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What are the top animation school programs in Georgia for 2023?
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah |
| 2 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw |
| 3 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro |
Our 2023 ranking -our twelfth annual- of the top animation school programs in Georgia. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
1. Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia
The School of Animation and Motion at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) houses the world’s first specialized degree in Motion Media Design, three Animation degrees, and three Visual Effects (VFX) options for students seeking an undergraduate or advanced degree. Students in all School of Animation and Motion programs have access to more than 800 networked computers along with a 60,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art digital media center consisting of a green screen lab, in-house theater, and studio environment.
Students in all programs and at all degree levels receive instruction from celebrated professors who have worked at major studios and on award-winning productions such as Ice Age, Pocahontas, and The Lion King.
Programs for animators include the BFA, MA, and MFA in Animation. Available Minors include Animation, Animated Illustration and Publication Design, and Concept Design for Animation and Games. Examples of Minors that complement the Animation Programs include Visual Effects, Technical Direction, Storyboarding, Illustration for Entertainment, Interactive Design and Game Development, and Character Technical Direction.
Incoming BFA students may enroll in Gradpath@SCAD, which provides the opportunity to earn a BFA and MA or MFA at an accelerated pace. The BFA/MA could take less than four years to complete, and the BFA/MFA can be completed in five years or less.
The 180 credit hour BFA in Animation is available at SCAD’s Atlanta and Savannah campuses. The program includes 80 hours in the major, which consists of concentrations in 2D Animation, 3D Character Animation, Storytelling and Concept Development, or Technical Animation. Students may also choose 10 hours of free electives. Course examples for the program include Collaborative Experiences in Animation, 3D Character Animation: Creatures and Quadrupeds, and Story and Concept: Seeding the Narrative.
Each student in the SCAD Animation BFA Program will complete three Film Capstone courses including Preproduction, Production, and Postproduction. An optional internship is also part of the program.
Savannah College of Art and Design’s Animation MA and MFA Programs are 45 and 90 credit hours, respectively. The MA is available at the Savannah campus and through the schools online learning platform SCADnow. The MFA is available in Atlanta, Savannah, and via SCADnow. MA students will complete courses such as Animation Aesthetics and Practice, Environment Look Development, and Computer-Generated Modeling and Design. Students will also complete a collaborative project and a final project. The graduate internship is optional.
The SCAD Animation MFA requires a graduate internship and completion of three thesis courses. Students in the program can expect to take other courses such as Drawing in Motion, Media Theory and Application, and Storyboarding and Previsualization. Completion of at least seven 500- to 700-level electives are also part of the program.
From Stop-Motion Animator to Creature Technical Director, SCAD Animation graduates have been recruited by major studios, gaming companies, and networks such as Pixar, 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Electronic Arts (EA), DreamWorks, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney, and Lucasfilm Animation.
Founded in 1978, Savannah College of Art and Design opened in the renovated Savannah Volunteer Guards Armory in September 1979. The school began with just one classroom, an administration building, and 71 students. Today, SCAD serves more than 15,000 students across campuses in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia, and Lacoste, France. With more than 100 degree programs and over 75 minors and certificate programs, Savannah College of Art and Design has more degree programs and specializations than any other art and design college in the U.S.
Savannah College of Art and Design is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), and the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB).
2. Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia
Kennesaw State University (KSU) houses the School of Art and Design (SOAAD), which serves more than 1,200 students. Within the SOAAD is a Digital Animation BFA Program that requires 120 credit hours of study. This professional degree program focuses on intensive work in digital animation with 42 general education core credit hours. Course examples for the program include Computer Applications in Art, Concept, Creativity, and Studio Practice, History of Comics, Cartoons, and Animation, Environments for Animation, Digital Animation Production, Digital Animation Studio I-III, and Electronic Illustration.
Upper level BFA students will complete a series of advanced courses, an Art Internship, and ANIM 4660: Senior Animation Reel. The Reel Course consists of two class hours, four laboratory hours, and three credit hours, with a focus on the development of a portfolio and professional animation reel. Students will also research current job market demands and requirements, and prepare for a salaried or freelance career in the animation industry, or graduate study.
At the graduate level, Kennesaw State University has an Art and Design MA (MAAD) with a Digital Animation Concentration. Consisting of 30 credit hours, this interdisciplinary program explores frame-to-frame animation, storyboarding, rigged animation, and visual development for films and games. Course examples include Creative Problems in Digital Animation I-II, Research for Commercial Creatives, Exploration of Visual Arts, Ideation and Iteration for Creatives, Technologies, Innovation, & Design Thinking, and Emoting and Communication for Creatives.
All KSU MAAD students will have the opportunity to complete a final project or thesis. The Kennesaw State University Art and Design MA may be completed entirely online in just one year. Graduates are prepared to launch their own studios, start a freelance career, or pursue a position in animation, digital design, interactive art, advertising, games, and many other fields.
Founded in 1963 as a junior college, Kennesaw State University (KSU) serves nearly 43,000 students, making it the third largest university in Georgia. More than 180 degree and certificate programs are offered across 11 colleges, KSU Journey Honors College, and two suburban campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia. Kennesaw State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
3. Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia
The College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) at Georgia Southern University (GSU) is home to the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art (BFSDoArt). An accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the BFSDoArt provides a number of benefits to students in all programs. Students enjoy internship and travel abroad opportunities, interactions with visiting artists, and access to the state-of-the-art Center for Art and Theatre galleries.
The BFSDoArt also has several interdisciplinary programs for animators including BA degrees in Art and Art Studio, and BFA degrees in Art 2D, and 3D Studio Art. Students in all programs can enroll in the Animation and New Media Minor.
Consisting of 15 credit hours, the Animation and New Media Minor includes the following courses: Animation I-II, Video & Motion Graphics, 3D Animation, and Installation & Interactivity. All Animation and New Media students are eligible to participate in the optional study abroad experience known as Animation UK: Summer Abroad in Sheffield UK. The experience includes a studio course in animation with projects exploring storytelling, character development, virtual lights/cameras, and an introduction to concepts and software in 2D animation, web streaming and sound. The experience culminates with a collaborative exhibition of student animations in a gallery in Sheffield.
Graduates of the BFSDoArt at Georgia Southern University work in entertainment, advertising, and all areas of the fine arts.
Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Established in 1906, this Top 10 military-friendly school serves nearly 26,000 students enrolled in approximately 140 different degree programs across three campuses (Statesboro, Savannah, and Hinesville, Georgia) and 10 colleges.