Animation

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
Curriculum Requirements - 2011-2012 (Click Here)

Program Description

The Animation program is designed for the student who is interested in learning the creative art of animation filmmaking. Whether students want to start their career locally or work in a large metropolitan city, the real-world skills and experience that students gain in the Villa Maria College Animation program will prepare them well. Students will learn to work with traditional media such as pencil and paper, as well as using highly-technical computer animation software.  This is an intensive, hands-on program, where students will learn to produce animated films from start to finish, creating everything from initial script to animation to final editing.  Experienced in the animation industry, our skilled and qualified faculty includes working professionals. Small class sizes mean individual attention. Students are encouraged to be openly creative and engage in friendly competition and sharing, building to a richer, more successful individual.

Program Facilities

The dedicated computer studio includes both high powered Mac and PC workstations, with the Mac used for video-editing projects. Computers in both the shared and dedicated lab are outfitted with industry standard software such as the Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite, which includes software such as Maya, Mudbox and MotionBuilder. In addition we include Adobe CS3, FlipBook Studio, Combustion, Final Cut Pro, Quicktime Pro, Pixologic ZBrush, After Effects and more.  The Stop Motion Studio is equipped with Dragon Stop-Motion software as well as a specialized lighting system. Animation students have access to the Art Shop for fabrication of stop motion figures. Equipment available for student use includes HD mini-DV video cameras, digital still cameras, flatbed scanners, traditional animation light tables, camera stand for creating animated pencil tests and a Sony Video Walkman. Several studio spaces are equipped with Sony large-screen televisions and Blu-Ray DVD players.

Program Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C or above in all Animation (ANM) courses for successful completion.

Career Potential & Employment Outlook

Animators work in the motion picture and video industries, advertising, and computer systems design services. A variety of careers exist within this industry from special effects artists, to storyboard artists, to motion graphic artists. Among many other positions, 2-D animators can work as flash animators, character designers, layout artists and character animators. 3-D animators can look forward to careers as character animators, character designers, character riggers, lighting artists, special effects artists, texture artists, and the many other positions necessary to create both animated films and video games.  Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics supports the need for qualified employees in this field as the demand for realistic games, movie, and television special effects and 3-D animated movies continues to grow with a prediction that employment of animators is expected to grow faster than all occupations through 2016.

 

Villa Maria College 2011 Animation Demo Reel

 

For more information or to enroll, contact:

Kevin Donovan
Director of Enrollment Management
Phone: 716.961.1870
Email: kdonovan@villa.edu