CREATIVE FORCE : CALARTS GETS ``TOY'' PREVIEW.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

Ash Brannon taught himself the art of animation at age 2 by pencil-sketching favorite cartoon characters on the corners of pages in his parents' books, then fanning the figures to life.

Mark Walsh and Bobby Podesta, both 24, were inspired to develop their artistic talents as animators after they attended a California Institute of the Arts summer program eight years ago.

The three artists later cultivated their talents at CalArts, so it was fitting the Valencia-based college's faculty and 250 animation students on Thursday were treated to a rare, insider's look at how their alumni had bloomed into the creative forces behind one of the season's most anticipated films - ``Toy Story 2.''

The 93-minute film officially opened Friday night at Disney's El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood before going into wide release Wednesday.

Of more than 40 CalArts alumni who worked on the film, Brannon, now 30, served as co-director of the sequel and helped draft the original ``Toy Story.''

Podesta and Walsh - who as students attended a special CalArts screening of ``Toy Story'' in 1995 before graduating in 1997 - worked as story artists on this year's sequel.

The three filmakers returned to their stomping ground Thursday at the Edward's Grand Palace Cinemas at Valencia Town Center to screen the film with CalArts' budding animators, plus reveal a few tricks of the trade that made the completely computer-generated ``Toy Story 2'' possible.

``We're all happy to come back,'' said Brannon, a native of Georgia who left CalArts in 1990 before graduating because funds ran out.

He joined Pixar in 1993, back when the company specialized in special effects and before it began making its own feature films.

``So much has happened in the industry in the 10 years since I left (CalArts), but I never felt behind or like I had to catch up with the technology,'' said Brannon, as several students lingered for autographs following the presentation.

He added, ``I tell students today to focus on the basics. Principles of drawing and animation are timeless, and they're never going to change.''

Director John Lasseter, another CalArts graduate, was unable to meet students Thursday due to a family emergency, but he routinely provides the college with special screenings of all his projects, CalArts officials said.

``We're obviously very grateful for this premiere before the premiere,'' said CalArts spokeswoman Denise Gutierrez.

Lasseter also created the original ``Toy Story'' and serves as executive vice-president of Pixar Animation Studios in Richmond, Calif., which debuted in the feature filmmaking business with that film.

This time around, Pixar collaborated with Walt Disney Feature Animation to produce ``Toy Story 2.''

That's another notable tie between CalArts and ``Toy Story 2,'' as the 30-year-old performing and visual arts college was co-founded by Disney. CalArts' animation program is the most popular track at the school, and one of the most competitive and prestigious of its kind in the country, a spokesperson said.

``Everything you're learning here is the same as what we're doing,'' Podesta told awestruck students who applauded wildly after the film ended. ``The only difference is that what you do with a brush is replaced with a computer.''

``The computer just allows you infinite layering capabilities,'' added Walsh.

Walsh, a native of Simi Valley, joined Pixar's animation team almost three years ago to work on ``A Bug's Life.''

While he bubbled with enthusiasm as students questioned how visual effects in the film had been accomplished, Walsh repeatedly emphasized the importance of story development and maintaining continuity of characters.

Walsh - who aspires to direct animated films - caught the attention of Pixar's people after earning his college degree with ``Extra Crispy,'' a student film he made at CalArts about a fast-food worker who ``goes crazy and the chickens start talking to him.''

``In school, more than anything I focused on story development as much as I did animation,'' Walsh said. ``That's why I went into animation - because I got to do everything. I got to create characters, decide exactly how they should look, do their voices, the music, you name it. It's all-encompassing.''

Podesta recalled viewing the original ``Toy Story'' four years ago. As a student of traditional drawing techniques, he was ``blown away'' by the possibilities from groundbreaking technology, he said.

``It's still amazing to me,'' Podesta said. ``I have no idea what it'll be like in two years.''

Although he'd retooled scenes countless times to accomplish visual effects he once thought were impossible, Brannon still picks out elements he would improve if given the chance.

``I think every filmmaker feels the same way when they see their film,'' said Brannon. ``You feel it's pulled out of your hands before you were finished.''

Still, Brannon is proud of Pixar's latest accomplishment and compared his wonderment to the first time he created an animated ``flip-book'' at age two.

``It's why we're all in the business. It's the magic of making something inanimate come to life and making people believe in that,'' he said.

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Photo: (color) Among the most notable among the more than 40 CalArts alumni who worked on ``Toy Story 2'' were, from left, the film's story writer and animator Bobby Podesta, co-director Ash Brannon, and story writer and animator Mark Walsh.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer