A new effort launching this week is pairing people on the spectrum with mentors from Cartoon Network Studios.

The studio, which produces content for Cartoon Network, said it will team up with Exceptional Minds, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that trains individuals with autism to work in animation, postproduction and visual effects.

More than 20 second- and third-year students at Exceptional Minds will be assigned mentors to learn about storyboarding, prop design and more over the course of three months, Cartoon Network Studios said.

The pilot program is part of a broader effort called Cartoon Network Studios Academy that aims to develop new talent in the animation field.

Exceptional Minds already had ties to Cartoon Network. Robert Sorcher, the cable channel’s chief content officer, serves as a co-chair for the group’s Industry Council.

Previous collaborations between the two entities have led to internships and employment opportunities at Cartoon Network, officials said.

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