Animation has come a long way since the Sunday morning cartoons of your childhood. Today’s animators, or multimedia artistes, have been an indispensable presence in your favourite movie blockbusters and television shows. You only need to sit through the end credits at the theatre to realise the amount of efforts that go into bringing your favourite fictional characters to life.
With the demand for animators ever increasing, it is no surprise that some of the top colleges and universities in the world offer courses in animation too.
In the first part of this series, we had covered Top Institutes to Study Animation in India. Today, we are looking at institutes around the world that offer high quality education for aspiring animators. So here, in no particular order, are the top institutes to study animation abroad:
Sheridan College, Canada
One of the most sought-after animation schools in the world, one must have a strong profile to be admitted to Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada. The college offers an extensive range of degrees in animation, including an intensive 4-yr Bachelor of Applied Arts in Animation, as well as a one-year course in computer animation.
California Institute of the Arts, United States
The California Institute of the Arts, also known as CalArts, is considered to be among the best initiates in the United States for studying animation. The institution offers both bachelors and masters degrees in graphic design and art. They also teach courses relating to multimedia, documentary making, dramatic narrative, experimental live-making, life drawing, storytelling, character animation and so on.
Gobelins, France
One of the best schools in Europe, Gobelins is a tough institute to get into. Aspiring animators need to crack an extremely tough and rigorous 3-hour entrance test to stand a chance. Boasting of some of the best teaching facilities, their students have won many prizes in some of the popular film festivals around the world.
Vancouver Institute of Media Arts, Canada
Founded in 1955, Vancouver Institute of Media Arts, or VanArts as it is popularly called, is not only one of the finest schools in Canada to study animation, but world over as well. The institute offers a unique 12-month diploma program in 2D and 3D character animation. The program focusses on character animation through body mechanics and performance, and strong foundation training in modeling, lighting, character building and art direction.
The Maryland Institute College and Art(MICA), United States
MICA is one of the oldest institutions offering animation courses in the world, and one of the best animation and design schools in USA. It offers an undergraduate degree, B.F.A in Animation, for aspiring animators. Students at MICA learn to create eloquent and original contemporary artwork through comprehensive training in the technology for production and a thorough study of character and narrative.