Animation

In our Bachelor of Fine Arts programs in Animation or Film + Animation, you'll be pushed beyond your comfort zone by participating in projects where you will collaborate with musicians, dancers, actors and other artists.

Whether you create a narrative, documentary or experimental film, or a traditional, stop-motion or computer-generated animation, you will work in a dynamic medium to tell the stories you feel passionate about and to express your unique, personal vision.

Working closely with award-winning professional filmmakers and animators, and in collaboration with your peers, Animation classes are a mixture of hands-on instruction, lectures, screenings and critiques. You can also take advantage of internship and study abroad opportunities, and you'll graduate with the skills to confidently pursue a creative career.

UArts will also open a 5,600-square-foot Center for Immersive Media by 2020, with studios dedicated to motion-capture and immersive technologies like augmented and virtual reality.

Learn more about the Center for Immersive Media.

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Alumni & Careers

That's Weird | Animated Short Film by Atesh Sakarya from UArts Animation on Vimeo.

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Nichola Latzgo

'18

Animation

Hometown: Philadelphia

Tyler Davis

'18

Animation

Hometown: Rising Sun, Maryland

Matt Renzulli

'18

Animation

Hometown: York, PA

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Chris McDonnell

Animation

Animation for Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!, Kroll Show, Comedy Bang Bang!, Eagleheart, Portlandia, Yo Gabba Gabba, Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job!

Lowell Boston

BFA '88

Personal and professional work has been shown nationally on ABC, Fox and ESPN.

Erik VanHorn

Game Art

Digital Art Director, 'Magic: The Gathering'; Disney Animation Studios

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Sample Courses in the Animation Major

First Year
Image/Time
Puppet/Stop-Motion Animation
Drawing: Objects & Space
Principles of Animation
Art History Survey I or II
Writing I Placement
Intro to Computer Animation
Color
Thinking Through Science
Free Elective (your choice)

Second Year
Visual Development for Animation
Video Production
Drawing for Animators
Course in 2-D, 3-D or stop-motion animation
Critical Studies (your choice)
Sound Design
Sophomore Animation Piece
Free elective (your choice)

Third Year
Intro to 3-D Computer Animation
Storyboarding
Writing for Film
Critical Studies (your choice)
Junior Animation Piece
Course in 2-D, 3-D, or stop-motion animation
Free Elective

Fourth Year
Animation Thesis I
Client Animation Project or Internship (choose one)
Critical Studies (your choice)
Discipline History (your choice)
Free elective (your choice)
Animation Thesis II
Special Effects Compositing

About the Curriculum

The Animation program supports traditional hand-drawn, 3D computer, stop motion and any animation techniques that can be imagined or explored.

Students will explore the variety of techniques available to the current animator, hone traditional skills, learn how to tell engaging stories, create memorable characters, and bring things to life that have never existed before. Our alums work on blockbuster special effects films, animated television series, commercials, and video games in a variety of roles - from director to storyboard artist. As an undergraduate you’ll get to make both a junior animated film and a senior animated thesis. The skills learned as an Animation major will allow you to adapt and create quality content as ideas become even more valuable than the techniques needed to present them.

Students completing the Animation program will:

Develop the ability to articulate and realize a strong personal artistic vision - combining informed meaningful content creation with unique visual approaches to produce engaging sound/image work.
Master both traditional and digital animation skills and concepts; utilizing motion and time understanding with drawn, stop motion, and computer generated creative practices.
Demonstrate critical and analytical thought couched within a historical context; and be able to communicate this using written, visual, oral, web or hybrid means.
Learn to collaborate with artists, peers, and professionals; effectively managing time, planning, and work relationships.

To explore the full curriculum, click here.

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