Best Animation Schools in the World. A excellent field for ambitious artists to work in is animation, which is both a widely admired art form and a quickly expanding entertainment industry. Getting a formal education in animation has several advantages, even though it is not absolutely necessary before starting a career in this industry.
The majority of jobs in the field of animation and special effects demand at least a four-year degree, therefore earning at least a bachelor’s degree increases an animator’s work options significantly.
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Additionally, those who work in animation and have degrees typically make more money than their similarly qualified coworkers who did not complete college.
Students have the chance to gain priceless mentorship and advice from seasoned industry experts when studying animation in a formal, academic context with university instructors, the majority of whom are also successful, working animators and artists.
Animation degrees are offered by numerous prestigious universities, giving students a wide range of alternatives. Finding the best animation school can be challenging for many students, since the available options differ greatly in terms of curriculum offers, academic rigor, student body size, and so much more.
We have put together the list of institutions with top-notch animation programs below, along with some details about each, with the intention of helping students who are choosing an animation school to attend.
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Best Animation Schools in the World
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Teesside University (Middlesborough, EN)
LTees, Teesside University’s main entrance, CC BY-SA 4.0. Over 21,000 students attend Teesside institution, a public institution. Teesside is placed #18 out of 185 colleges in the 2022 edition of the annual international rankings published by Animation Career Review. Teesside was also voted fourth best in the UK out of 194 in the same year.
The university offers a rigorous education for students interested in animation theory and history while also teaching them the most in-demand technical skills. The Animation MA program can be finished in two years, either full- or part-time, or in one year of full-time study, with three alternative degree pathways available to students. Teesside University also provides a BA in animation for undergrads.
2. California Institute of the Arts (Santa Clarita, CA)
The California Institute of the Arts, one of the most well-known animation schools in the country, was established by Walt Disney and his brother Roy in 1961. CalArts is one of the top universities in the world for animation and has generated several well-known alumni who have achieved great success.
These people include Christ Buck, the Academy Award-winning animator of Frozen, and Tim Burton, the filmmaker of Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd, and many other classic movies.
Both undergraduate and graduate animation programs are available through CalArts’ School of Film and Video. One option is the three-year MFA Experimental Animation program, which combines theory and practice in animation. In addition to character animation, CalArts also offers a BFA in experimental animation.
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3. MoPA School of Animation (Arles, FR)
The MoPA School of Animation, which is situated in the coastal city of Arles, is well-known for having acted as the source of inspiration for many of Vincent Van Gogh’s works.
The first French art school exclusively devoted to computer-generated animation was MoPA, which opened its doors in 1988. Since its foundation 20 years ago, MoPA has grown to become one of the world’s top institutions for computer-generated animation.
MoPA makes sure that the animated films made by their students are screened at more than 200 festivals a year thanks to agreements with numerous important film festivals and other cultural organizations. Many important awards have been given to MoPA students for their creative work. For instance, a former student of MoPA animated the Oscar-nominated animated short film Garden Party.
4. Emily Carr University of Art & Design (Vancouver, BC)
The Emily Carr University of Art and Design is a public art school that provides many alternatives for students interested in animation, including undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. It is the only university in British Columbia, California that is solely committed to the arts, media, and design. Students can pick between two bachelor of media arts degree programs at the undergraduate level.
The BMA in 2D and experimental animation comes first. The program’s cutting-edge curriculum includes comprehensive, practical instruction in both classic animation techniques including drawing and digital animation.
The BMA in 3D + Computer Animation is ECU’s other undergraduate animation degree program.
The school’s Animation Studio is used by both the 2D and 3D programs. It is a well-equipped studio with many editing suites, a computer lab, and a variety of other professional animation tools and software available for student usage.
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5. The Animation Workshop / VIA University College (Viborg, DK)
The Animation Workshop is an animation school housed in a former military barracks in central Denmark. It is a division of the VIA University College School of Business, Technology, and Creative Industries. In addition to two foundation programs in classical and classical and visual storytelling, it offers a choice of bachelor’s degree programs in animation.
Open to all students who are interested in mastering the basic artistic abilities needed to enter a reputable art school or land a job in the animation industry. Character animation, computer graphic arts, and graphic narrative are three of TAW’s main undergraduate animation programs.
The TAW also provides a variety of 12-week professional training programs. These include a course on animation production management and 3D character animation, among other things.
6. University of Hertfordshire (Hertfordshire, UK)
The institution of Hertfordshire is a public institution with more than 30,000 students enrolled in its English campus. The institution is well known for its superior work in the field of digital animation.
The curriculum for the Digital Animation program at the University of Hertfordshire includes a variety of topics related to 2D animation, 3D animation, visual effects, and video game creation. When it comes to universities with the greatest game design and development degrees, the university was placed 12th globally in 2021.
In terms of creative media and entertainment studies, Hertfordshire was ranked #1 in the UK and #22 worldwide in that same year. Students in the digital animation program have a few key options from which to select. The BA in comics and concept art is one of them.
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7. Sheridan College (Oakville, ON)
Sheridan College, a five-faculty public community college founded in 1967, has won numerous awards. The Faculty of Animation, Arts, and Design, or FAAD for short, is a constituent faculty of Sheridan.
The largest arts and media school in Canada provides six distinct animation-related majors. The honors bachelor of animation is a four-year undergraduate degree program that offers a wide range of animation-related disciplines. Students get the opportunity to gain practical professional experience during a three-month work placement during the third year of the animation BMA.
In addition, FAAD provides a BMA in game design, a four-year honors program that teaches students all the necessary abilities to make games from start. One-year graduate degree programs in visual effects, gaming level design, digital creature animation, and computer animation are among the further animation options available.
8. Gobelins, l’école de l’image (Paris, FR)
The prominent school for the visual arts and communication, l’école de l’image, is situated in the charming Latin Quarter, the city’s oldest neighborhood, in Gobelins.
Gobelins is the greatest animation school overall, according to a 2021 rated list of the top 25 animation schools worldwide by Animation Careers Review. From the year-long preparatory program for animation at the pre-collegiate level all the way up to the graduate level, the school offers a variety of animation options. Gobelins provides a bachelor of arts in character animation and animated filmmaking for undergraduate students.
Additionally, Gobelins provides a number of its courses online, enabling students from all around the world to enroll in courses at this prestigious animation school. Additionally, Gobelins holds its annual International Summer Schools in Paris.
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9. Ringling College of Art and Design (Sarasota, FL)
The Ringling College of Art and Design, usually known as RCAD, is a private institution for the arts and design that was founded in 1931.
The College of Art and Design provides students in their BFA programs with eleven different major options in addition to its two BA major programs. The BFA in computer animation is one of them; it has been ranked as the best program of its kind in all of North America.
Students in this curriculum learn every single step necessary to make a virtual character come to life, including character creation, storytelling, texturing, lighting, editing, and a whole lot more. Alumni of Ringling’s BFA in computer animation have received numerous honors for their work, including Academy Awards.
Game art, graphic design, and virtual reality development are among the several BFA concentrations that Ringling offers.
10. RMIT University (Melbourne, AU)
RMIT University, formerly known as the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, is a public research university with a focus on technology and design that was first established in 1887 as a night school for the arts, sciences, and technology.
RMIT is highly known for its outstanding animation program offerings, ranking #1 overall in the globe and top combined in Australia and New Zealand. RMIT offers a number of animation degrees, including the bachelor of design in animation and interactive media.
Another option is the bachelor of media and communication, which combines studio-based instruction with laboratory-style learning. The master of design is a research-based graduate degree program offered by RMIT that aims to equip students for cutting-edge professions in the design sector. A master of animation, gaming, and interactivity is also offered by the institution.
FAQs on Best Animation Schools in the World
What country has the best animation schools?
Numerous top ranked colleges that offer animation courses are located in Canada, according to the QS World University Rankings. Students who enroll in an animation degree program in Canada will learn the fundamentals of animation as well as the particular software and methods employed by animators.
What do you need to get into animation school?
Of course, you should study computer science and art studies in high school if you want to work as an animator. Algebra and geometry courses in math will also be beneficial. Take classes in game design, computer animation, and digital design if your institution provides them.
How do I choose an animation school?
Besides mentorship and internships, look for a school in your price range that has a solid reputation. Find out if an animation school is respected among industry professionals. Find out if the school is accredited. Accreditation is a good sign that a school meets high educational standards.
What do animation students study?
Your ability to develop and improve your creative abilities can be enhanced by enrolling in an animation or computer animation degree program. Various subjects, such as fundamental animation principles, the production pipeline, character and background design, storyboarding, and modeling, will be covered while you learn from experts in the field.
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