One technology does not necessarily render another obsolete—it merely gives you one more tool to tell a story, one more way to give life to characters and stories that until now have existed only inside your head. While most of the first year is devoted to drawing and exploring the history of animation, our goal is to help you discover the magic that happens when inanimate objects take on a life of their own. For this, we introduce you to basic techniques of movement, acting for animation and the art of storytelling.

Required Courses
AHD-1170 Animation: From McCay to Burton
AND-1020 Introduction to Animation I
AND-1025 Introduction to Animation II
AND-1140 Storytelling, Storyboarding and the Art of the Pitch I
AND-1145 Storytelling, Storyboarding and the Art of the Pitch II
AND-1230 Digital Compositing
FDD-1030 Drawing I
FDD-1035 Drawing II
HCD-1020 Writing and Literature I
HCD-1025 Writing and Literature II

Our goal in the second year is to continue to strengthen your drawing skills with classes in anatomy, perspective drawing, classical animation, and layout and design. At the same time, we give you a thorough grounding in the history of world art, which will be a source of inspiration throughout your career. We'll also help you learn more specialized animation techniques such as storyboarding, computer animation and stop motion.

Required Courses

Traditional Animation Majors
AND-2010 Animation Workshop I
AND-2015 Animation Workshop II
AND-2090 Perspective Drawing
AND-2110 Digital Compositing I
FDD-2020 Anatomy I
FDD-2025 Anatomy II


Stop-Motion Majors
AND-2020 Introduction to Stop-Motion I
AND-2025 Introduction to Stop-Motion II
AND-2110 Digital Compositing I
AND-2140 Character Construction 
AND-2160 Miniature Sets and Action Props
FSD-2090 Figurative Sculpture

In your third year, while taking advanced courses in animation, life drawing, wildlife watercolors and computer inking and painting, you finally get to combine all your specialized skills and create your own personal work, either working by yourself or in a team. You'll be learning skills actually used in the industry and getting a feel for the practical side of the profession.

Required Courses

Traditional Animation Majors
AND-3010 Advanced Animation Workshop I
AND-3015 Advanced Animation Workshop II
AND-3040 Life Drawing: Figure, Form and Function
AND-3050 Drawing Animals in Motion
AND-3120 Layout and Design 
AND-3130 Sound Design for Animation

Stop-Motion Majors
AND-3020 Advanced Stop-Action Animation I
AND-3025 Advanced Stop-Action Animation II
AND-3120 Layout and Design 
AND-3130 Sound Design for Animation

This is your thesis year, in which you'll be designing and planning your animation portfolio. This will include a short animated film, which you will produce under the guidance of a professional animator. Besides the techniques you'll be learning, an entertainment attorney and a skilled marketing/public relations person will advise you on how to protect your work and firmly establish a professional career.

Required Courses
AND-4010 Career Strategies for Animation 
AND-4080 Animation Thesis I
AND-4085 Animation Thesis II