| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver Film School | Vancouver |
| 2 | Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts) | Vancouver |
| 3 | Think Tank Training Centre | Vancouver |
| 4 | Capilano University | North Vancouver |
| 5 | Vancouver Animation School | Burnaby |
For this ranking we only consider professional training programs, that is, non-degree programs such as certificate, diploma, and similar programs that are not formal 4-year bachelor's degrees. For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
Vancouver Film School (VFS) launched a Classical Animation program and North America’s first Multimedia program in 1994. Just a year later, the school launched a one-year 3D Animation and Visual Effects (VFX) program. In 2013, Vancouver Film School opened a new Animation Campus outfitted with an animation rig from Long Winter Studios, and Qube! render farm.
Today, VFS is a Houdini Certified School that provides 24/7 access to expanded state-of-the-art computer labs equipped with industry standard software, studios, theaters, film sets, motion and performance capture facilities (among the largest in North America), production spaces, and screening rooms. VFS facilities are housed across eight campuses and more than 42,000 sq. ft. of space.
Other VFS features include numerous partnerships with major technology companies and software developers such as HP, Unreal Engine, Pixologic (makers of Zbrush), Dell Technologies, Autodesk, Unity, NVIDIA, Final Draft, and Adobe; visiting artists; internship opportunities with both independent and major studios; workshops, training sessions, and industry social events hosted by VFS; and access to career services through the VFS Alumni Directory & Job Board.
The Classical Animation program at Vancouver Film School is 12-month diploma program that explores the basics of animation, rendering, background design, animating characters, layout, storyboards, and art direction. Course examples for the program include Animation 1-4; Character Design 1-2; Effects Animation 1-2; Digital Ink and Paint; History of Animation; Composition; 2D Digital Animation; Storyboarding 1-2; and Premiere.
Classical Animation students may also take a number of non-credit courses to enhance the program. Examples include Maya Intro; Photoshop; and Art Direction. The program culminates with the completion of the students demo reel and professional animation portfolio.
The 3D Animation & VFX program at Vancouver Film School is a 12-month diploma program that allows students to focus in Animation, Modeling, or Visual Effects. All students will learn the basics of the 3D pipeline; storytelling through the Pre-visualization course; and lighting, rendering, and compositing techniques. Course examples for the program include History of Animation + VFX; Animation 1-3; Advanced Animation; Visual Effects 1-3; Creative Development; Visual Effects: Data Acquisition; Advanced Modeling; Surfacing; Digital Sculpting 1-2; Design; Previsualization; and Life Drawing.
In the fourth term of the VFS 3D Animation & VFX program, students will enter the studio component of the curriculum, which focuses on the production of a demo reel in collaboration with industry mentors.
Regular group reviews and one-on-one feedback take place during the fifth term of the program. In the final term, students will put the finishing touches on their projects for the VFS Industry Night event.
In addition to the Classical Animation and 3D Animation & VFX programs, Vancouver Film School has an Animation Conception Art program that explores drawing, worldbuilding, storytelling, drawing, and character design. In the fifth term is this 12-month diploma program, students will begin working on a pitch package and professional portfolio. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in comic arts, games, animation, film and television, interactive media, and illustration (publishing, advertising, science and medicine, architecture, etc.).
Across all VFS animation programs, graduates have established careers at top studios around the world. Program alumni have worked on more than 100 feature films, 25+ TV/web series, over 20 3D Animation projects, and more than 30 games. Examples include Game of Thrones, Ghostbusters Afterlife, Overwatch, The Grinch, Justice League, Spider-Man No Way Home, Luigi’s Mansion, Halo Infinite, League of Legends, Sonic the Hedgehog, Child’s Play, Free Guy, Toy Story 4, God of War, and Dune.
Vancouver Film School opened in 1987 with 12 Film Production students. Today, the school serves more than 1,000 students enrolled in 15 programs across eight campuses, including Shanghai VFS (SHVFS). Vancouver Film School is accredited by the B.C. Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, and the British Columbia Education Quality Assurance (EQA). VFS is also holds a Designation Certificate under the Private Training Act.
Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts) has a 2D/3D Character Animation program that can be completed in person at the Vancouver campus or 100% online. The school is also a Houdini Training Partner with articulation agreements at four-year institutions such as Woodbury University (USA), Media Design School (New Zealand), and Emily Carr University of Art and Design. This allows students to complete a BA in as little as one year after earning a diploma at VanArts.
VanArts has additional partnerships with Pixologic (makers of ZBrush), SideFX, Toon Boom, Adobe, Microsoft, and Autodesk.
The 2D/3D Character Animation program provides the opportunity to choose a specific stream: 2D (using Toon Boom Harmony) or 3D (using Maya). Both streams explore the 12 principles of animation, Life drawing, character animation, storyboarding, body mechanics, dialogue, performance, and pantomime. All students will also complete the History of Animation course; Adobe Premiere workshops; and the Story/Visual Language course.
The 2D/3D Character Animation program at Vancouver Institute of Media Arts culminates with the completion of a professional demo reel.
Graduates of the diploma programs at Vancouver Institute of Media Arts enjoy a 92% employment rate within six months of graduation. 2D/3D Character Animation alumni are prepared for positions in animation for film, television, and games. Students can also use their animation skills for to pursue careers in advertising, the science and medial fields, architecture, graphic design, web design, the legal field, health, corporate training, and education.
VanArts graduates have worked with major studios such as DreamWorks, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Animal Logic, and Weta FX. Alumni have worked on productions such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Transformers: Rescue Bots, 101 Dalmatian Street, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Teen Titans Go, Mega Man, The Dragon Prince, and Hilda.
Founded in 1995 by Academy-Award winning Animator and Director Lee Mishkin, Vancouver Institute of Media Arts serves hundreds of students from around the world. The school focuses on diploma programs in character animation, game art and design, visual effects, web design, acting for film and television, and professional photography. Vancouver Institute of Media Arts is designated the Registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills, and Training; Education Quality Assurance (EQA); and EduCanada.
Think Tank Training Centre (Think Tank) has a 3D Animation, Visual Effects & Game Art program that can be completed in 64 weeks. This immersive diploma program explores all aspects of animation, VFX, computer graphics, and games. Consisting of 40-60 hours of coursework/projects per week, the program provides the opportunity to select a specialization from 12 options. Examples include Animation; Characters & Creatures for Film; Visual Effects; Props and Environments for Film; and Look Development.
Students in all specializations will take courses such as 3D Animation; Production Pipeline (all terms); Experiential Learning Lab (all terms); 3D Animation; Game Engines; Acting for Animation; Character Production; Compositing & VFX; Traditional Sculpting; Advanced Tools; Environment Production; and Final Project (All terms).
Students will also master software such as Unreal Engine, ZBrush, Nuke, Maya, Substance Painter, Mudbox, Photoshop, Mari, V-Ray, UVLayout, and Substance Designer.
In the final term of the 3D Animation, Visual Effects & Game Art program at Think Tank, students will take the following courses: Presentation Skills; Portfolio Packaging; and Job Search. Students will also take their final Experiential Learning Lab, Production Pipeline, and Portfolio Production courses. Graduates will leave the program with an industry-ready portfolio.
In addition to the 64-week diploma program, Think Tank Training Centre has a shorter program designed for students with advanced skills in CG. Students in this 16-week program will learn and create at personal, state-of-the-art workstations, with opportunities to be mentored by industry professionals. Mentees have access to studio tours with partner organizations, portfolio workshops, and additional job-readiness tutorials.
Courses for the program include Production Pipeline, Job Readiness, and Final Portfolio Production. At the end of the program, students can take advantage of four additional months of facility access to complete their demo reel and job hunt.
Graduates of the Animation and CG programs at Think Tank Training Centre have been hired at local and global studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Blizzard Entertainment, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM),Weta FX, Digital Domain, Framestore, Disney, BioWare, DNEG, Animal Logic, Phoenix Labs, Method Studios, Hellbent Games, Waterproof Studios, Scan Line VFX, and ZOIC.
Founded in 2005, Think Tank Training Centre prepares students for careers in the CG Industry through a number of online, campus, and hybrid programs. The school serves hundreds of students at its North Vancouver location and thousands of online students from around the world. Program examples include 3D Animation, Visual Effects & Game Art; CG Asset Creation for Film or Games; and CG + 3D Asset Creation for Film ore Games.
The Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts at Capilano University (CapU) is home to the School of Animation and Visual Effects (AVFX). This Unreal Engine Authorized Training Center provides several paths to study Animation. For students seeking a diploma, the School of AVFX has the following programs: 2D Animation and Visual Development; Visual Effects for Film, Streaming & Immersive Media; and 3D Animation for Film and Games.
For students seeking a short program, the School of AVFX has an eight-week Animation Fundamentals program that leads to a certificate (citation). The diploma programs can be completed in two years, full-time.
Across programs, features Unreal Engine workshops; study abroad experiences in places such as China, Denmark, England, Japan, and the U.S.; and access to state-of-the-art facilities, labs, and equipment across two campuses in North Vancouver and Sechelt.
Facilities include the Bosa Center for Film and Animation, which houses dedicated classroom workspaces, film, animation, sound recording, and mixing suites, and an 8,000 square foot sound stage; industry standard labs equipped with high-end graphics workstations; a motion capture studio; green screen; and Black Magic Design Cameras.
AVFX 2D, 3D, and Visual Effects students can expect to take courses such as Animation: Emerging Technologies; The Art of Visual Storytelling; 3D Animation I-IV; Visual Effects Modeling and Texturing; Character Animation; Animation: Timing and Principles; Visual Effects Production; Advanced Production Design for Animation; Technical Direction and Rigging; Animation Action Analysis; Studio: Gesture and Form; and Visual Effects Animation.
Students will also take other courses such as Business Writing for Digital Visual Effects and Entrepreneurship in the Animation Industry.
In the final year of the Animation programs at Capilano University, students will have the opportunity to complete an internship at a local studio and/or a professional demo reel and portfolio. All programs culminate with the CapU School of AVFX Gradshow, which attracts industry leaders from Vancouver and abroad.
Graduates of the Animation diploma programs as CapU have gone on to become Animators, Storyboard Artists, 3D Modelers, Layout Artists, VFX Artists, and Texture Artists at local production studios and major studios around the world. Some program alumni have launched their own studios or freelance careers.
Capilano University was founded in 1968 as a college. When it opened on September 10, 1968, the school welcomed 784 students enrolled in a few evening courses. Today, CapU serves approximately 12,700 students across five faculties, more than a dozen schools, and 100 programs. Students can earn a bachelor’s degree, diploma, associate degree, certificate, or graduate degree. Capilano University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Vancouver Animation School (VANAS) has many paths to study animation. At the diploma level, VANAS has 2D Computer Animation, 3D Computer Animation, Effects Animation, Animated Short Films programs, and Concept Art programs. Diploma Programs take 12 months to complete. Short programs include Introduction to Digital Arts and Writing for Animation. Both programs take three months to complete.
The Animation programs at VANAS can be completed 100% online or in a hybrid (online/on campus) format. Students who choose the hybrid option will spend three hours each week on campus, where they will interact with industry professionals and other students.
Graduates of the Animation programs at Vancouver Animation School are prepared to pursue roles across the animation and game design industries. Program alumni have landed positions at places such as DNEG, Reel FX Animation, Epic Games, Ubisoft, Gearbox Software, Bethesda Game Studios, Zynga, and Gameloft.
Established in 2010, Vancouver Animation School is the first online institution to be fully accredited by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB). With campuses in Canada and Blaine, Washington (USA), the school is also accredited by the British Columbia Education Quality Assurance (BCEQA), The Canadian Information Center for International Credentials (CICIC), EduCanada, and the Washington Education Training Board. VANAS provides certificates, diplomas, and university pathways in the art, media, design, and technology fields.
