Exceptional Minds

Home
United States
Sherman Oaks, CA
Exceptional Minds

Non-profit animation & VFX training academy and animation|VFX studios preparing young adults on the autism spectrum for careers in entertainment.

Vision:

To build a future where the neurodiverse perspectives of artists on the autism spectrum are vital to the advancement of our shared goal for a more empowered and inclusive society. Introduction:

Exceptional Minds (EM) is a nonprofit academy and studio preparing young adults on the autism spectrum for careers in digital arts and animation. The first and only school of its kind, EM is a dyn

amic answer to the high unemployment and social isolation characteristic of today’s young adults with ASD as they age out of the public school system. We provide customized instruction in visual effects, digital animation, and work readiness to prepare this underserved population for lifelong careers. Our full-time, three-year professional training program offers a crucial bridge between high school and meaningful employment by building on these individuals. EM also offers private tutoring, small group instruction, and summer workshops for teens and young adults with autism interested in exploring careers in the digital arts.

06/04/2026

Reminder to register for our inaugural Game Jam! 48 hours of building a game from scratch. Open to everyone ages 14 and up.

Register here: https://itch.io/jam/exceptional-minds-game-jam

06/02/2026

We're celebrating two incredible alumni achievements!

Congratulations to Thomas Harmonson and Isaiah Strum on their acceptance into the Visual Effects Society (VES), one of the most respected professional organizations in the visual effects industry.

This recognition reflects years of hard work, talent, and dedication to their craft. We couldn't be prouder to see Thomas and Isaiah welcomed into a community of accomplished artists and industry professionals.

Join us in congratulating them on this exciting and well-deserved achievement!

05/27/2026

We’re excited to share that two Exceptional Minds Animation Studio films have been recognized at the 47th Annual Telly Awards.

In the Animated TV, Film & Shorts – Accessibility & Inclusion category, Watch Your Tone by Dylan Carbonell received a Gold Telly Award, and Too Many Options by Jacob Lenard received a Silver Telly Award.

Chosen from more than 13,000 entries submitted from around the world, this recognition is an incredible honor and a testament to the talent, creativity, and dedication of our artists.

As Telly Awards leadership shared, this year’s winners are “standard bearers of excellence,” and we couldn’t be prouder to see our creators recognized on a global stage.

Please join us in celebrating Dylan Carbonell, Jacob Lenard, and the entire Exceptional Minds Animation Studio team for this outstanding achievement. Thank you to our community for continuing to champion and support our artists every step of the way.

05/26/2026

No Fishing! Written by Austin Smith (Class of 2024)

Created by the Exceptional Minds Animation Studio

05/19/2026

We’re excited to share that Corridor Digital Crew, the filmmakers and VFX artists behind the popular “VFX Artists React” series, are hosting an art auction this week with 10% of proceeds benefiting Exceptional Minds.

Their team creates content that celebrates creativity, filmmaking, animation, and visual effects, and we’re incredibly grateful they chose to support our artists and programs through this campaign.

The auction is already live and runs through this weekend:

https://www.ebay.com/usr/corridorcrew

Huge thank you to the Corridor Crew community for helping spotlight and support neurodiverse talent.

05/08/2026

Congratulations to the winners of our Winter 2026 'Best Of' Awards! 'Best Of' celebrates students who show exceptional dedication and creativity in their classes each semester. Great work from everyone! 🙌

05/07/2026

🎮 Introducing the Exceptional Minds Game Jam

Spend 48 hours building a game with other creative people who love storytelling, design, animation, coding, and chaos in the best way possible.

Whether you’ve never made a game before or already have a few projects under your belt, this is a space to experiment, collaborate, and make something fun from scratch.

Join us in person at Exceptional Minds Academy in Los Angeles or remotely. Open to creators ages 14+ and teams up to 5.

Register here: https://itch.io/jam/exceptional-minds-game-jam

05/06/2026

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to our Academy faculty and staff!

Thank you for the consistency, creativity, and care you bring to your work each day. You help make EM a place where students can do their best work and feel at home ✨

05/05/2026

A fun, creative summer starts here ☀️

Our summer workshops are a space for autistic artists to try something new, build confidence, connect with others, and actually enjoy the process along the way.

This year’s lineup includes animation, green screen, game design, voice acting, video editing (yes, you can make your own movie trailer), and more.

No experience needed. Join us in person or online. Open to ages 14+. Two-week sessions, Monday through Friday.

Save your spot: https://exceptional-minds.org/academy/summer/

Address

14144 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 100
Sherman Oaks, CA
91423

Website

https://exceptional-minds.org/, https://linktr.ee/exceptionalminds

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Exceptional Minds posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Sherman Oaks?