America’s Top Animation Schools

Despite the challenging nature of breaking into the animation industry, it continues to be a vibrant area for budding professional artists. As Jinko Gotoh, an Oscar-nominated producer and vice president at Women in Animation (WIA), explains, there are fewer entry-level job openings due to the increasing offshoring of work over the years. With the overall industry shrinking and a decrease in content demand, available positions are also dwindling.

The field of animation is experiencing a critical juncture due to the continuous influence of market trends and the increasing role of artificial intelligence. Institutions such as WIA and ASIFA-Hollywood (the organizers of the Annie Awards, often referred to as the Oscars of animation) are responding to this shift by offering extra courses, hosting industry events, and conducting long-term studies. Aubry Mintz, executive director of ASIFA-Hollywood and a professor at CalState Long Beach, emphasizes this change, stating, “It’s crucial for students to understand that this challenge will persist and intensify. So, how can you equip yourselves for the future?

When considering where to pursue a career in animation, aspiring animators should thoughtfully decide on the best approach for their dream. To assist future artists in choosing the optimal path, The Hollywood Reporter has created its first-ever list of top animation schools. Schools were chosen based on feedback from ASIFA-Hollywood, The Animation Guild, Black N Animated, and LatinX in Animation, and ranked using factors such as graduation and retention rates, cost, and other data provided by the schools and the Department of Education.

ArtCenter College of Design

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

ArtCenter College of Design is renowned for cultivating industry-ready talent through a blend of cross-disciplinary teamwork, portfolio enhancement in advanced studios, and an atmosphere that closely resembles the professional work environment. The college offers degree programs in fields such as entertainment design, illustration, graphic design (with motion design emphasis), preparing students to excel in areas like visual development, direction, art direction, title sequences, and beyond. Students learn about the industry’s business aspects and gain hands-on experience through state-of-the-art workstations, extensive workshops, and prototyping facilities. The annual Entertainment Expo serves as a platform for showcasing student work to over 2,000 industry professionals.

TUITION $55,182

ALUMNI Ryan Meinerding (Marvel Studios vp visual development); Floyd Norman (Sleeping Beauty)

Brigham Young University

PROVO, UTAH

For individuals prepared to handle BYU’s more traditional culture and religious education standards, the Center for Animation’s BFA – backed by Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull – frequently wins Student Emmys and Student Academy Awards. Being 600 miles away from Hollywood doesn’t hinder strong connections with top studios, offering mentorship, access to exclusive software tools, and work processes, in addition to 2D and 3D courses tailored for the studio environment. The key to student success lies in a focus on collaboration and production rather than personal creativity, as well as a specialized short course option.

TUITION $6,888 (Latter-Day Saints members); $13,776 (non-members)

ALUMNI Masha Ellsworth (Inside Out 2)

California Institute of the Arts

VALENCIA, CALIFORNIA

I’m a proud alum of this exclusive animation school that was started by Roy and Walt Disney way back in 1961. It’s got quite the illustrious network of graduates, with names like Glen Keane from ‘The Little Mermaid’ and Genndy Tartakovsky behind ‘Primal’ among them. Each year, we get a chance to create our own student short film. Plus, there’s this summer animation residency that’s just the cherry on top! The BFA and MFA in experimental animation help us cultivate our unique artistic styles, while the BFA in character animation hones our skills in both traditional and CGI animation, even teaching us about sound effects. Our annual Producers’ Show attracts big-name studios, so it’s a great opportunity to showcase our work.

TUITION $60,650

ALUMNI Jorge Gutiérrez (The Book of Life); Lauren Faust (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic)

Cal State University, Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

At Cal State campuses that are known for affordability and diversity, Long Beach stands out by providing students with a variety of options in animation and preproduction, ranging from traditional 2D and 3D methods to more experimental approaches. Students here have the opportunity to create Public Service Announcements (PSAs) with local organizations, enroll in 11 different art studio programs, and make use of state-of-the-art facilities such as a 360-degree theater, Virtual Reality room, motion-capture system, and 3D printing shop. Furthermore, the school’s connection to ASIFA-Hollywood faculty provides students with close proximity to industry events, screenings, and networking opportunities within the entertainment industry.

TUITION $18,972 (undergraduate); $17,922 (graduate)

ALUMNI Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Kung Fu Panda 2); Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast)

DePaul University

CHICAGO

The bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offer various options for specialization, including traditional animation (both hand-drawn and stop-motion), 3D animation, and VFX. Students also gain access to cutting-edge AI art tools through their coursework. Additionally, they have the opportunity to utilize a 60,000-square-foot production facility at Cinespace Chicago, as well as a virtual production stage equipped with an LED wall and real-time networked rendering. A study abroad program in Japan and the Frame-by-Frame Animators Conference, featuring guests such as Bruce W. Smith from The Proud Family, are particularly noteworthy experiences.

TUITION $46,605 (undergraduate); $30,560 (graduate)

ALUMNI Jennifer Stachovic (BoJack Horseman); Molly McCandless (Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio)

Gnomon

LOS ANGELES

3D art students aiming for professional readiness upon graduation might consider this BFA in Digital Production. This program offers a solid foundation in the arts, coupled with comprehensive understanding of the 3D production process. Students get to work with advanced industry software, along with certificate programs and standalone courses that many graduates from top four-year institutions utilize to sharpen and broaden their skills and portfolio.

TUITION $24,780

ALUMNI Hannah Kang (The Wild Robot)

New York University

NEW YORK

Located within the Undergraduate Film and Television department at NYU, the Kanbar Animation Center offers a studio-style learning environment where students are mentored to become skilled storytellers and filmmakers in animation. Students with varying levels of experience cultivate their unique artistic voices while mastering the fundamentals and techniques of animation. Advanced studies provide opportunities to specialize in specific areas. The center features a stop-motion animation room and a capture studio equipped with a wraparound green screen. Notably, NYU ensures that first-year undergraduates admitted to its New York campus whose family’s annual income is below $100,000 can attend tuition-free.

TUITION $68,978

ALUMNI Matiss Kaza (Flow); Tom Fields (The Legend of Vox Machina)

Rhode Island School of Design

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

As a budding artist and gamer, I’ve found my creative sanctuary in this educational journey that goes beyond merely mastering technical skills. It encourages self-directed learning, helping me shape and refine my unique aesthetic vision.

In the first year, I’m given unprecedented access to cutting-edge studios for filmmaking, video production, 16mm, 35mm, puppet animation, printmaking, and even virtual reality (VR). A brand-new Movement Lab allows me to delve into the intricacies of movement and the technology that powers it.

Throughout my studies, I’ll be working on projects tailored to my interests, such as lighting or digital editing. The best part? I get to showcase my work at school exhibitions and even our annual film festival. It’s an exciting opportunity to share my creations with the world!

TUITION $63,966

Graduates from the same institution include Seth MacFarlane, known for his work on “Family Guy”, as well as Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, renowned creators of “Avatar: The Last Airbender”.

Ringling College of Art and Design

SARASOTA, FLORIDA

Every year, our campus produces the equivalent of several full-length movies, thanks to our top-tier render farm that’s similar to those used at big studios like Pixar and DreamWorks. This program equips students with cutting-edge laptops preinstalled with necessary software. To maintain a high level of faculty interaction, the student body is kept relatively small. The program takes great pride in its 15 or more Student Academy Awards. During their senior year, students create and manage their own films from concept to final rendering, receiving feedback from esteemed guest artists.

TUITION $54,400

ALUMNI Jeff Fowler (Sonic the Hedgehog); Patrick Osborne (Love, Death & Robots)

San José State University

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA

San Jose State University (SJSU) demonstrates its dedication to the community through student organizations such as the WIA Collective and The Shrunkenheadman Club. These groups facilitate guest lectures, weekly life-drawing workshops, and an annual alumni gathering. SJSU’s reputation for being affordable and competitive is due to its B.A. in Design Studies program, with animation and illustration specializations, which prepares students for entry-level positions. The university also offers a BFA in animation and illustration, striking a balance between fundamental education in color theory and painting, and advanced skills like storyboarding.

TUITION $8,410 (in-state); $21,010 (out-of-state)

ALUMNI Chris Palmer (How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World); Noah Klocek (Brave)

Savannah College of Art and Design

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

A modern reorganization has established a singular School of Animation and Motion, focusing on nurturing exceptional artists utilizing cutting-edge technology. Individuals yearning to refine their unique artistic flair in 2D, 3D, stop-motion animation, digital modeling, rigging, and lighting have the opportunity to do so under the guidance of a faculty of nearly fifty (headed by Disney veterans) who provide access to numerous licenses and software. Notable visitors, such as Michael Ouweleen, president of Adult Swim and Cartoon Network, and SCADpro (the on-site design innovation studio), offer students assistance on professional projects with clients like Universal, NASA, and Google.

TUITION $42,165 (undergraduate); $42,120 (graduate)

ALUMNI Jason Mayer (DreamWorks head of VFX); Nickson Fong (Stuart Little)

School of Visual Arts

NEW YORK

People accustomed to SVA’s team-oriented, advanced production setting might not find it astonishing that it boasts alumni like Chris Prynoski, founder of Titmouse, and Enrico Casarosa, who worked on the movie Luca. Undergraduate and graduate students can delve into courses such as 3D for Motion Design and 2D Artists and AI and Filmmaking: A Comprehensive Study. These courses incorporate modern tools like Unreal Engine and motion-capture technologies. Recently, the BFA program finished its five-year relocation and expansion, showcasing new amenities including a stop-motion lab and sound and editing suite.

TUITION $53,400 (undergraduate), $59,600 (graduate)

ALUMNI Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe); Ian Jones-Quartey (OK K.O. Let’s Be Heroes!)

University of Southern California

LOS ANGELES

Drawing inspiration from the artistic vision of John C. Hench, a renowned Disney animator and Imagineer, USC’s BFA and MFA programs in animation emphasize a hands-on approach to learning. The flexible, tool-neutral curriculum at the university ensures students stay attuned to industry advancements. Moreover, prestigious internships and workshops such as LightBox Expo and AfroAnimation Summit provide valuable career opportunities and upskilling experiences, thereby facilitating successful job placements.

TUITION $73,260 (undergraduate); $60,478 (graduate)

ALUMNI Brad Ableson (Shrek 5); Valerie LaPointe (Soul)

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Certifiably Animated!

Achieving a degree in the U.S. is often seen as a beneficial, organized route for creative individuals aiming to enter the animation sector of Hollywood. However, it’s important to note that there are multiple avenues for honing your skills in an industry where relationships and networking can significantly influence your success, as Hsiang Chin Moe, the chair of education at WIA, points out.

International educational institutions like Gobelins (France), Sheridan College (Canada) and the Animation Workshop/VIA University College (Denmark) are also known for nurturing some of Hollywood’s top animators. Additionally, shorter and more cost-effective programs such as Animation Mentor, AnimSchool, and Exceptional Minds can also pave the way to careers similar to those held by Pierre Coffin (director of Despicable Me), Steve Williams (who revolutionized CGI with Jurassic Park) and Kolby Krooke (lead animator on Transformers One)).

You can find this tale in the June 4 edition of The Hollywood Reporter periodical. To stay updated, consider subscribing.

2025-06-06 20:25