Choosing an Animation School

The next few paragraphs are for those of you habitual daydreamers who constantly get caught doodling cartoon characters instead of paying attention to math lectures. In what your teachers call laziness may lie your future career’Animation. Maybe your classroom doodles are a sign that instead of becoming a nuclear physicist, you’re ultimately headed for an animation studio at Disney or Pixar.

So now that you know you’re not a deadbeat…

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Online Animation Schools

Kaplan University

Programs offered:

B.S. in Information Technology/Multimedia & Animation

Penn Foster College

Programs offered:

Graphic Design

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division

Programs offered:

Media Arts & Animation

University of Phoenix

Programs offered:

AA in Information Technology/Visual Communication
BS in Information Technology/Multimedia and Visual Comm
BS in IT/Visual Communications
Certificate: Visual Communication
Visual Communication Certificate

Westwood College Online

Programs offered:

Animation
Game Art and Design
Game Software Development

Minnesota School of Business

Programs offered:

Digital Video & Media Production
Programming & Game Development

New England Institute of Technology

Programs offered:

Game Development and Simulation Programming Technology

Penn Foster Career School

Programs offered:

Computer Graphic Artist
Web Page Designer

Penn Foster Global

Programs offered:

Computer Graphic Artist
Web Page Designer

Rasmussen College

Programs offered:

Digital Design and Animation BS Degree
Multimedia Technologies AS Degree - Digital Design and Animation Emphasis

Campus Animation Schools by State

Alabama
- Herzing College - Birmingham
  3D Animation - Video Games - NTL.09 , Diploma Game Design and Animation
Alaska
- Charter College - Anchorage
  Computer Science: Concentration in Technical Graphics
Arizona
- Collins College - Tempe
  Game Design , Visual Arts: Game Art
Arkansas
- University of Phoenix - Bentonville
  AA in Information Technology/Visual Communication , BS in Information Technology/Multimedia and Visual Comm , BS in IT/Visual Communications , Certificate: Visual Communication , Visual Communication Certificate
California
- Brooks Institute - Santa Barbara
  Film & Video Production: Visual Effects and Animation
Colorado
- The Art Institutes - Denver
  3-D Model for Game & Animation , Animation , Animation Art & Design , Computer Animation , Design and Technical Graphics , Digital Film & Video Production , Game Art & Design , Interactive Media Design , Media Arts & Animation , Simulation & Virtual Environment ...
Connecticut
- University of Phoenix - Norwalk
  AA in Information Technology/Visual Communication , BS in Information Technology/Multimedia and Visual Comm , BS in IT/Visual Communications , Certificate: Visual Communication , Visual Communication Certificate
District of Columbia
- University of Phoenix - Washington
  AA in Information Technology/Visual Communication , BS in Information Technology/Multimedia and Visual Comm , BS in IT/Visual Communications , Certificate: Visual Communication , Visual Communication Certificate
Florida
- American InterContinental University - Weston
  Game Design and Development
Georgia
- American InterContinental University - Buckhead
  Game Design and Development
Hawaii
- University of Phoenix - Honolulu
  AA in Information Technology/Visual Communication , BS in Information Technology/Multimedia and Visual Comm , BS in IT/Visual Communications , Certificate: Visual Communication , Visual Communication Certificate
Idaho
- University of Phoenix - Meridian
  AA in Information Technology/Visual Communication , BS in Information Technology/Multimedia and Visual Comm , BS in IT/Visual Communications , Certificate: Visual Communication , Visual Communication Certificate
Illinois
- International Academy of Design and Technology - Chicago
  Computer Animation , Computer Graphics , Digital Media , Digital Media and Animation , Digital Movie Production , Digital Production , Game Design , Game Design and Development , Visual Communications: Game Design , Visual Communications: Multimedia and Web Design ...
Indiana
- The Art Institutes - Indianapolis
  3-D Model for Game & Animation , Animation , Animation Art & Design , Computer Animation , Design and Technical Graphics , Digital Film & Video Production , Game Art & Design , Interactive Media Design , Media Arts & Animation , Simulation & Virtual Environment ...
Iowa
- Kaplan University - Cedar Falls
  B.S. in Information Technology/Multimedia & Animation
Kansas
- University of Phoenix - McPherson
  AA in Information Technology/Visual Communication , BS in Information Technology/Multimedia and Visual Comm , BS in IT/Visual Communications , Certificate: Visual Communication , Visual Communication Certificate
Louisiana
- Herzing College - Kenner
  3D Animation - Video Games - NTL.09 , Diploma Game Design and Animation
Maryland
- Computer Career Institute at Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore
  Digital 3-D Animation , Digital Game Design , Game Designer , Special Effects Designer
Massachusetts
- Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University - Waltham
  3D Animation
Michigan
- Baker College Campus - Allen Park
  Associate - Computer Animation Programming
Minnesota
- Brown College - Mendota Heights
  Game Design and Development
Missouri
- University of Phoenix - Kansas City
  AA in Information Technology/Visual Communication , BS in Information Technology/Multimedia and Visual Comm , BS in IT/Visual Communications , Certificate: Visual Communication , Visual Communication Certificate
Nebraska
- Kaplan University - Lincoln
  B.S. in Information Technology/Multimedia & Animation
Nevada
- International Academy of Design and Technology - Henderson
  Computer Animation , Computer Graphics , Digital Media , Digital Media and Animation , Digital Movie Production , Digital Production , Game Design , Game Design and Development , Visual Communications: Game Design , Visual Communications: Multimedia and Web Design ...
New Jersey
- The Chubb Institute - Cherry Hill
  CAD/Drafting Technology , Graphic Design & Animation
New Mexico
- Kaplan Career Institute - Albuquerque
  Associate in Specialized Technology: Digital Arts
New York
- The Art Institutes - New York
  3-D Model for Game & Animation , Animation , Animation Art & Design , Computer Animation , Design and Technical Graphics , Digital Film & Video Production , Game Art & Design , Interactive Media Design , Media Arts & Animation , Simulation & Virtual Environment ...
North Carolina
- The Art Institutes - Charlotte
  3-D Model for Game & Animation , Animation , Animation Art & Design , Computer Animation , Design and Technical Graphics , Digital Film & Video Production , Game Art & Design , Interactive Media Design , Media Arts & Animation , Simulation & Virtual Environment ...
North Dakota
- Rasmussen College - Bismarck
  Digital Design and Animation BS Degree , Multimedia Technologies AS Degree - Digital Design and Animation Emphasis
Ohio
- Kaplan Career Institute - Cleveland
  Associate in Specialized Technology: Digital Arts
Oklahoma
- University of Phoenix - Oklahoma City
  AA in Information Technology/Visual Communication , BS in Information Technology/Multimedia and Visual Comm , BS in IT/Visual Communications , Certificate: Visual Communication , Visual Communication Certificate
Oregon
- The Art Institutes - Portland
  3-D Model for Game & Animation , Animation , Animation Art & Design , Computer Animation , Design and Technical Graphics , Digital Film & Video Production , Game Art & Design , Interactive Media Design , Media Arts & Animation , Simulation & Virtual Environment ...
Pennsylvania
- Kaplan Career Institute - Harrisburg
  Associate in Specialized Technology: Digital Arts
Rhode Island
- New England Institute of Technology - Warwick
  Game Development and Simulation Programming Technology
South Carolina
- The Art Institutes - Charleston
  3-D Model for Game & Animation , Animation , Animation Art & Design , Computer Animation , Design and Technical Graphics , Digital Film & Video Production , Game Art & Design , Interactive Media Design , Media Arts & Animation , Simulation & Virtual Environment ...
Tennessee
- International Academy of Design and Technology - Nashville
  Computer Animation , Computer Graphics , Digital Media , Digital Media and Animation , Digital Movie Production , Digital Production , Game Design , Game Design and Development , Visual Communications: Game Design , Visual Communications: Multimedia and Web Design ...
Texas
- American InterContinental University - Houston
  Game Design and Development
Utah
- The Art Institutes - Draper
  3-D Model for Game & Animation , Animation , Animation Art & Design , Computer Animation , Design and Technical Graphics , Digital Film & Video Production , Game Art & Design , Interactive Media Design , Media Arts & Animation , Simulation & Virtual Environment ...
Virginia
- The Art Institutes - Arlington
  3-D Model for Game & Animation , Animation , Animation Art & Design , Computer Animation , Design and Technical Graphics , Digital Film & Video Production , Game Art & Design , Interactive Media Design , Media Arts & Animation , Simulation & Virtual Environment ...
Washington
- International Academy of Design and Technology - Tukwila
  Computer Animation , Computer Graphics , Digital Media , Digital Media and Animation , Digital Movie Production , Digital Production , Game Design , Game Design and Development , Visual Communications: Game Design , Visual Communications: Multimedia and Web Design ...
Wisconsin
- Herzing College - Madison
  3D Animation - Video Games - NTL.09 , Diploma Game Design and Animation
Wyoming
- University of Phoenix - Cheyenne
  AA in Information Technology/Visual Communication , BS in Information Technology/Multimedia and Visual Comm , BS in IT/Visual Communications , Certificate: Visual Communication , Visual Communication Certificate

Choosing an Animation School (continued from top)

The next few paragraphs are for those of you habitual daydreamers who constantly get caught doodling cartoon characters instead of paying attention to math lectures. In what your teachers call laziness may lie your future career'Animation. Maybe your classroom doodles are a sign that instead of becoming a nuclear physicist, you're ultimately headed for an animation studio at Disney or Pixar.

So now that you know you're not a deadbeat student, what should you do to follow this newfound animation ambition? Well, for starters, you should probably attend animation school. Good animation schools will help artists improve their drawing skills and learn how to draw in the context of an animated environment. Students will take classes on the human anatomy and study how people look when they move around. They will also learn how to use state-of-the-art animation software that is ultimately used at many of the major animation studios.

Most of the reputable animation schools will require their students to have a finished animation portfolio or 'reel' upon graduation. This reel is essentially an animator's resume, and is what will be judged by employers. Your goal as an animation student is obviously to create a compelling and quality reel that will hopefully land you a job. Another aspect to eventually finding a job is building your professional career network. Many of the best animation schools team students up with professional animators for small internships or other projects. This real-world experience is invaluable for students, not only because they can further develop their skills, but also because they can hopefully use their newfound mentors to help them find a job.

Choosing an Animation School

Online Animation Schools

Campus Animation Schools by State

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Louisiana

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Choosing an Animation School (continued from top)

Degree Levels

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