Howie Hoffman – TheAniMentors

Howie, along with participating colleagues and collaborators, works with young adults on the autism spectrum as a JOB COACH and CONTENT CREATOR, as well as in SHOW DEVELOPMENT for pitches and shows. Having been a Creative Director (with a professional background as an Art Director AND as a Writer, for advertising AND entertainment, Howie also had a parallel teaching career leading up to his contributions in the founding of Exceptional Minds and his primary role in starting the Animation Studio for the graduates of that academy. As a freelance “AniMentor”, Howie works mostly one-on-one (often remote) with ANIMATION ARTISTS on the spectrum. He teaches by “project based learning”, and often leads actual jobs with his “staff” of animators– Howie as “AniMentor” acts as his mentees’ Creative Director/Co-Director, ofttimes Collaborator, and even as the students’ Animation Assistant!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKXSY5U9zDw

Sample Projects

SEE REEL BELOW of clips from animated shorts by young adult artists on the spectrum, many produced in the Animation Studio of Exceptional Minds during my tenure as Creative Director/
Head of Studio
Also, this reel from students as a teacher for those on the autism spectrum.
TEACHING EM UNDERGRADS’ REEL
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RCT1Te4AzwVkaoa4DJBItYoU3VhI7pqV/view?usp=share_link

Notable Awards/Achievements

some of the Awards won with and/or by my students:

MARVELS of MEDIA ANIMATED SHORT AWARD, Honorable Mention, Exceptional Minds, for Sesame Workshop/“BackYardCamping” MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE 2022
LOS ANGELES ANIMATION FESTIVAL Best Animated Vines, for “Anti-Bully Vines” Exceptional Minds and Cartoon Network. 2019
PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL, Best Animation, Academy of Dreams Category, for “Exceptional Minds Animation Block”. 2018
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL-HOLLYWOOD, Best Animated Short Nominee, “The Kiss” by Stephen Storti.
OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL, Selection “Camp Androscoggin Shorts”.