What are the top Italian schools with animation degree programs?
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Istituto Europeo di Design | Milan |
| 2 | Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti | Milan |
Our 2024 rankings of the top Italian schools with formal animation degrees.
For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
1. Istituto Europeo di Design, Milan, Italy
Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) has several paths to study animation. Undergraduate options include BA degrees in a CG Animation and Illustration and Animation. At the graduate level, students can earn a Master of Animation Design. The CG Animation BA and Master of Animation Design are housed at the Milan campus. The Illustration and Animation BA program can be completed at IED’s Rome campus.
Across all programs, students have access to state-of-the-art production facilities such as the video shooting, editing, and interactive labs; immersive animation workshops; and the opportunity to complete an internship.
The CG Animation BA is a 180 credit hour, three-year program that explores animation, visual effects (VFX), interactivity, and games. Course examples include Digital Animation Techniques 1-3; Semiotics of Art; Digital Modeling Techniques with 3D; Filmmaking; Interactive Systems 1-2; Sociology of Communication, Digital Cultures; and Software 1-3.
In the final year of the CG Animation BA program at Istituto Europeo di Design, students will complete an individual dissertation project.
The Illustration and Animation BA program at IED is a full-time, 180 credit hour program that allows students to experiment in areas such as comics, stop motion, character design, children’s illustration, Editorial illustration, and poster design. Course examples for the program include Digital Animation Techniques 1-2; Video Production Elements; Computer Graphics 1-2; Elements of Morphology and Form Dynamics; Illustration 1-4; and Film and Video History.
In the final year of the Illustration and Animation program at IED, students will complete a dissertation project, develop a professional portfolio, and build a demo reel.
The Master of Animation Design at Istituto Europeo di Design is a one year program that consists of three areas: Design, Production-Marketing, and Technical-Practical. Across areas, students will complete explore storytelling, special effects, animation design methods, character design, ambient design, production, and development.
Technical areas include 2D Animation: ToonBoom Harmony; Toon Boom Storyboard; Compositing Advanced Techniques and Effects; and Workshop: Stop Motion - Performance Capture. Production-Marketing Areas include Production Critical Analysis; Marketing; and Production Management. The program culminates with an individual short that demonstrates the students ability to produce a professional film.
Graduates of the Master of Animation Design program at Istituto Europeo di Design are prepared to pursue leadership roles in animation production, special effects, game art and design, television and film production, advertising, multimedia, research, and art education.
Founded in 1966, Istituto Europeo di Design is a private Design school that serves 10,000 students each year. The school provides more than 100 undergraduate programs and 300+ graduate programs across 11 campuses in Italy, Spain, and Brazil. Programs at IED are organized across the schools of Art and Restoration; Design; Visual Arts; Fashion; and Communication. Istituto Europeo di Design is accredited by the Brazilian Education Ministry.
2. Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, Milan, Italy
Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (NABA) is home the Department of Design and Applied Arts (DDAA), which houses the Media Design and New Technologies area. Within the area is a Film and Animation BA and a Creative Technologies BA. Both programs can be completed in three years.
All NABA DDAA students benefit from the school’s more than 70 cooperative agreements with universities in Europe and abroad; internship opportunities with NABA partners such as Disney, Next Media Lab, and Indiana Production; and collaborative projects with companies such as Lego, Cisco, and Novartis.
The Film and Animation BA provides the option to specialize in animation or film. In the Animation specialization, students will explore 2D and 3D animation, storytelling, stop-motion, and experimental design. Projects include productions for film, the web, interactive design, and transmedia. The program culminates with a final animation project. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles such as 2D Animator, Media Designer, Creative Producer, Concept Artist, Art Director, Character Designer, Screenwriter, Creative Producer, Filmmaker, and Director.
The Creative Technologies BA at Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti explores CGI as it relates to games, visual effects (VFX), 3D, character design, and animation. Students have the option to specialize in VFX and 3D or Games. In both specializations, students will learn how to produce visual effects for audiovisual projects, design and develop video games, create 3D characters and environments for animation and games, and master techniques and technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual production, and motion capture.
The program culminates with a final project in the student's chosen area of focus. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles across the feature film, animation, and games industries, among others. Examples of potential job titles include Animator, Game Artist, Character Designer, VFX Artist, Creative Technologist, 3D Artist, Colorist, Game Developer, Compositor, and Concept Artist.
Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti was founded in 1980. Serving approximately 4,000 students from 80 countries, and with campuses in Milan and Rome, NABA is the largest art academy in Italy. Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti recognized by the Higher Education in Art and Music system (AFAM, Alta Formazione Artistica e Musicale) and regulated by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR).