Learn advanced techniques from award-winning faculty using the latest technology to bring your ideas to life.
See the benefits.
Fundamentals
Starting with its fundamental principles, you’ll learn everything you need to know about animation, including traditional techniques, character design, storyboarding, 3D modeling, rigging, texturing, animation, compositing, and final editing.
Faculty
Our faculty are industry professionals, who have experience at nationally and internationally renowned animation and graphic design studios, and continue to work in the marketplace. With small class sizes, you’ll have all the personal attention you need to succeed.
Work Opportunities
You’ll have opportunities to work with companies like Fisher-Price Inc. and also gain experience through internships at other organizations like the Buffalo Bills, Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center, STRUCK-down Entertainment, and 8 Hats High Animation & Production.
Collaboration
Collaboration is key to the animation program. Taking inspiration from other disciplines and new ideas the curriculum encourages you to integrate other fine arts areas into your studies, like photography, music, printmaking, and fashion design.
See for yourself.
Animators belong at Villa. Look around: Animation is everywhere—movies and TV, advertising, video games. Future animators are curious, creative, and embrace technology in meaningful ways. But most importantly—they’re storytellers. They have rich imaginations and take inspiration from other disciplines like photography, music, and film. At Villa, you’ll channel what you discover to create characters and environments that capture the interests of a range of audiences.
The Career Potential
In today’s world, the work animators do is everywhere – from movies and TV to the Internet, video games and advertising. When you’re ready to graduate, our program is on the list of approved animation programs at Sony Pictures Imageworks.
With a BFA in Animation, some of the types of career paths you could pursue include:
- Video game animator
- 2D/3D character animator
- Character designer
- Background/environment artist
- Character modeler
- Character rigger
- Texture artist
- Lighting artist
- Visual effects artist
- After Effects artist
- Flash animator
Villa’s animation program regularly hosts industry guest speakers who can talk with you about your career options and critique your work. You’ll also have the chance to gain exposure by showcasing your work at local theaters, festivals, and international film festivals during your junior and senior years.
The Facilities
You’ll have access to cutting edge studios with the latest software and equipment to let your talent and imagination take you anywhere.
- 3 computer animation studios equipped with industry leading software, like the Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite (Maya, Mudbox and MatchMover), Adobe CS6, Toon Boom Harmony, FlipBook Studio, and Quicktime Pro.
- 1 stop-motion studio equipped with Dragon Stop-Motion software, as well as a specialized lighting system.
- Studio spaces equipped with large, HDTV televisions and Blu-Ray/DVD players.
- Access to the Art Shop for fabrication of stop-motion puppets.
- HD video cameras, Nikon digital still cameras, tripods, flatbed scanners, traditional animation light tables, and a camera stand for creating animated pencil tests.
The Requirements
You must earn a grade of C or above in all Animation (ANM) courses for successful completion.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Animation Curriculum Requirements
Student Work
Watch some selected pieces from the projects our students have produced in the animation program.
Our Faculty.
Assistant Professor, Animation & Game Design
Chair of Digital Media Arts
Jeffrey Werner
[email protected]
716.961.2862
Join the family.
There’s a lot of pressure to know what’s next. We’re here to say, it’s OK if you’re still figuring it out. In fact, it’s great. Villa is a place where that kind of continual discovery is prized. Because going to college isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about inventing who you’re going to become. You’ll see.