Visual Arts Brampton is offering their Animex workshops for 2005 through Tony Tarantini, a 17-year veteran of the Canadian animation industry.

Much of Tarantini's experience was with Toronto's Nelvana Productions projects such as Care Bears, Dog City, Beetle Juice, Rupert,The Magic School Bus, Little Bear and George Shrinks, as well as the Babar and Pippi features. He is also an instructor with Sheridan's School of Animation.

The 16-weeks, called The HeART of Animation, will include the production principles of making an animated film. Participants will develop their own story ideas, generate design, paint colour visuals and produce a storyboard which will be turned into a story-reel (animatic) of the film.

The second 16-week workshop will encourage participants to take their creativity through to the final short animated film.

Meet Tarantini at the Visual Arts Brampton studio at 1 Bartley Bull Pkwy. on Wednesday, Dec. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m., as part of an open house.

Also on exhibit will be the works of some of the youth programming, and youth instructor Keith Moreau. He is also the artist for the open studio times, weekly at the studio.

Moreau will be available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. for the open house.

Call the studio at 905 453-9142.