
What are the Best Swedish Animation School Options? ACR Takes a Look.
School | City |
---|---|
University of Gothenburg | Sweden |
Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts | Stockholm |
Konstfack University College of the Arts, Crafts and Design | Sweden |
Uppsala University | Uppsala |
Blekinge Institute of Technology | Karlskrona |
Malmo University | Malmo |
University of Skovde | Skovde |
SAE Institute - Stockholm | Stockholm |
Is the Swedish Animation Industry Growing?
Although the entertainment and media industries in Sweden are not growing as fast as the industries in the U.S., growth is steady. A recent PwC report showed that the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the entertainment and media industries overall in Sweden is 3.1 percent for the 2014-2019 period. This is promising news for the industry as a whole, but guess what? The animation and gaming industries are already thriving! This is especially true in the happiest city in the world—Stockholm.
Also one of the fastest growing cities in Europe, Stockholm is home to game developers such as Rovio, Avalanche Studios, Arrowhead Game Studios, Amuze, and DICE (Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment)—the EA developer best known for producing the Battlefield franchise and its proprietary Frostbite engine, to name a few. As for animation studios, the city of more than 1.2 million (according to WPR) is home to Milford Film & Animation, Brikk Animation, Black Studios, Fido Film, Zigzag Animation, Important Looking Pirates, Katkus Film, and many others.
So, we’ve established that Stockholm alone is home to dozens of animation and game design studios—but how about animation schools? We’ve discovered a number of excellent options located in cities across the country. Here you go.
University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
University of Gothenburg is located in what international students call “a student city.” The school offers a range of programs leading to a bachelor’s, masters or PhD. University of Gothenburg also works closely with Chalmers University of Technology, specifically in the fields of technology, physics, mathematics, and chemistry.
Undergraduate programs for aspiring animators include Creative Animation offered through the School of Design and Crafts and Scientific Visualization offered through the Mathematics Department Mathematical Sciences - Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg. A Game Design & Technology Master’s program is also available through the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts (SADA), Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts (SADA) is a school of film, radio, television, theater, and other performing arts. The school accepts between 250 and 300 students each year and it offers 22 bachelor’s programs, a number of courses, and one-year and two-year master’s degree programs. Programs for aspiring animators are offered through SADA’s Department of Film and Media. Options include bachelor’s degrees in Narrative Animated Film, Film Directing, Editing, Production or Sound, Production Design, Production Management, and Screenwriting.
Konstfack University College of the Arts, Crafts and Design (KUNO), Stockholm, Sweden
Konstfack University College of the Arts, Crafts and Design (KUNO) is “An Art Academy Without Walls.” The school has a presence in Iceland, Denmark, and Lithuania, and it offers more than a dozen specialized areas of study. A few areas include Animation, Video, and Graphic Design and Illustration. The art and design programs at KUNO lead to a BA degree.
Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Uppsala University has an excellent game design program that incorporates animation into the curriculum. Offerings include a Bachelor in Game Design and Graphics, Game Design and Programming or Game Design and Project Management. The graphic courses in the programs teach Animation, 3D Modeling, Motion Capture, Character Drawing, Composition, Computer Graphics, Color Theory, and Perspective Drawing.
Founded in 1477, Uppsala is Sweden’s First University. The school is home to around 40,000 students across 11 campuses. This historic university received more than 14,000 master’s applications from 163 different countries in 2016.
Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), Karlskrona, Sweden
Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) is home to the Department of Creative Technologies (DIKR), which offers one program for aspiring animators—a Visual and Interactive Computing degree with a Specialization in Computer Graphics and Visualization. This includes Animation, Modelling, Rendering, Virtual Reality, Image Processing, and Effective Visualization and Communication of 2D/3D Data. Digital Game Development and Human-centered Computing are also offered.
Malmo University, Malmo, Sweden
Founded in 1998, Malmo University is located in Sweden’s third largest city. The school is home to more than 24,000 students enrolled in more than 100 programs and 350 courses. Programs for aspiring animators include bachelor’s degrees in Character Design, Digital Comics, and Interaction Design. A masters’ program in Interaction Design is also available, with one and two-year options.
All students have access to international experiences that may take them to places such as the UK. The Animation Experience at University of Lincoln, UK, is a good example. This experience allows students to “tackle key aspects of design and production including character creation, storyboarding and 3D animation, plus take part in practical workshops delivered by industry professionals.” A filmmaking experience is also available.
University of Skovde, Skovde, Sweden
University of Skovde is home to nearly 9,000 students enrolled in fifty academic programs. The school offers a bachelor’s in animation that highlights courses such as Animation Techniques, Design (animation, modelling in 3D CAD, methods for better designs, drawing techniques and rendering), and Animation Project. Aspiring game designers have plenty of options as well. University of Skovde offers bachelor’s degrees in Computer Game Development – Design, Game Writing, Graphics, Programming, or Sound/Music, and Master’s degrees in Digital Narration – Game and Cultural Heritage, and Serious Games.
SAE Institute - Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
With 54 campuses in 26 countries, SAE Institute is world’s largest, industry-focused creative media educator. The institute offers programs in the areas of animation, audio, film, games development, music business, and the web. The Stockholm location offers an Interactive Sound Design (ISD) program and an MA/MSC Professional Practice (Creative Media Industries). The graduate program allows students to tailor their courses to suit their area of interest. Though the degree awarded is titled Creative Media Industries, students may present a case for an alternative title (such as Animation) that is more specific to their genre.
Another program worth mentioning is the prestigious music program at Royal College of Music in Stockholm (KMH). The school has two programs for artists who are interested in scoring films. The Master in Music (Composition – Film Music) is offered in cooperation with SADA. The Bachelor of Music (Music and Media Production), allows students to work in various genres and forms of interactive media and multimedia productions, music videos, and film music.
Other Schools to Consider:
Sources
Kullberg, Nicklas. "Entertainment Media Outlook Sweden 2015." Entertainment and Media (E&M) Outlook (2015): n. pag. Pwc.se. Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC), 2015. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.
"Sweden Population 2017." World Population Review. World Population Review (WPR), 2017. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.