If you are passionate about storytelling and love to bring life to characters, then animation, visual effects, and gaming would be your thing. This is the perfect combination of entertainment and technology. Animation is a sought-after career that offers high salaries and opportunities for career growth.
This means that there is a lot of competition. However, those who have the right skills and aptitude will be successful. It is therefore important to get good training and what better place to be trained at than the best animation schools that the world has to offer. Sheridan College is the best animation school in the world.
Top 10 Best Animation Schools in the World
These are some of the most well-known animation schools that have produced many successful animators and It is worth checking out.
1. Sheridan College
Sheridan College, located in Ontario, Canada, is known as the Harvard of Animation or Disney North. It is the top choice for animators. Sheridan’s distinguished graduates include Emmy and Academy Award winners in the fields of animation filmmaking and directing. Sheridan offers over 130 programs that issue certificates, diplomas, degrees, and postgraduate qualifications.
Canada’s largest Art School, the Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design (FAAD), is located in Sheridan. It offers 37 programs and has produced 7 Oscar-winning artists. Today, the school offers a 4-year Honours Bachelor of Animation with a mandatory internship. It also offers three post-graduate programs for computer animation, visual effects, and character animation. The School is the best animation school in the world.
Students will be able to create animations of world-class quality in 2D and 3D sequences. They would also acquire problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and visual communication skills. FAAD also offers additional programs in Film, TV, Journalism, Design, Illustration & Photography, Material Art & Design, and Visual and Performing Arts.
2. Bournemouth University
The National Centre for Computer Animation at Bournemouth University (NCCA), is ranked as one of the top visual effects schools in the world and the best place to study animation and gaming. NCCA graduates have been involved in movies such as Fantastic Beasts and The Avengers. Candidates who are interested in game design and amination often choose BU.
More than 60 of the university’s graduates have been nominated for Oscars since 2017. The university offers the following degrees: BA (Hons), Computer Animation Art and Design; BA (Hons), Computer Technical Arts; MA in 3D Computer Animation; MSc in Computer Animation; and Visual Effects. You can also search for courses like BA (Hons), Visual Effects, BA(Hons), Digital Creative Industries, and MA in Digital Effects.
Among the top-ranked courses for those who are interested in a career within the video game industry are BSc(Hons), Games Software Engineering, and BSc(Hons), Games Design.
3. Emily Carr University of Art and Design
The Emily Carr University of Art and Design, located in Vancouver, Canada is a highly-regarded international art and design school. The university’s Ian Gillespie Faculty of Design and Dynamic Media provides interdisciplinary study in the areas of visual communication and story-telling, experimental and 3D animation, film and video, interactive and integrated design, and many other areas.
Animation students can choose to major in 2D and Experimental Animation or 3D Computer Animation. Animation students will learn about character development, character design, story, production techniques, international projects, research, and more. Walt Disney Animation Studios and Sony Picture Imageworks are two of the few employers that employ Emily Carr. It is one of the best animation schools in the world.
4. Griffith University
Griffith University in Australia is a favorite place for animation students. Its animation programs allow you to collaborate with award-winning animators and game designers. You will learn storyboarding, 2D animation, and 3D character animation.
The degrees that the school offers include the Bachelor of Animation, Bachelor of Animation with Honours, Bachelor of Creative and Interactive Media, and Graduate Certificate in Interactive Media. Each program is designed to meet a variety of career goals and backgrounds. Before applying, candidates should review the requirements.
5. University of Technology Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is ranked #1 in Australia and 10th worldwide by the 2019 QS World University Rankings. It offers top-quality animation, gaming, and multimedia programs. UTS offers a 3-year, full-time, or equivalent part-time Bachelor of Design Animation program. There is also a 1-year or equivalent part-time Master of Animation and Visualisation (MAV), and practice-based Ph.D. opportunities.
Students can develop their professional and creative skills through excellent technical, design, and production facilities. UTS Animation students have the opportunity to work with industry leaders like Animal Logic in custom-built studios. Before applying, applicants should review the application requirements and fees. The School is renowned to be one of the best animation schools in the world.
6. ArtFX
ArtFX, located in Montpellier, France is a renowned school for animation, special effects, and video game design. For the past 15 years, this institute has been training international talent in animation and special effects. ArtFX offers courses in 3D animation, VFX movies, and 2D animation cinema.
Additionally, the school offers video game studios, virtual realities studios, and other classes. It also has excellent industry connections with top studios and production companies all over the globe. Popular programs include Master’s degrees in 2D Animation & Stop Motion and Master’s degrees in CGI & Visual Effects.
Professional certifications in programming for video games & VFX are also available. ArtFX offers courses that will suit your career goals, regardless of whether you are a 3D animator, a CG artist, or a supervisor for VFX. To apply for a course, applicants should check the institute website to find out more information about admission requirements, portfolio requirements, as well as fees.
7. Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art, located in London (UK), is a premier public research university. It is the only university worldwide that offers postgraduate art and design courses. It offers innovative postgraduate programs in many fields, including Animation, Digital Direction, and Architecture. Fashion is also available.
The highly ranked MA Animation program offered by the School of Communication/Animation comprises three pathways comprising Documentary Animation, Narrative Animation, and Experimental Animation to be selected when applying for the program.
Before choosing a pathway, applicants can review the details for each one to get a better understanding of the structure and career opportunities. Applicants must prepare a strong application package to be considered for RCA. It is one of the best animation schools in the world.
8. Media Design School
The Media Design School, Auckland, New Zealand is one of the best digital design schools in the Asia Pacific. This private university offers world-class training in 3D animation, visual effects, graphics, motion design, and programming. It offers animation and creative technology degrees, from foundation to graduate certificates.
The school’s top-ranked program is the Bachelor of 3D Animation & Visual Effects. Its graduates have worked in blockbuster films like The Hobbit or Avatar. The Media Design animation school is a perfect place for those who are interested in specializing in Augmented and Virtual Reality. Media Design School is the first New Zealand tertiary institution to offer a qualification in Virtual and Augmented Reality.
9. Gnomon School of VFX and Animation
The Gnomon School of VFX and Animation, located in Hollywood, California is a non-profit college. It has been ranked among the top visual effects schools by professional surveys, including the Hollywood Reporter. The original purpose of the school was to train artists in the industry.
It has since evolved to be a leading art school that offers courses for people who want to work in the film and video games industries. The school offers a Certificate, BFA Degree, and Foundation in Art & Design. There are several specializations available, including Character & Creature Animation and Visual Effects Animation.
Students can collaborate and create real-world projects through the school’s industry-relevant programs. These programs are designed to produce industry-ready graduates making the school one of the best animation schools in the world.
10. California Institute of the Arts
CalArts, the California Institute of the Arts is a leader in the education of animation artists. CalArts programs in visual, media, and performing arts are highly selective and high-ranking. The school offers highly-ranked BFA/MFA programs in Experimental Animation and Character Animation. Each program is tailored to meet the needs of each student and offers a variety of studies that deal with animation concepts and practices.
CalArts students receive cutting-edge animation training, as well as access to video studios and post-production facilities. CalArts alumni have made an impact in their fields. The school is renowned to be one of the best animation schools in the world. Some notable alumni in animation include Wesley Archer (The Simpsons), Adam Beckett (“Star Wars”), and Mark Andrews (Brave).
Related: