One Airdrie animator has high hopes after a string of success in the Canadian animation scene.

Mitch Hutchinson, a Bert Church High School alumni, now an animator with Vancouver's DHX Studios, has worked on several critically acclaimed TV shows that are rising in popularity.

"In grade 7 I joined a Media Arts class and there was an animation part to it," said Hutchinson. "Throughout high school I just kept joining that same kind of class, just had more fun with animation and then it just became an idea for a job. I never thought about it until after school that maybe this is something that I should pursue."

Hutchinson had received early signs that animation would be his career path. As part of Brent Parrish's Grade 11-12 Media Arts class at Bert Church, Hutchinson, alongside classmate Joel Hineman, would represent Alberta in 2D Animation at Skills Canada 2010 where they would win a gold medal.

Just a few months later, Hutchinson had graduated high school and was setting his sights on making animation his full-time job.

"Vancouver is the home for television and film animation right now in Canada, so that's where all the schools are."

Studying at the Art Institute of Vancouver, Hutchinson was officially on his way.

"Luckily my teacher recommended me to one of the studio's that he's working at," said Hutchinson.  "He was able to get a bunch of us students to work there which was great."

Since landing a job at DHX Studios, Hutchinson has worked on a variety of shows, from the hit boys pre-school show Blaze and the Monster Machines to Monster High, Slugterra, a new show called The Deep, and the second season of Kate and Mim Mim.

"I just sometimes have to sit and take it in and realize that the stuff that I'm doing is going on television and that my name is at the end of the credits, cause sometimes I'll just be working but then I'll have to just think about it - wait a minute this is stuff that is going on TV that other people are seeing across the world, so it's just amazing to take in."

Kate and Mim Mim is currently the top pre-school show on Disney Junior while Blaze and the Monster Machines is also one of the top rated pre-school shows in its category.

Working on high profile projects early on, Hutchinson is hoping that his passion for art and animation will continue to carry him to the next stage of his career.

"I'm hoping there's big opportunities ahead. My dream would definitely be to work at Disney or Pixar - the high dream is to work on those feature film movies."

All shows that Hutchinson has worked on in his early animation career. (Courtesy: Mitch Hutchinson)

Bradley Jones - airdrienews@goldenwestradio.com