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What are the top animation training programs in Spain?
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trazos School of Digital Arts | Madrid |
| 2 | Animum Creativity Advanced School | Malaga |
| 3 | FX Animation Barcelona 3D & Film School | Barcelona |
| 4 | Universal Arts School | Valencia |
| 5 | Escola de Cinema de Barcelona – ECIB | Barcelona |
Our 2022 rankings of the top animation training programs in Spain. 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.
1. Trazos School of Digital Arts, Madrid, Spain
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.
2. Animum Creativity Advanced School, Malaga, Spain
Animum Creativity Advanced School (Animum) provides programs for students seeking careers in game design, animation, VFX, film and video, and other areas in the entertainment industry. Launched more than a decade ago, Animum has a number of animation programs for artists interested in taking a single course to those seeking a longer program, such as the Animum Master.
Options include the Digital Drawing and 2D Animation Master (560 hours), Animation of 3D Characters Master (18 months), the Master Concept of Characters (15 months), Animation for Video Games Advanced Program (nine Months), Explode Your Reel – Character Animation (three-month Advanced Workshop), Cartoon Animation (three-month Program), and Fundamentals of Animation (course, 30 hours).
Graduates of the Animation Programs at Animum Creativity Advanced School have the opportunity to promote their professional portfolios or reels to major studios, companies, and agencies locally and around the world.
Animum alumni have established careers at animation studios, game design companies, VFX studios, creative firms, and motion graphics production studios, among others. With locations in Los Angeles, New York, Mumbai, Chicago, London, Vancouver, Melbourne, and Montreal, Framestore (Animation & VFX) frequently hires Animum graduates. Illumination MacGuff (Paris), which produces animated films, is another top studio for graduates of the Animation Programs at Animum.
3. FX Animation Barcelona 3D & Film School, Barcelona, Spain
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.
4. Universal Arts School, Valencia, Spain
The Character Animation Program at Universal Arts School (UA) has several pathways for animators seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree. The Character Animation Bachelor’s Degree has 14 Specializations. Examples include Videogame Art and Character Animation, Concept Art and Character Animation, Videogame Art and VFX, Matte Painting and Character Animation, and Digital Film and Concept Art. Students in the program will be prepared for senior level positions in four years.
Students who would like to work in more than one professional area can add a Specialty such as 3D Art, Character Animation for Cinema or Character Animator for Videogames. Dual Specialty Options take five years to complete.
At the graduate level, UA has Master’s and Dual Master’s Degree Programs. The Master’s Degree has two options—Character Animation and Rigging with Maya. Students in the Dual Master’s have eight Specialization options. Examples include Character Animation and Illustration Concept Art, Character Animation and VFX with Houdini, Rigging 3D with Maya and Character Animation, and Animation and Digital Film. Students in this program may choose two Specialty areas. Both the Master’s and Dual Master’s take two years to complete.
Established in 1994, UA has two campuses in Valencia, Spain and one in Hollywood, California. All programs can be completed at either campus or entirely online. Features across programs include access to more than 200 mentors, internship opportunities, the Start-Up component, which helps students develop skills to start their own business, and access to nearly 100 speakers and collaborators from game and film studios.
The Universal Arts School Character Animation Programs culminate with a final project and professional demo reel. UA graduates have been hired at major studios such as Pixar, Blizzard Entertainment, Lucasfilm Animation, Ubisoft, Disney, Weta Digital, Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), LightBox Studios, and Framestore. Some alumni UA have launched their own studios or freelance businesses.
5. Escola de Cinema de Barcelona – ECIB (9Zeros Training Program), Barcelona, Spain
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.