What is the top animation school in British Columbia?

Top Animation School in British Columbia - 2024 College Rankings
RankingSchoolLocation
1Emily Carr University of Art + DesignVancouver, British Columbia

Our 2024 rankings of the top animation degree programs in British Columbia, Canada.

For this ranking we only consider formal degree programs (bachelor's degree or equivalent). For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here

1. Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU or Emily Carr) is home to the Ian Gillespie Faculty of Design + Dynamic Media. Within the faculty is a Bachelor of Media Arts (BMA) program with two options for Animators: 3D Computer Animation, and 2D + Experimental Animation. Emily Carr is the only school in British Columbia to offer a bachelor’s degree in 3D and CG Animation. 

All undergraduate programs at ECU begin with the 30 credit-hour Foundation Studies Year. Each student will be automatically registered for the Foundation Forum Lecture Series in the spring term of the first year. The series consists of speakers, guest artists, and sessions that cover important ECU program information. 

During this time, students will also get to know their peers, experiment, and participate in hands-on activities in dedicated foundation shops and studios. Students will learn about studio practices, develop technical skills, and take courses that explore art, media, and design. 

Other BMA program features include access to other state-of-the-art studios and facilities such as the Animation Studio, Editing Suites, Sound Lab, and the Film + Screen Arts Studio; admission to festivals, networking events, and conferences; the DDM Speaker Series; internships and connections to local Animation studios; access to sculpture areas and additional on-campus shops and studios such as the Integrated Motion Studio (motion capture), Digital Fabrication Lab, Mixed Reality Lab, Basically Good Media Lab, and the Soft Shop. 

All BMA students also have the opportunity to enhance the degree by selecting a minor in Art + Text, Social Practice + Community Engagement, or Curatorial Studies. 

The 3D Computer Animation BMA at Emily Carr is a 120 credit hour program that explores character animation, visual effects (VFX) techniques, texturing, 3D modeling, storytelling, lighting, grading, rendering, and production methodology. Students also have opportunities to partner with international institutes and work across film production, research, and game development. 

Course examples for the program include Introduction to 3D Character Animation; 3D Layout and Cinematography; Digital Compositing; Look Development for 3D Computer Animation; Lighting + Rendering Projects; 3D Character Creation; and Preproduction for 3D Animation.   

The program culminates with the Senior 3D Animation Production course, which consists of lectures, presentations, and one-on-one consultation with the instructor. Final projects are either student-initiated or initiated through partnerships with clients and research groups. Projects may include films, interactive environments, installations, or other works that demonstrate advanced 3D computer animation techniques. 

The 2D + Experimental Animation program at Emily Carr University of Art + Design explores traditional and digital drawing methods, filmmaking, industry-standard digital technologies, motion graphics, storytelling, stop motion, and advanced production techniques. Course examples for this 120 credit hour program include Character Animation I & II; Experimental Animation; Creative Development for Animation Filmmaking; Character Design; Story & Structure for Animation; Layout; and Storyboarding. 

The ECU 2D + Experimental Animation BMA program culminates with Senior Animation Production I & II, where students will work through their final (capstone) projects with guidance and advice via one-on-one communication with instructors and peers. Students in these 400 level courses will also participate in workshops and attend lectures and presentations. Capstones are presented in a final public exhibition. 

Graduates of the Animation BMA programs at Emily Carr University of Art + Design are prepared for careers in animation, VFX, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), character animation, game production, advertising, feature film production, motion graphics, auteur filmmaking and gallery exhibition, studio direction, and illustration. 

Program alumni have been recruited by major studios and organizations such as DreamWorks Animation, Pixar, Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), Universal, and the National Film Board. Graduates have also gone on to become professional filmmakers that routinely show their work at international film festivals. 

Founded in 1925, Emily Carr University of Art + Design is one of British Columbia’s oldest universities, and the only one that focuses on professional education and learning in Arts, Media, and Design. The school serves more than 1,800 degree-seeking students across four Faculties including Ian Gillespie Faculty of Design + Dynamic Media; Audain Faculty of Art; The Faculty of Culture + Community; and Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies. 

Programs at ECU include 15+ undergraduate options, three graduate options, and 12 continuing studies options leading to a certificate. In addition, Emily Carr University of Art + Design serves thousands of students enrolled in workshops and individual courses. All ECU students enjoy the school’s new 280,000 square foot state-of-the-art, LEED gold-certified campus. This is the first purpose-built center for visual arts, design, and media arts education and research in the country.

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