Academy of Art University
Associate of Arts (AA) in Animation and Visual Effects
San Francisco, USA
DURATION
4 Semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Jun 2024
TUITION FEES
USD 1,156 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* per unit for international students | $1,072 per unit for domestic students. Additional fees apply
Introduction
The School of Animation & Visual Effects AA program offers students a strong introduction to the core principles of animation production. Course offerings include visual effects, 3D animation, 3D modeling, 2D animation and stop motion, and storyboarding.
Program Outcome
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Visual Communication and Problem Solving
- Make effective design choices to support narrative, character, and/or mood
- Demonstrate the ability to research for inspiration, reference, accuracy, and incorporate findings into designs
- Create digital elements/effects appropriate to assignment parameters
- Demonstrate an understanding of cinematic continuity through sequential imagery
- Demonstrate proficient drawing and/or modeling skills: composition, perspective, proportion, and anatomy
- Successfully convey motion and interaction of character and/or object kinesis
Technical Skills
- Demonstrate facility and flexibility with animation and/or VFX technology, software, and digital media
Professional Readiness
- Produce basic materials required for an entry-level job search
- Demonstrate an understanding of the production pipeline through successful participation in the collaborative/pipeline process
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
Career Opportunities
Academy of Art University offers some of the best training and hands-on experience to help accelerate your animation career. We pride ourselves in doing an exceptional job preparing you to excel in your chosen profession. Our degree programs are designed to equip aspiring animators with a comprehensive toolbox of marketable skills that lead to success in the exciting animation and visual effects industry.
2D Animator
A 2D animator is concerned with creating 2D images by either hand drawing each frame or digitally manipulating flat media for games, television, the web, or feature films.
3D Animator
A 3D animator is concerned with the movement in computer graphic imagery, including characters, inanimate objects such as robots or cars, or cameras for television, feature films, or games.
3D Rigger
The 3D rigger creates a skeleton for a 3D model so it can move. Characters are rigged before they are animated so they can be deformed and moved around.
Character Animator
A character animator in traditional, 3D, or stop motion is concerned with the performance on screen. An understanding of timing, movement, of humans and animals, and acting is essential to bringing characters to life.
Modeler
Modelers digitally build objects in a 3D environment, including cartoon and realistic characters, animals, plants, buildings, and cars. Models are built so that they can be moved, painted, and lit properly.
Producer
The producer realizes the director's creative vision by building a strong crew of collaborators. The producer champions creativity, maintains the financials and schedule, influences tech innovation, and oversees the administrative process.
Stop Motion Artist
Good with your hands? With frame-by-frame manipulation, a stop motion artist creates a performance using posable puppets, props, and sets. Their work can be seen on television, in film, and in advertising.
Storyboard Artist
The storyboard artist translates the printed word into cinematic images. They provide the first look at what the final film or video game might look like. Storyboarding is a fast track to directing.
Technical Director: Compositing
A compositor uses digital software to combine separately created elements into one seamless image. They know color, lens effects, film artifacts, atmospheric effects, scale, perspective, parallax, and more.
Technical Director: Dynamics
A dynamics technical director uses particles and fluid simulation to create moving elements such as fire, water, and explosions in combination with live-action elements or used in a fully CG project.
Technical Director: Lighting and Rendering
The lighting technical director determines the visual look for a film using light and color and has a powerful influence on what the viewer sees and feels.
Gallery
Curriculum
Unit Requirements
Major | 12 |
Liberal Arts | 21 |
Core | 33 |
Total | 66 |
Degree Requirements
- A minimum grade of C- in all core courses, major courses, and LA 107 Writing for the Multilingual Artist or 108 Composition for the Artist
- Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
- 1 Written Communication: Composition
- 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking
- 2 Art Historical Awareness: Western Art
- 1 Employment Communications & Practices
After the above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.
Curriculum
Semester 1
- ANM 101: Introduction to Computer Graphics for Animation (Core)
- FND 110A: Analysis of Form A (Core)
- LA 101: Freshman Symposium: Artistic Resilience (Liberal Arts)
- LA 132: History of Animation (Liberal Arts)
Semester 2
- ANM 105: Introduction to 3D Production A (Core)
- ANM 108: Cinematics for Animation & VFX (Core)
- ANM 180: Introduction to Animation Principles & Techniques (Core)
- FND 110B: Analysis of Form B (Core)
- FND 122: Color Fundamentals (Core)
Recommended for summer - LA 108: Composition for the Artist (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer
Semester 3
- ANM 202: Introduction to 3D Production B (Core)
- ANM 251: Fundamentals of Texturing, Lookdev, & Lighting (Core)
- ANM 341: Principles of Compositing (Core)
- GAM 107: Game Engines (Major)
- LA 291: Designing Careers (Liberal Arts)
Semester 4
- ANM 205: Careers in Animation & VFX (Core)
- ANM 206: Producing for Animation & Visual Effects 1 (Major)
- ANM 221: 3D Character Animation 1 (Major)
- ANM 312: Hard Surface Modeling 1 (Major)
- LA 120: Art History Through the 15th Century
- (Liberal Arts)
- LA 121: Art History Through the 19th Century (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion & Argument (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer
Admissions
Facilities
English Language Requirements
Certify your English proficiency with the Duolingo English Test! The DET is a convenient, fast, and affordable online English test accepted by over 4,000 universities (like this one) around the world.