Top 25 International Animation Training Programs - 2022 School Rankings

The Animation & Visual Effects Program at Vancouver Film School (VFS) is one of the school’s 15 programs that lead to careers in Animation, Design, Film & Television, and Games. Animation & Visual Effects consists of three 12-month, six-term Diploma programs: 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Animation Concept Art, and Classical Animation.

The 3D Animation & Visual Effects Diploma Program explores areas such as the basics of a 3D pipeline, storytelling, production, and lighting and rendering. Students will graduate from the program with a master demo reel of their final project.

The Animation Conception Art Diploma explores drawing, digital painting, storytelling, and creating characters, environments, and worlds. Graduates will leave the program with a portfolio of their best work. Career possibilities include Comic Arts, Film and Television, Games, Illustration, and Interactive Media.

The VFS Classical Animation Diploma Program consists of coursework that explores the basics of animation, background design, animating characters (conveying thoughts and emotions), rendering, creating storyboards, layout, and art direction. Students will graduate from the program with a master demo reel and a traditional art and animation portfolio.

Established in 1987 and serving more than 1,000 students across eight campuses, Vancouver Film School provides access to workshops, studios, theaters, film sets, motion and performance capture facilities (among the largest in North America), production spaces, and screening rooms. Students also have 24/7 access to state-of-the-art computer labs equipped with industry standard software. VFS facilities and studios are housed across eight campuses that consist of more than 42,000 sq. ft. of space.

All Vancouver Film School students will graduate with industry connections thanks to VFS’s partnerships with corporate leaders such as Pixologic, Dell Technologies, Unreal Engine, NVIDIA, Unity, Beyond Capture Studios, Final Draft, Adobe, HP, Autodesk, and 5Alarm Music. Graduates also have access to career services through the VFS Alumni Directory & Job Board.

alumni have gone on to establish careers at top studios around the world. They have worked on films and games such as Halo Infinite, The Grinch, Spider-Man, Toy Story 4, Overwatch, Luigi’s Mansion, League of Legends, Free Guy, Justice League, God of War, and Ghostbusters, among others.

Founded in 1991, Filmakademie Baden-Wurttemberg (Filmakademie or FABW) is home to the Animation Institute. Established in 2002, the Institute trains students in Animation, VFX, Technical Editing, Animation/Effects Producing, and Interactive Media. Students in all programs enjoy benefits such as a project-based curriculum, hands-on training, collaborations with local and international partners, scientific research and development, and guest speakers.

Courses at the FABW Animation Institute are taught and mentored by more than 300 experts from the film and media industries. In collaboration with instructor mentors, Filmakademie student teams produce at least 250 films each year. Many of these student films win prizes at the Visual Effects Society (VES) Awards and SIGGRAPH.

A major component of the programs at FABW is participation in the FMX Conference on Animation, Effects, Games, and Transmedia. The event has been hosted by the Animation Institute since 1994 and attracts directors, producers, major studios, and more from across Europe. The event takes place in Stuttgart each Spring.

An annual high point at FABW is the FMX Conference on Animation, Effects, Games and Transmedia, which the Animation Institute has hosted since 1994. This English-language non-profit event is Europe’s most influential conference on the creation, production and distribution of digital entertainment, and brings major players from the industries to Stuttgart every spring.

Graduates of the Animation Programs at Filmakademie have established successful careers at studios in Germany and abroad, Many have launched their own studios and businesses.

Seneca College was established in 1976. Serving 20,855 students, the school provides  numerous opportunities to gain work experience and immerse in other cultures around the world. Examples include co-op experiences, field placements, work terms, and the study abroad program. Seneca College also participates in a number of associations and groups such as Polytechnics Canada, Colleges Ontario, and Colleges and Institutes of Canada, and it is the only college in Ontario to have programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

The School of Creative Arts & Animation at Seneca College has an Animation Program that takes three years to complete. Leading to the Ontario College Advanced Diploma, the program explores both computer animation and animation production. Course examples for the program include History of Animation, Character Design, Storyboarding – Film Structure, Storytelling, Character Development, Animation Applications, Character Acting, and Layout – Environmental Design.

Beginning in the semester five, students will choose a focus area or “stream.” Options include Digital Animation, 2D Animation, and Gaming. Across streams, course examples include Advanced Lighting, Texturing, and rendering, Advanced Animation Tools, Storyboarding for the 3D Environment, Introduction to MEL Scripting, Advanced Digital Tools, Game Engines and Development, 3D Modeling for Games, Game Animation, Systems and Rigging for Games, Digital Storytelling, 2D Effects Tools for Animation, and Animated short Film Production.

All focus areas include portfolio preparation and development courses. Graduates of the Seneca College Animation Program are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of animation for film, the web, games, television, advertising and marketing, and education. Program alumni also go on to enroll in Animation BA programs at partner schools such as University of Gloucestershire and Munster Technological University (MTU). The program at MTU is a BA (Hons) in Animation, Visual Effects, and Motion Design.

The Faculty of Fine & Applied Arts at Capilano University (CapU) houses the School of Motion Picture Arts (SMPA). Located in the Bosa Centre for Film and Animation, SMPA has options in 2D Animation & Visual Development, Visual Effects for Film, Streaming & Immersive Media, 3D Animation for Film and Games, and Animation Fundamentals. This program takes eight weeks to complete and it leads to a Citation of Achievement. All other programs take two years to complete and lead to a Diploma.

Founded in 1968, Capilano University (CapU) has grown from 784 students to more than 12,700 today. Students in all programs have access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources across two campuses in North Vancouver and Sechelt. In addition, CapU students have access to workshops, internship opportunities, and study abroad programs.

Course examples across CapU SMPA Programs include Studio: Gesture and Form, Digital Matte Painting, Animation: Timing and Principles, Visual Effects Modeling and Texturing, Character Animation, Visual Effects Animation, Visual Effects Production, Advanced Production Design for Animation, Visual Storytelling, Visual Development and Concept Design, Animation: Emerging Technologies, 3D Animation I-IV, Look Development and Lighting, 3D Design for Production I-IV, The Art of Visual Storytelling, Technical Direction and Rigging, and Animation Action Analysis. The programs also provide entrepreneurship and business courses such as Business Writing for Digital Visual Effects and Entrepreneurship in the Animation Industry.

In the final year of the SMPA Programs, students  will have the opportunity to complete a professional demo reel and/or a practicum at a local studio. Graduates of the SMPA Programs at Capilano University are Animators, VFX Artists, Texture Artists, 3D Modelers, Storyboard Artists, and Layout Artists, among others.

Trazos School of Digital Arts (Trazos) has been training students in the Technology, Digital Art, and New Media areas for more than 25 years. Programs at Trazos are focused solely on producing artists who have the experience and skills needed to enter the industry immediately. To date, the school has more than 10,000 graduates who are all professionals in their respective fields. Examples of companies that have hired Trazos graduates include Leo Burnett, Ogilvy, Y&R, ReasonWhy, Sanitas, Volkswagen, Adecco, and Accenture.

Trazos School of Digital Arts also has short programs for working professionals looking to enhance their skills. Zbrush and Advanced Zbrush are just a few options. For animators, Trazos has Masters Programs (Diploma) and courses in Animation, Advanced Animation, 3D and Animation, 3D with Autodesk Maya, Advanced 3D with Autodesk Maya, 2D Animation with Toon Boom, 3D and VFX with Maya and Houdini, Design and 2D Animation with Toon Boom, Design and Creation of Characters, Race in 3D with Autodesk Maya, Motion Graphics and 2D Animation with Toon Boom, Race in 3D and Animation with Autodesk Maya, and Illustration, 3D, and Animation. Motion Graphics and 2D Animation with Toon Boom, Race in 3D and Animation with Autodesk Maya, and Illustration, 3D and Animation. Programs range from 300 to 1,800 hours.

Students in all Trazos programs benefit from partnerships with Apple, Pixologic, Adobe, Autodesk, and Maxon, and access to personal studio spaces and state-of-the-art facilities that function like a real professional studio. Students in all Diploma programs will have the opportunity to produce a number of animated productions, including a Final Diploma Project.

FX Animation Barcelona 3D & Film School (FX Animation) provides a four-year Specialized Studies Program in Character and Creature Animation, and a Higher Master in 3D Character Animation. Features across programs include internship opportunities, small class sizes (up to 15 students), and the opportunity to complete an industry-ready animated film. FX Animation students have interned at studios such as B-Water Animation Studios, Digital Legends, El Ranchito, The Game Forge, Deluxe, Scarecrow Studio, Music Has No Limits, and Entropy Studio.

Students in the Character and Creature Animation Program will master Autodesk Maya, Mudbox, MotionBuilder, Autodesk Sketchbook, and Zbrush, among others. Module examples for the program include CGI, FXExperience, 3D Advanced Character Animation, Animation Film Production, Realistic Animal Animation, and Fantastic Creatures Animation. Students will also complete two Animation Short Production modules. The program culminates with the Final Animation Project.

The Higher Master in Character and Creature Animation may be completed online or on-campus. Students in this program will master Maya, Mudbox, TVPaint, Autodesk Sketchbook, and MotionBuilder, among others. The program explores everything from the 12 principles of animation to advanced animation of creatures. The FX Animation Higher Master is the only Master’s at the national level to offer a specialization in the animation of creatures, quadrupeds, and bipeds.

All FX Animation students benefit from the school’s relationship with technology partners such as Fuji Film, HP, ASUS, The Rookies, Wacom, 22 Barcelona, and SenoraX Productions, and intense training in industry-standard software and other tools such as Houdini, LightWave, Nuke, Maya, Avid, Cara VR, Pro Tools, RailClone, Adobe Premier Pro, V-Ray, Adobe After Effects, DaVinci, Mari, SynthEyes, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, and Forest Pack. All FX Animation students also have access to state-of-the-art production equipment and studios.

Established in 2007, FX Animation - Barcelona 3D & Film School has a near perfect 99% job placement rate, with graduates working at well over 800 companies in Europe and around the world. FX Animation alumni work in areas such as TV, film, games, and advertising.

With full service campuses in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa, The Animation School provides a Diploma Program and six- to seven-week courses covering 3D Animation, 2D Cartoon Animation, and Digital Drawing. The Digital Animation Diploma is a three-year program that allows students to begin animating on day one. Course examples for the program include 2D Digital Animation, 3D Production, Visual Narrative, 3D Character Animation, 3D Production, and 3D Character Development.

During the third year of the program, students will select electives that support their education goals and complete a Professional Development course. Students will produce an animated short film as a team and they will also complete a two-week internship with an animation studio. The animated short film will become part of the student’s final personal demo reel.

Other Animation School benefits include small class sizes, lectures, seminars and workshops, and participation in local and international film festivals, and 24-hour access to professional state-of-the-art facilities. Animation School students also have access to the exchange program with Emile Cohl School in Lyons, France.

Graduates of the Animation Diploma Program at The Animation School enjoy a 90-95% employment placement rate with top studios around the world.

The Animation Diploma Program at Max the Mutt College of Animation, Art & Design (Max the Mutt) explores storytelling, drawing, background painting and design, cartooning, visual language, and acting for animation. Courses explore both classical and digital animation and include Production Process, Design & Composition, Digital Background Painting, Structural Drawing, Cartooning for Animation Storytelling & Story Development, 2D Computer Animation: Introduction (Harmony), 3D Animation Software, 3D Film Development & Pre-Production, and Layout for 3D Development.

Students in the Animation Diploma Program will complete several animated productions across four years and a professional portfolio of their best work.

Established in 1996, Max the Mutt has an additional program option that is suitable for students interested in animation. The Concept Art Program combines animation, fine art, cartooning, concept art, and illustration courses. The first year of the program consists of Visual Arts Literacy (VAL) coursework.

Throughout the program, students will develop advanced skills in software programs such as Maya and Photoshop.

Course examples include Artistic Anatomy, Environment Visualization, Advanced Environment Design & Painting in Photoshop, Painting the Costumed Mode, Traditional & Computer Illustration, and Creature Design. Students will leave the Concept Art Program with a professional portfolio.

Students in all Max the Mutt Programs have opportunities to participate in the Annual Industry Open House and Annual Showcase, art, animation, gaming, portfolio development and other workshops (on campus or online), and the internship program.

Graduates of the Animation and Concept Art Programs at Max the Mutt have been hired at studios such as Pixar, Warner Bros. Games, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Guru Studios, Disney Design Group, CMJ Productions, Nanomyte Productions, Mercury Filmworks, See Creatures, Elliott Animation, Pipeline Studios, and Legend 3D.

The Game Assembly (TGA) is one of the few schools that provides the opportunity to spend a third of any given program in the workplace. Founded in 2008, this polytechnic school also features partnerships with gaming local gaming studios, small class sizes, courses taught by professionals who are active in the industry, and the opportunity to collaborate with students across programs.

The TGA Game Animator Diploma is an immersive program that focuses on 3D. The program also covers the 12 Animation Principles, along with Autodesk maya and Motion Builder. Students will have the opportunity to develop a total of eight games both individually and in teams from concept to playable game.

The Game Animator Diploma Program at The Game Assembly takes 2.5 years to complete, full-time.

Escola de Cinema de Barcelona – ECIB (9Zeros Training Program) is the only school in the Catalonia Region that offers training in all aspects of film. For animators, ECIB/9Zeroes has degree programs, courses, and workshops in Animation, VFX Animation, 3D Character Animation, 3D Animation Generalist, Animation and 2D Realization, Animation and Stop Motion Production, and Concept Art and Character Design. Programs lead to a Diploma or Master’s Degree.

The Animation Program is the most popular option for students seeking an undergraduate degree. Covering the three branches of Animation (2D, 3D and Stop-Motion Animation) this three-year option is the only program in the Catalonia Region that provides training in all three branches.

Across programs, ECIB/9Zeros graduates have secured positions at major studios such as Pixar, Double Negative, Aardman Animations, Lightbox Animation Studios, and Weta Digital. ECIB/9Zeros alumni have worked on productions such as The Hunger Games, Cars 3, X-Men: Apocalypse, Brave, The Jungle Book, Inside Out, The Chronicles of Narnia, Justice League, and The Hunger Games.

La Poudrière (Film School) trains students in Animated Film Production. Students will explore writing and animating for film, trailers, and TV series, directing actors, sound, music, and editing. Programs at La Poudrière take two years to complete and they prepare students for immediate employment in the animation industry or to produce their own independent short films.

Launched in 1999, La Poudrière has trained nearly 200 artists, with 119 certified since 2009 and 95% obtaining global certification in the last two years. The programs at La Poudrière culminate with a one or several completed projects.

Upon completion of any program at La Poudrière, graduates will gain access to networking opportunities, direct connections to producers, and critiques by composers and co-authors; exclusive access to professional events such as Cartoon Forum, Cartoon Movie, and Cartoon Springboard; and support with short film projects through Ciclic, (the cultural agency of the Centre-Val-de-Loire Region),  the European Conservatory of Audiovisual Writing, and the SACD and the CEEA.

Founded in 1946, The Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) is the fifth oldest film school in Europe and one of the three schools of the Academy of Performing Arts. The school has been an incubator for young artists, and it is a founding member of the European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA), the European Film Academy, the International Association of Film and Television Schools (CILECT), and the European Grouping of Film and Television Schools (GEECT). FAMU is also an institutional member of the Czech Society for Film Studies (CEFS).  

FAMU has six accredited programs housed in twelve departments. The Department of Animated Film has a one-year, intensive program that provides the opportunity to create films in a workshop environment. Students will explore both hand-drawn and computer animation, stop-motion animation, and storyboarding, among other areas. Course examples include Animation of Drawing, Experimental Animation, Stop-Motion Puppet Animation, History and Theory of Animation, and Visual Expression and Figure Drawing. The program culminates with a professional portfolio of the student’s best work.

The Animated Film Program at FAMU leads to a Certificate. Graduates are prepared to pursue positions at animation studios around the world. The certificate is also transferrable to a four-year degree program at any college and university. 

CG Spectrum is an Online Digital Animation School that trains students for careers in Animation, Game Development, and Visual Effects. CG Spectrum benefits include access to programs that can be completed 100% online, small class sizes, mentorship from industry professionals, networking and career training opportunities, and flexible class schedules.

Established in 2015 and a Toon Boom Authorized Training Center, CG Spectrum has animation programs that consists  courses taught by artists from Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Disney, Weta, Electronic Arts (EA), and Sony. The Introduction to 2D Animation Program explores the 12 Principles of Animation. This hands-on program allows students to choose between the one-on-one option and small group classes (maximum four students). Designed for artists with no prior animation experience, the Introduction to  2D Animation Program takes just three months to complete and it leads to a Certificate.

For a more advanced program, CG has a 2D Animation Program that takes nine months to complete. With a 20 hour a week time commitment, students in the program will explore hand-drawn character animation and train on Toon Boom Harmony. The 2D Animation Program leads to a Certificate.

For an even more advanced program, CG Spectrum has an Advanced 2D Animation Program that also takes nine months to complete. Students in this program will explore creating characters, drawing, FX animation, and acting. Students will master Toon Boom and build a professional portfolio.

For students interested in 3D Animation, CG Spectrum has an Introduction to 3D Animation Program that takes three months to complete (20 hours a week), a 3D Animation Program that takes nine months to complete (20 hours a week), and Advanced 3D Animation, which also takes nine months to complete, with a 20 hour a week commitment. Across options, students will explore the 12 Principles of Animation, 3D foundations, animating walk cycles, creating fight scenes, character animation techniques, creating scenes, character rigs and posing, and more.

All options allow students to master Maya software. The nine-month programs culminate with a professional portfolio and career development. Examples of potential job titles for CG Spectrum graduates include 2D Animator or 3D Animator, Character Animator, Pre-Vis Animator, Layout Artist, Character Rigger, Storyboard Artist, Clean-Up Artist, Character Rigger, and Creature Animator.