Top Game Design School and College in Maine - 2023 College Rankings

Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) has an Animation and Game Art (AG) Program that provides 24/7 access to private studios and state-of-the-art production facilities and equipment such VR workstations, the FabLab collaborative studio space, stop-motion animation workspaces, audio production and mastering studios, and computer labs outfitted with workstations and industry-level programs such as ToonBoom Harmony, Dragon Stop Motion, MAYA and Mudbox, Stencyl and Unity Game Engines, and Adobe CC Premium Suite, (Illustrator, Animate, Photoshop, After Effects, Muse, Audition).

Leading to a BFA, the four-year AG Program begins with two years of preparation coursework. Course examples include 2D Game Design, Intermediate Game & Concept Art, Advanced 3D Game Art, 3D Rigging & Animation, Cinematic Storytelling, Stop Motion and FX, Character Design, and 3D Modeling & Animation. During the third year of the MECA&D BFA Program, students will spend most of their time in the Major Production course and Collaborative Productions course.

The final year of the AG BFA Program consists of elective coursework and the Professional Studio and Capstone Production courses. Students will leave the Maine College of Art & Design AG Program with a professional portfolio of their finest work.

Graduates of the art and design programs at MECA&D work in a variety of positions across many different industries. Some alumni have also launched their own studios or freelance businesses. Maine College of Art & Design alumni are Game Artists, 3D Game Art Generalists, Lead Environmental Artists, Interaction Developers, Art Directors, Character Design Coordinators, and Production Assistants.

Examples of companies that have hired MECA&D students as interns and graduates include Walt Disney Animation Studios, Hasbro, Laika, Chickadee Games, Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDigi) at WP, Fort House Studios, White Dog Arts: Film and Media Production, Calypso Communications, Digital Mill Production Studio, Lone Wolf Media, Big Room Studios, P3 Studio, and Shoestring Theater.

Founded in 1882 as part of the Portland Society of Art, Maine College of Art & Design serves more than 500 degree-seeking students and 1,500 continuing studies students. Degree programs at MECA&D lead to a BFA, MFA, or MAT. A Graduate Certificate program is also available. Maine College of Art & Design has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) since 1973 and the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) since 1978.