20 Best Animation Schools in California

Best Animation Schools in California!

Contrary to what most people believe, animation plays a far larger role in daily life. Animation is employed in the following fields in addition to television and entertainment:

• Video Games
• Healthcare
• Education
• Advertising
• Science
• Travel

Brief Info on Animation Career

Our daily lives include a lot of animation.

Future job opportunities in animation will expand as a result of the quick development of technology. Successful animators bring visuals to life in real time, whether they’re using After Effects to create website graphics or using iPhone photos to recreate a crime scene.

Animators Require:

• Strong focus on the details
• Mastery of the movement arts
• The capability of animating actual life

Best Animation Schools in California

Here is a look at the best animation schools in California, along with the resources and training they provide.

School of the Visual Arts

• RATE OF GRADUATION: 64%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE: 72%

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation program at the School of Visual Arts in New York equips students with all the skills they need to be successful. You will receive training using the most recent hardware and software tools used by professional animators to produce works of visual art.

Following their graduation, students have gone on to work for renowned animation studios like:

• Disney
• DreamWorks
• Warner Brothers
• Nickelodeon

The animation degree’s course of study includes:

• Storyboarding
• Logic Design
• Layout Courses

To complete the degree, animation majors must also pass two anatomy courses, which will help you comprehend the entire skeletal and muscular system. This cross-platform basis makes SVA NYC one of the best animation programs and equips graduates for success in character animation.

The university has additionally been ranked among the top Art and Design Universities by Salary Potential by Payscale. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Higher Education has accredited the School of Visual Arts. Additionally, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design has accredited it.

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Massachusetts College of Arts and Design

• RATE OF GRADUATION: 73%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE: 70%

The MassArt program exposes students to a range of animation styles, like that of many other animation institutes. You’ll research subjects like:

• Animated characters
• Documentary
• Stop motion
• Digital animation

After completion, graduates of this animation program are well-prepared to find jobs as well-rounded animators. Throughout their studies, students can use both traditional and experimental methods thanks to the program.

MassArt was established as a facility for:

• Artists
• Designers
• Architects

The National Association of Schools of Art and Design has accredited the institution. The Northeast Association of Schools and Colleges has also granted it accreditation.

Florida State University 

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  80%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  32%

A Bachelor of Fine Arts in Motion Picture Arts with a focus on Animation and Digital Arts is available at Florida State University. The curriculum examines the various ways that animation is used in the film business.

Students at this prestigious animation school in Florida use the most recent tools available in the industry and start using 2D animation software in their first course.

The Adobe creative suite’s animation tools, including Photoshop and After Effects, are taught to students.
In order to provide them a grounding on how far the business has progressed, they are also taught film history. 3D, texturing, visual effects, and other topics are included in the courses to provide students a well-rounded education in animation.

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Laguna College of Art and Design

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  53%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  83%

One of California’s top institutions for teaching animation is Laguna College of Art & Design. It provides a degree program in animation that is committed to developing extraordinary storytellers.

The most recent tools, such as Adobe Animate and open-source animation software with advanced functionality, are used by students to strengthen their skills. Instructors that have worked in the animation industry professionally teach the students. They aid in preparing upcoming animators for careers in the industry.

University of Pennsylvania

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  96%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  9%

Through the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania, students can enroll in a program in digital media design. Motion graphics, computer information and sciences, 3D animation software expertise, and Penn’s program. This gives a comprehensive review of contemporary digital media.

To give students the most information feasible, animation majors study courses in physically based animation, computer graphics, automata, and 3D. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has granted Penn its accreditation.

The Ohio State University

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  82%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  68%

Among the universities offering animation programs is Ohio State University. Both undergraduate and graduate degrees in arts and technology are available from Ohio State. It focuses primarily on animation. Students gain expertise in a variety of areas related to animation, including:

• Video Game
• 3D Animation
• Digital Imaging

A Master of Fine Arts in Design with a focus on Digital Animation and Interactive Media is also offered by the college. Students must finish a demanding liberal arts component as part of their degree program in addition to their major.

The Higher Learning Commission has given Ohio State its accreditation. Charles Scuri, who is regarded as the originator of digital art and computer animation, is one notable alum. Additionally, Jeff Smith, the author of the “Bone” comic book series. Ohio State graduates have a 61% employment rate.

Columbia College of Chicago 

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  43%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  90%

One of the top animation schools in the country is Columbia College of Chicago. It grants a BA in both conventional and digital animation.

Computer animation or visual effects are available as concentrations for students in the program. As a result, they have the freedom to match their education to their career. In the conventional animation curriculum, students can specialize in either stop-motion or hand-drawn animation. They instruct in cut-out animation techniques and employ the greatest sketching tools. Training in both 2D and 3D animation is offered by both concentrations.

A BFA in Animation option is also available to students, expanding the program’s liberal studies component. The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools’ Higher Learning Commission has granted the college accreditation.

Pratt Institute, New York

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  66%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  66%

A BFA in Digital Arts and Animation is offered by the Pratt Institute in New York. As they study new abilities and the history of new media, students are taught 2D and 3D animation.

Nine cutting-edge animation studio classrooms and a fast fiber channel network are available at Pratt Institute. There are specific green screen facilities as well as audio recording studios.

Graduates of this prestigious digital animation program will acquire the knowledge and abilities necessary to contribute to the animation industry.

New York University

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  64%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  26%

NYU offers a BS and a BFA in Film & Television with an animation focus through the Tisch School of the Arts. Pixar Animation veterans Alex Woo and Andrew Coats are notable examples.

One of New York’s top animation schools is Tisch. It covers analyses of a wide range of film and television-related topics. This prepares students for a profession in their sector of choice while also imparting information and abilities outside the realm of animation. Majors in animation are skilled with programs like Adobe Flash and Moho (formerly Anime Studio).

This five-year animation program includes classes intended to provide students insight into the financial side of the arts industry. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has granted NYU its accreditation.

Brigham Young University

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  58%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  69%

For students who want to pursue employment in the film industry after graduation, Brigham Young University is one of the top colleges for animation. Students must be proficient in cinema theory, history, and culture. They will acquire the skill sets required for employment in the area of animation of their choice.

Instead of just studying animation, this gives pupils a more diverse education. Additionally, all of Brigham Young’s degree programs include a demanding liberal arts component that gives students instruction outside the realm of the arts.

Only 100 students are accepted each year at this prestigious animation school.

Both the National Association of Schools of Art and Design Commission on Accreditation and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities have accredited BYU. An Arts, Entertainment, and Media graduate from BYU may expect to make about $60,000.

Maryland Institute College of Art

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  72%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  90%

One of the top animation colleges in the United States is Maryland Institute College of Art, located near Baltimore. The BFA in Animation program at MICA teaches students how to produce original works of modern art.
Computer animation technology
Students may use a variety of 2D, stop-motion, and 3D animation techniques to finish their creative creations.
Students can take classes at both schools because to a relationship between the school and Johns Hopkins Medical School.

MICA is frequently listed as one of the top 10 institutions for visual arts in the nation. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Higher Education has accredited MICA. Additionally, the National Association of Schools of Art & Design has accredited it.

Universities of Central of Florida

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  74%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  45%

Both the BA in Visual Media and the BA in Digital Media Game Design at the University of Central Florida have a significant animation component.

This provides plenty of options for internships and professional experience, allowing students to learn animation firsthand.

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has accredited UCF. More than 60% of graduates from this prestigious animation school in Florida stated the school helped them succeed in their careers after they graduated. Ten years after graduating from UCF, the typical wage was close to $114,700. Nearly 60% of them were working in their subject of study.

University of California, Los Angeles 

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  91%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  14%

One of the top animation programs is available at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The curriculum strikes a balance between innovation and technology. This teaches the following:

• Scriptwriting
• Editing
• Storytelling

The Walter Lantz Digital Animation Studio is where students work. They receive practical experience in a field where technology is constantly evolving. Following graduation, students have the option to pursue a full year of animation study in addition to an internship.

When making an application to the UCLA Animation Workshop, students must be enrolled in the BA in Film and Television program.

Rochester Institute of Technology

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  68%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  74%

A production-focused BFA in cinema and animation is available from Rochester Institute of Technology. From their first year of study onward, students start working on 16mm film, digital video, and animation, and they continue to improve their production skills.

A focus in animation is available to students. The course teaches students about animation through lectures, labs, and guest speakers. Throughout the course of the program, students at this prestigious animation school in New York create a number of cartoons, working through all stages of production, including scripting, budgeting, shooting, and editing.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has granted RIT accreditation. More than 87% of the university’s graduates are working in the fields they studied. Elan Lee, a creator of virtual reality games, earned his RIT degree in 1998.

Carnegie Mellon University

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  89%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  17%

Students can get knowledge of the various facets of animation by concentrating in Animation and Special Effects at Carnegie Mellon University.

Any major student may include the specialization in their course work. Additionally, students can combine the animation emphasis with their integrative design, arts, and technology studies. Students at Carnegie Mellon have access to cooperative studios that encourage practical learning. They may use what they learn in class to solve problems in the real world because of this.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has granted Carnegie Mellon its accreditation. The institution’s 1959 graduation year saw the arrival of Ivan Sutherland, widely regarded as the father of computer graphics.

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Savannah College of Art & Design

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  64%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  78%

BFA, MA, and MFA degrees in animation are available from Savannah College of Art and Design.

Students get access to technology that is of a professional caliber, enabling them to become proficient in industrial technologies that they will use in their careers.

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has accredited SCAD. Amazingly, 98% of graduates from this prestigious animation school in the US reported finding work within 10 months of graduation.

University of Southern California

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  92%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  16%

The BA in Animation and Digital Arts program at the University of Southern California enables students to combine a liberal arts education with a career specialty.

The Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences offers pre-professional courses. The School of Cinematic Arts is where the major courses are chosen. To graduate, all students must successfully complete a senior project.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges has granted accreditation to the top animation school in California. “Gumby” creator and USC alumnus Art Clokey received his degree in 1956. George Lucas, the man behind “Star Wars,” is a USC alumnus as well. After graduation, more than 70% of USC graduates get jobs.

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California Institute of the Arts

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  67%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  27%

Through its School of Film and Video, California Institute of the Arts offers courses in both character animation and experimental animation. Students who complete the Character Animation program for their BFA degree will have a better understanding of the craft of narrative and character performance in relation to animation.

A BFA or an MFA in Experimental Animation are options for students. The degrees are made for students who want to create their own visions within the always evolving framework of animation.

Walt and Roy Disney launched CalArts. It was the first institution of higher learning in the nation to provide undergraduate and graduate degrees in the performing and visual arts. With its “Curating Your Own Life: Transitioning to a Career after CalArts” program, the institution aims to assist students in finding jobs once they graduate.

Students can take career-related courses and apply for internships through the course. The Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges has accredited the college.

Ringling College of Art and Design

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  65%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  69%

At Ringling College of Art and Design, students can obtain a BFA in Computer Animation while learning how to develop characters and tell tales with computer-generated animation. Students can concentrate on learning how to integrate technical expertise with conceptual concepts with this computer animation degree. The course teaches you how to engage an audience intellectually, emotionally, and visually.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has accredited Ringling College. Additionally, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design has accredited it. One of the greatest animation programs in the world is offered there.

Rhode Island School of Design

• RATE OF GRADUATION
  90%
• RATE OF ACCEPTANCE
  27%

Numerous magazines and organizations have recognized Rhode Island School of Design as the best art school in the nation. The university provides a BFA in:

• Film
• Animation
• Video

Students can create films in a variety of genres by using live action, animation, or a combination of the two.

Modern technology is available in the RISD facilities, including digital editing, sound mixing, and puppet animation. It is employed throughout the sector. Students receive instruction on how to use the standard industry tools.
The National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges both accredit RISD.

Conclusion

A degree from one of the top animation schools can help you advance in the visual effects industry, regardless of whether your career goals are to edit videos for your favorite animated series or to develop blockbuster video games.

Think about the type of animation you want to learn and the software tools and abilities that are most essential to you before searching for the finest animation programs. Your choice of the best animation school for your objectives will be aided by this focus.

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