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What are the top Asian animation schools?
| Ranking | School | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beijing Film Academy | China |
| 2 | Nanyang Technological University | Singapore |
| 3 | ChungKang College of Cultural Industries | South Korea |
| 4 | Tokyo Animation College | Japan |
| 5 | City University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| 6 | Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design | Israel |
| 7 | Digital Hollywood University | Japan |
| 8 | National Institute of Design | India |
| 9 | Hongik University | South Korea |
| 10 | Limkokwing University of Creative Technology | Malaysia |
Our 2022 rankings of the top animation colleges in Asia.
For this ranking we only consider formal degree programs (bachelor's degree or equivalent). For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
1. Beijing Film Academy, Beijing, China
Beijing Film Academy (BFA) is China’s only film academy and the largest film school in Asia. Established in 1950 as the Performance Art Institution of the Film Bureau of the Ministry of Culture, BFA opened with just 38 students. Today, Beijing Film Academy serves more than 2,000 students across 15 departments and schools.
The Animation School at Beijing Film Academy launched in 2000 with one Animation Major in the Department of Fine Arts of BFA. When it opened, the Animation School was the first academic unit of its kind in China. Serving more than 350 students, the BFA Animation School offers programs leading to a BA, MFA or PhD. In addition, Beijing Film Academy collaborates on projects with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, Gobelins, l'école de l'image (Gobelins, School of Images), Straight Entertainment (Hollywood, CA), and Taylor’s University, among others.
All Beijing Film Academy students benefit from interdisciplinary studies, long-term cooperative relationships with the major studios in China and abroad, participation in exchange workshops with the Korean Academy of Film Art (KAFA) or the Netherland Film Academy (NFA), and the opportunity to participate in the student film festival known as “Cinerent Award.” Graduates of the Animation Programs at Beijing Film Academy go onto establish careers in all areas of Animation, Film, Gaming, Television, and Visual Effects, among others.
2. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Asia
Established in 1991, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) serves 33,000 students making it one of the two largest public universities in Singapore. The College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CoHASS) at NTU houses the School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) which focuses on interdisciplinary learning programs, collaborative classrooms, and experiential learning such as projects, fieldwork, internships, and study abroad programs.
For animators, NTU’s School of ADM has a Media Art Program that combines Digital Animation, Games, Digital Filmmaking, and Photography. Leading to a BFA, the Media Art Program allows students to add a Minor from a list of more than 40 options. Examples include Design and Systems Thinking, Film, and Science, Technology, and Society.
Course examples for the NTU Media Art BFA Program include 3D Character Animation, 3D Production, Storyboarding & Production Design, Rigging for Animation, Digital Compositing, Writing for Animation, Lighting and Rendering Pipeline, Advanced Stop Motion, Visual Effects I-II, Game Design, Film Editing, and Digital Photography.
Graduates of the Media Art Program at Nanyang Technological University are prepared to pursue careers in Animation, Game Art and Design, Film, Advertising, and VFX.
3. ChungKang College of Cultural Industries, School of Animation, Icheon, South Korea
The School of Animation at ChungKang College of Cultural Industries (ChungKang) has an Animation Program that consists of three years of college coursework, followed by one year of intensive training in the Animation Major. The curriculum for the program is studio- and project-based, workshop intensive, and multidisciplinary, allowing students to study cartooning, game design, and animation. The curriculum also explores animation production, planning, directing, and post-production.
Course examples for the program include Animation Genre & History, Experimental Animation, Visual Storytelling, Animation Sound, Digital Imaging, Animation Directing, Character Design, 3D Animating, Techniques of Digital Animation, Visual Development, Animation Acting, Storyboarding, Advanced Animation pre-Production, and CFX Simulation. Intensive workshops include 2D Animation Production I-II, 3D Modeling, and 3D Animation.
Other program features include access to state-of-the-facilities, including the largest animation studio in Korea, a sound recording studio, and a render farm, courses taught by industry professionals, a tutoring program, opportunities to gain experience through mandatory internships (local and overseas), independent study opportunities, and portfolio development.
The Animation BA Program at ChungKang College of Cultural Studies culminates with the Animation Project—Capstone Design.
ChungKang College of Cultural Industries opened in 1996 as South Korea’s first post-secondary institution to focus primarily on the cultural industries. Today, in addition to Animation, ChungKang houses the Schools of Manhwa Contents, Game, Culinary Arts, Fashion & Beauty Style, Musical & Theatre, Mobile IT, and the Department of Early Childhood Education.
4. Tokyo Animation College, Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo Animation College is equipped with an Animation Lab, Comic Lab, Archive Rooms, and a Voiceover Studio for students enrolled in the school’s five programs. Options are housed across four departments and include Anime Production (three years), Animator/Animation (two years), Comics (three years), Story Comic (two years), and Character Design (two years).
The Character Design Program provides opportunities to study animation through courses such as Flash Anime, Production Development, 3D Design, and Advanced Flash Anime. However, the most popular options for animators are the Anime Production and Animator/Animation Programs.
The three-year Anime Production Program explores TV Animation, 3D Animation Art, Theatre Animation Production, 3DCG, and Web Animation. Course examples for the program include Advanced Flash Anime, Character Design, Directing Techniques, Color Design, Digital Filming/Editing, Advanced 3DCG, Background Arts, Advanced Sketching I-IV, Business, and Anime Production I-II. Anime Production students will complete the Graduation Production I-II courses leading to a full-length animated production.
Graduates of the Anime Program at Tokyo Animation College are prepared to pursue positions such as Animator, Flash Animator, Technical Director, Animation Director, Cartoonist, Producer, CG Director, Film Director, and Production Controller.
The two-year Animator/Animation Program begins with basic skills such as Sketching, Motion and Drawing. Students will move on to mastering Animation Production Processes such as Color/Filming Editorial Techniques and Background Art. Graduates of the Animation Program at Tokyo Animation College are prepared for careers such as Key-Animator, Character Designer, Production Assistant, Digital Cell-Painter, Animation Supervisor, and Inbetweener.
5. City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
The School of Creative Media (SCM) at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has a Creative Media Program leading to a BA, BAS, BSC, MA, MFA or PhD. A Creative Media Minor is also available. Students in all programs have the opportunity to study Animation through required electives, free electives, and minor options. Across programs, students will have the opportunity to work and learn in a studio environment, participate in a semester-long exchange program with one of more than 160 partner institutions, complete an internship, and sign up for the month-long summer overseas study program in Animation.
Course examples across programs include Computer Programming, Contemporary and New Media Art, Creative Coding, Creative Media Studio, Media Computing, and Word, Sound and Image: Writing for Creative Media. Animation course offerings include 2D Animation I-II, 3D Animation I-II, Web Animation, Abstract and Experimental Animation, Computer Programming for Animators, Character Animation, Procedural Animation, Computer Animation for Interactive Content, and 3D Content Production in Maya, and Digital Visual Effects.
Depending on the program, CityU SCM students will complete a Graduation Project or Graduation Project/Thesis. Graduates of the CityU Creative Media Program are prepared to pursue positions in animation, television and film, advertising, internet and multimedia design, video production, exhibit design, art education, media art, and screenwriting, among others.
City University of Hong Kong was established in 1984. The school serves more than 18,000 students enrolled in hundreds of programs across 30 colleges and departments.
6. Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem, Israel
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design (Bezalel) was officially established in 1906. Serving 2,500 students, the school houses 13 departments, including the Screen Based Arts Department, which has programs that explore documentary and experimental filmmaking, traditional animation, stop motion, 3D animation, AR/VR, and video art.
The Animation Program at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design combines Animation, Video and Filmmaking. Course examples include 3D Character Animation, Animative Thought, Character Design & Storyboard, After Effect Animation, Drawing in Motion, MAYA and Photoshop, Art Direction for Classic Animation, Illustration, Compositing, Video, Forming Strip Sound, 3D Animation Directing, Art Direction for Stop Motion, Film Editing, and Experimental Animation.
Leading to a BFA in Animation, the program features workshops, study abroad experiences, internship opportunities, and portfolio development courses. The Bezalel Animation BFA Program culminates with the Final Animation Project.
Graduates of the Animation BFA Program at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design work in Advertising, Animation, Games, and Film. Some program alumni have launched their own studios, while others have started their own freelance businesses. Graduates have also won more than a dozen awards for work on a number of productions.
7. Digital Hollywood University, Tokyo, Japan
Established in 2004 and funded by corporations such as IBM, Hitachi, and Yoko Uchida, Digital Hollywood University (DHU) serves more than 1,200 students enrolled in eight Specializations including Anime, Contents Business, Film, Game Programming, Graphic Design, Media Art, and 3DCG. Housed in the Faculty of Digital Communication, DHU programs lead to a Master’s Degree in Digital Content Management (DCM).
The most popular option for animators is the Anime (Animation) Master’s Program. Course examples include Introduction to Animation, Digital Media Theory, Animation History, CG Short Film, Sketch I-IV, Video Production, Animated Script, Color Theory I-IV, Animation Director I-II, Video Techniques, Animation Photography and Synthesis Practice, and Real-Time Graphics Technology.
DHU Anime students will also complete several Seminar courses, an internship, and a Final Graduate Project. Graduates of the Anime Program at DHU will have access to more than 10,000 DHU partner companies for potential job opportunities.
8. National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, India
National Institute of Design (NID) has BDes and MDes Programs that allow students to study Animation. Part of the NID Faculty of Communication Design, both programs have an Animation Film Design Option that features small class sizes of no more than 15 students, field trips, workshops, project-based courses, case studies and other interactive sessions, experiential learning opportunities, access to learning opportunities at more than 55 overseas partner institutions, and membership in the NID Film Club.
Students in the all programs will also have opportunities to show their work at the biennial student international animation festival Chitrakatha, which attracts national and international animators.
NID recently launched a Design PhD that allows students to complete research and creative works in areas such as Film and Digital Media. Students in the Design PhD Program have the same opportunities and access to resources as students in the BDes and MDes Programs.
The BDes Program may be completed in four years at the Ahmedabad campus and the MDes takes 2.5 years to complete and is available at all National Institute of Design campuses.
Graduates of the BDes, MDes and PhD Programs at National Institute of Design are Filmmakers, Animators, Consultants, Producers, Creative Directors, Character Designers, Storyboard Artists, and Designers with major studios and companies such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, MTV, Tata Interactive, Cognizant, and Infosys. Program alumni also go on to launch their own studios or teach at NID and other universities around the world.
9. Hongik University, Seoul, South Korea
The College of Art and Design at Hongik University houses the School of Design and Media, which consists of five majors: Animation, Film, Video and Moving Image, Digital media, Communication Design, and Product Design. The Animation Program is housed in the College of Art and Design’s Department of Visual and Animation. Students will study traditional and emerging techniques in animation, film and video. Program features include immersive studios, workshops, seminars, and unique elective options such as Doll Making, Video Advertisement Production, Video Media Startup, and Cartoon Graphic Narrative.
This four-year BFA Program requires core courses, major courses, studio electives, and critical electives. Course examples for the program include Visual Storytelling, Hybrid Video Production, Animation Movement and Expression, Video Directing, 3D Animation Production, Video Editing, Short Film Production, and Storyboard and Layout. The program culminates with the Video Animation Graduation Project, which takes two academic years to complete.
At the advanced level, Hongik University has one Graduate School, one International Design School for Advanced Studies, and eleven Specialized Graduate Schools. The Graduate School of Film and Digital Media (GSFDM) has a Digital Animation Program that provides access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment such as a sound recording studio, a Quantel eQ editing workstation, Avid, Final Cut Pro, and Premiere editing systems, and HD cameras and equipment.
Leading to an MFA, the Digital Animation Program consists of four semesters of coursework and a full semester of thesis writing. Hongik Digital Animation students will complete courses such as Experimental Video and Animation, Korean Cinema Theory, Animation Planning and Directing, Character Animation, Video and Production, Image Semiotics, Lighting and Camera, and Understanding Color.
MFA students will also complete a number of workshops and seminars, and a final Graduate Video Animation Project.
Hongik University was established as Hong-Moon Higher Educational Institute in Yongsan-gu in 1946. The school was renamed Hongik University in 1947. Today, Hongik University serves more than 22,000 students enrolled in hundreds of programs across 50+ colleges, schools, and departments. Hongik graduates have gone on to become successful Animators, Filmmakers, Writers, Rappers, Actors, Illustrators, Journalists, Television Personalities, and Painters, Poets, and Performers.
10. Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, better known as Limkokwing University, launched in 1991 under the name Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology. Serving more than 30,000 students from over 165 countries, Limkokwing University has 13 campuses in Botswana, the UK, Namibia, Sri Lanka, Lesotho, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, eSwatini, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
This private university provides hundreds of accredited diploma, degree, and postgraduate programs across seven faculties, Limkokwing Sound & Music Design Academy, and the Limkokwing Post-Graduate Center (PBC).
The Faculty of Multimedia Creativity at Limkokwing University has an Animation Program with Diploma and BA Pathways. The Diploma in Animation & Multimedia Design explores experimental, emerging and advanced digital animation techniques. The curriculum consists of the 12 Principles of Animation, Storytelling, Character Development, Film Directing, and Research. Graduates of the program are prepared for careers such as 2D Animator, Concept Artist, Character Designer, Visual Development Artist, Assistant Animator, Background & Layout Artist, Storyboard Artist, and Digital Ink and paint Artist.
The Animation BA Program at Limkokwing University explores classical animation, animation history, scriptwriting, storytelling, industry-standard software, video and special effects, and the animation production pipeline. Animation BA students will complete hands-on projects and coursework in a professional studio-like environment, and gain real-world skills through the internship program.
Course examples for the program include Animation Practice 1-4, History of Animation, 3D Environment & FX, Video Production, 3D Animation 3, Multimedia Imaging, 3D Modeling, and Animation Project Management. Animation BA students will also take Professional Studies and Entrepreneurship courses. The Animation BA Program at Limkokwing University culminates with the Animation Dissertation and Final Project.
Animation BA graduates are prepared for careers such as Animation Supervisor, 3D Animator, Character Animator, Texture Artist, 3D Modeler, and Digital Matte Artist, among others.