Gearbox Teams Up With Academy of Art For Borderlands Animation Project

Gearbox and 2K Games have teamed up with the Academy of Art for a Borderlands animation project that will see students at the art school producing a short film based on the popular franchise.

The students participating in the Borderlands Cooperative will be tasked with making an animated short that will be available online by the end of 2013. The project is being done in tandem with 2K and Gearbox's efforts to provide students with an opportunity for career development and networking, and potentially land themselves positions at the studio.

The students will develop the film throughout summer and wrap it up during the fall. The chosen team will be given internships at 2K Games.

"Academy of Art's mission is to prepare students for the jobs of the 21st century and this project with industry leaders at 2K and Gearbox is exactly the kind of real-world experience we strive to provide," said Chris Armstrong, Director of School of Animation & VFX at Academy of Art University. "These students are aspiring game designers, programmers, writers and animators who will now graduate with hands-on experience and a product of work they can share with prospective employers, making them well-positioned to compete for and win the jobs of today's global economy."

Beyond the initiative, there's no word on whether Gearbox will ever attempt to properly credit CodeHunters and its creator Ben Hibon for inspiring the art of Borderlands.