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What are the top French animation degree programs?
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gobelins Paris | Paris |
| 2 | Supinfocom Rubika | Valenciennes |
| 3 | ARTFX | Montpellier, Lille, Paris |
| 4 | École Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques (ESMA) | Montpellier |
| 5 | MoPA | Arles |
| 6 | Ecole Emile Cohl | Lyon |
| 7 | ISART Digital | Paris |
| 8 | BRASSART | Paris |
| 9 | Méliès School | Paris |
| 10 | Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Arts Decoratifs (ENSAD) | Paris |
Our 2026 rankings of the top animation degree programs in France.
For this ranking we only consider formal degree programs (bachelor's degree or equivalent). For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
1. Gobelins Paris, Paris, France
Gobelins Paris (Gobelins) has been training animators for more than 60 years. Serving more than 2,700 students, the school provides several degree programs in partnership with la Cité de l’Image en mouvement d’Annecy (CITIA). This resource and skills center organizes the International Animated Film Festival and MIFA (International Animation Film Market). At the undergraduate level, degree options include the bachelor’s in Animation and Film Directing; 3D Character Animation; and Audiovisual Production Management (animation, film and television).
Master’s programs include Animated Film Design and Production, and Visual Storytelling. Gobelins students enjoy a 100% employment rate within six months of graduating. They can be found at places sch as DreamWorks, Electronic Arts (EA), Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, Pixar, and Illumination.
2. Supinfocom Rubika, Valenciennes, France
Supinfocom Rubika provides 3D Animation and FX/VFX/Special Effects specializations leading to a bachelor’s degree in three years and a master’s degree in five. Students will engage in a full five years of apprenticeship culminating with the production of a short animated film. All activities take place in facilities designed to mirror today’s top animation film studios. Other program highlights include work experiences through partnerships across more than 300 studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), DreamWorks, Gameloft, and Pixar; multidisciplinary team projects; visiting artists; and participation in festivals, conferences, recruiting events, and portfolio day.
Graduates enjoy a near 90% employment rate within a year of graduating. Program alumni can be found at places such as Pixar, DreamWorks, ILM, Gameloft, Disney, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Illumination, DNEG, Aardman, Ubisoft, Mikros Animation, Framestore, MPC, and Passion Pictures.
3. ARTFX, Montpellier, Lille, Paris, France
With locations in Paris, Lille, Montpelier, and London, ARTFX is France’s first VFX school. Also a Toon Boom Center of Excellence, the school provides several paths to study animation. Options include MA degrees in 2D Film Animation; 3D and VXF; 3D Character Animation; and Game Art. Across programs, students have opportunities to work with partners such as Mikros Animation, Illumination, DNEG, and MPC. Other program benefits include access to state-of-the-art studios and production facilities; immersive, hands-on projects; and professional internships.
Programs culminate with the Graduation Project, to be submitted to local and international festivals. Graduates gave been hired at places such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Ubisoft, MPC, Illumination, Mikros Animation, DNEG, Framestore, Cinesite, The Yard VFX, Fortiche Production, and Digital District. Alumni have worked on productions such as The Lion King; Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Ready Player One.
4. École Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques (ESMA), Montpellier, France
École Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques (ESMA) houses a 3D Animation and VFX program that leads to a bachelor’s + master’s in just five years. Students can complete the program in French on all six ESMA campuses, and in English at the Lyon, Montpellier, and Bordeaux campuses. Other program highlights include hands-on projects; creative workshops; internship opportunities; and the chance to produce an industry-ready animated short as the culminating experience. Graduates can be found at places such as DreamWorks, Netflix Animation Studios, Weta FX, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Ubisoft, DNEG, MPC, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Blur Studio, Illumination, Aardman, Mac Guff, and Mikros Animation.
5. MoPA, Arles, France
MoPA is one of the world’s first schools dedicated entirely to CGI. Formerly known as Supinfocom Arles, followed by MoPA School of Animation, the school is now a member of the EDH Group. Program options include a master’s degrees in 3D Design, Production, and Animation, and Stop Motion Film Directing and Production. All Students benefit from project-based courses; partnerships with places such as Reel FX,
DreamWorks, Netflix Animation Studios, and DNEG; and experiential learning opportunities. Programs culminate with a market-ready film. Graduates can be found at places such as Cartoon Network, Pixar, Ubisoft, DreamWorks, Netflix Animation Studios, DNEG, Mikros Animation, Reel FX, and Aardman.
6. Ecole Emile Cohl, Lyon, France
Ecole Emile Cohl (EEC) houses an Animation master’s degree program with a mandatory six-month internship. Other program highlights include hands-on projects and workshops; trips to industry conferences; immersive activities that focus on developing advanced skills in software such as After Effects, Toon Boom, and TVPaint; courses that emphasize scriptwriting for animation and project management; and participation in the annual EEC Job Dating event featuring more than 70 animation, game, and publishing companies. Students will create an animated short film to graduate. EEC alumni work at places such as DreamWorks, Epic Games, Netflix, Disney, Mikros Animation, Ubisoft, Illumination, Skydance, and Framestore.
7. ISART Digital, Paris, France
ISART Digital (ISART) is home to the School of Video Games and Animation 3D-VFX, which has partnerships with more than 500 companies. Examples include Activision Blizzard, DreamWorks, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Ubisoft, and Illumination. The school also houses a 3D/VFX Cinema program that takes place in a professional studio environment. Students will earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s after five years of study. Other program highlights include up to four internships; study abroad experiences at partner schools such Niigata Computer College and Tokyo University of Technology (TUT); and group projects.
The program culminates with a final project and presentation. Graduates work at places such as Industrial ILM, Activision Blizzard, Sony Pictures Imageworks, MPC, Rockstar Games, Ubisoft, DNEG, Mikros Animation, Illumination, Method Studios, Bandai Namco, The Mill, and Voodoo Animation.
8. BRASSART, Paris, France
BRASSART houses a 3D Animation and Immersion program leading to a bachelor’s degree after three years and a master’s after year five. Students in the full five year program will complete two internships, a demo reel, and a final project. Other program highlights include workshops, case studies, conferences, and masterclasses. Graduates can be found at places such as Walt Disney Animation Studios, Ubisoft, DreamWorks, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Gameloft, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Aardman, MPC, Cartoon Saloon, Apple, Rockstar Games, Mikros Animation, and Framestore.
9. Méliès School, Paris, France
Méliès School (formerly École Georges Méliès), is a recognized Unreal Training Center that provides animation, visual effects, and virtual production programs. France’s only professional training center approved by Epic Games, the school houses a five-year 2D/3D Animation master’s led by professionals from places such as Illumination and Ubisoft. The curriculum for the program examines the production pipelines for traditional and digital animation, culminating with a market-ready short film. All activities for the program take place in an environment that functions like today’s major studios.
Graduates can be found at places such as Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Nickelodeon, Sony Pictures Animation, Mikros Animation, Studio Hari, SupaMonk, and Fortiche Production. Program alumni have also won VFX Oscars and worked on adventure/fantasy films such as Life of Pi and The Jungle Book.
10. Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Arts Decoratifs (ENSAD), Paris, France
Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Arts Decoratifs (ENSAD) houses a five-year master’s degree in Animation. After three years of study, students receive a bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s cycle culminates with an animated film. Graduate students will complete an animated short in partnership with the Paris Conservatory, along with a study abroad experience, and final (major) project. ENSAD graduates often secure roles at places such as DreamWorks, Ubisoft, Disney, Illumination, Framestore, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Mikros Animation, Illumination, Cartoonbase, and Method Animation.