "Art can help because it is a form of therapy."
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Favorites
Bob Ross. He runs his own show.Favorite Things To Draw
People and apples. Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Art can help me by giving me motivation to make a change in the world."
- "Illustration/drawing/sketching is important to me because it takes away the stress in my life."
- "I want people to know I am very creative."
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Favorites
Disney charactersFavorite Things To Draw
ImagesQuotes About Art + Drawing
- "Art is my passion and my relaxation."
- "Art as communication can help me during challenging times."
- "My community inspires me"
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Favorites
White Fang because he was always treated badly, but he persevered and got through it. Favorite Things To Draw
What I like drawing the most is animals, like anthropomorphic animals and backgrounds/landscapes. Quotes About Art + Drawing
- ""I've seen lots of videos of people drawing and animating and I would say to myself, 'That's going to be me someday.' And I would like to achieve that." "
- "I would like everyone to know that I persevere, and they should too because 'Dreams don't work unless you do.'"
- "Drawing is very important to me. It helps me express myself and calms me down when I'm stressed."
- "I made a collage sketch talking about the corona virus, racism, and all the other negative things, deleted it, and it made me feel better."
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Favorites
AnimeFavorite Things To Draw
Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Illustration, drawing and sketching are important to me because it helps me calm down."
- "I am an anime lover."
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Favorites
Dragon Ball Z characters, Pokemon characters, and Super Smash Bros characters are characters who mean a lot to meFavorite Things To Draw
Some of my favorite things to draw are monsters, dragons, and cartoon characters.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Illustration / drawing / sketching is important to me because it unleashes my creative side."
- "Art can help me and my community during these challenging times by relieving stress and making us forget about what's currently happening in the world. I feel nervous since I don't know much of what will happen to me and my family during these challenging times."
- "What might inspire my drawings / illustrations might be the strive to become a better artist / person."
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Favorites
smile, guts, braveFavorite Things To Draw
people and animals.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Art is important to me because it helps me calm down and can keep me entertained for hours."
- "Art can help by making people feel better, give them hope, or make them feel confident."
- "What might inspire my illustrations/drawings in the Academy are people, animators, cartoon characters, animals, and plants."
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Favorites
Goku from Dragon ball, Captain Underpants, Spider-man into the spider-verseFavorite Things To Draw
CartoonQuotes About Art + Drawing
- "Illustration/drawing/sketching are important to me because its been my passion as a child and its been part of me since when I was young."
- "Art can help me and my community during challenging times by expressing how you're feeling and expressing hope."
- "I'm prefer fiction drawings and landscape drawings than realistic drawing."
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Favorites
None actually.Favorite Things To Draw
I usually draw anything I think of that I feel is good.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Famous painters like Leonardo da vinci and Frida Kahlo inspired me to be an artist."
- "Art can help people see the good side of things and allow them to look for a light in the dark."
- "Art is important to me because it helps ease my boredom and is a fun activity to do."
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Favorites
Percy Jackson (mainly because I spent a year doing worksheets on it, Sageyama (Character from Haikyuu), YuGi (protagonist from Yu Gi Oh)Favorite Things To Draw
I like to draw anime characters. I also like to draw animals / mythological creatures. Another thing I like to draw are nature scenes, like waterfalls or sun sets. Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "I want people to know that I am a diverse artist and draw in a lot of way to incorporate many art styles into one drawing / character."
- "Art can help me and my community during challenging times by making signs and inspirational signs which keep people going and telling them not to give up hope."
- "Art can send a message to people and make them feel good."
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Favorites
Killua and Kurapika from the anime Hunter x Hunter. Kou from the anime Blue Spring Ride. Favorite Things To Draw
Disney Characters, Anime and overall just random sketches. Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Art can be found in anything and anyone can become an artist. "
- "Art is important to me because it is a way to free my mind and to draw out whatever I am feeling."
- "I can help my community with art during these challenging times by giving them inspiration of hope."
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Favorites
Mangas that mean a lot to me are Black Clover, My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Re:Zero Starting Life In Another World, Fire Force. Graphic Novels that mean a lot to me are the DC Batman graphic novels.Favorite Things To Draw
Anime characters, comic book characters, cartoon characters, manga panels, and other TV/movie related characters.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "I really enjoy storytelling within my artwork… My own character designs and story line can inspire my illustrations and drawings."
- "Drawing/illustration/sketching is important to me because it helps me clear my mind from current events that are happening in the world."
- "Art can help me and others in my community by allowing us to freely express what we feel during these times and share among each other which can bring anyone together."
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Favorites
Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton, Be More Chill, Heathers, In The Heights, and other popular and 'modern' musicals.Favorite Things To Draw
I like to draw human faces and objects. Also musical characters and different facial expressions.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Illustration/drawing/sketching is important to me because it helps me calm down and it is something I feel confident in."
- "Self-expression can help my community by showing them more positive pieces of art."
- "I was not born an artist, I had to practice a lot."
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Favorites
My hero Academia, Hiakyuu, All Disney platforms, Assassination Classroom, Avengers, Marvel. Tiana off of princess of the frog. Cartoon network. Izuku Midoriya, Tenya Lida, Tsuyu Asui, Shoyo Hinata, Koshi Sugawara, Tobio Kageyama, Ryunosuke Tanaka, Kenma Kozume, Karma Akabane and Nagisa Shiota.Favorite Things To Draw
My favorite things to draw would be fantasy characters.Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Everything I see is a form of art."
- "Learning is endless and my passion is to be 3d animator one day."
- "I absolutely love art especially, using real life experiences which gives me ideas, and turning them into fantasy anime characters for my art. "
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Favorites
DisneyFavorite Things To Draw
DogsQuotes About Art + Drawing
- "Illustration, drawing and sketching are important to me because I can express myself."
- "TV inspired me to become an artist."
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Favorites
CartoonsFavorite Things To Draw
Quotes About Art + Drawing
- "Illustration, drawing and sketching are important to me because it's fun."
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Favorites
total eclipse, titanicFavorite Things To Draw
flowers, lips, eyes, girls, the ocean, trees, birds, objectsQuotes About Art + Drawing
- "Art makes me think I'm special."
- "My dad inspired me and has helped me be a better artist."
- "I want people to know I am inspired creative nice interesting."
Instructors and Advisors
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Brenna Verner
Lead Instructor
DaniMation Entertainment
Brenna Verner is a Cuban-American artist and animator born and raised in Miami, Florida. She graduated magna cum laude from Florida Atlantic University where she earned her B.F.A. in Film, Video, and New Media. She also earned her A.A degree in Computer Arts and Animation from Miami Dade College’s Honors Program, and soon, she will graduate with her third degree, an A.S. in Animation and Game Art, from the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex as well.
She currently works as an animation instructor on behalf of Danimation Entertainment, an autistic talent development company based in Los Angeles, California. She teaches students of all ages and abilities how to design and animate their own cartoons using industry standard software such as Toon Boom Harmony. She also works as an animation instructor on behalf of Arts 4 Learning, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing arts education in her community, and Varsity Tutors, a live learning platform which connects students with professional personalized instruction.She recently collaborated with MAGIC and Nickelodeon to produce her own original 2D animated short film called “A Balanced Breakfast” which will soon air in both English and Spanish on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.
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Omar Spahi
Industry Advisor
TV Animation and Comic Book Writier
Omar Spahi is co-founder of Creation Station. A new animation production company, he’s written for Cartoon Network’s Ben 10, and produced Code 8 which has been featured as the #1 movie on Netflix. He’s also co-created and written Getting It Together for Image Comics, as well as written and created Xenoglyphs and Thaniel. He’s also been featured as himself on Million Dollar Listing NY.
Academy Mentors
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Steering Committee
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Andrea Bazán
Chief Development Officer
After School All-Stars
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Tara Blake
Marketing Manager
After School All-Stars
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John Ghingo
President
Applegate Farms
Assistant, Claudia Burke: [email protected]
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Hailee Moehnke
Program Operations Manager
After-School All-Stars
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John Ollwerther
Executive Vice President, Business Development & General Manager
Kartoon Channel!
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Carlos Santini
Executive Vice President of Programs
After School All-Stars
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Kristin Stayer
Content and Curriculum Specialist
After-School All-Stars
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Learn about our 2020 Summer Academy, TikTok Summer Songwriting Academy here.
