Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Animation & Visual Effects
San Francisco, USA
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
8 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 1,463 *
STUDY FORMAT
* per unit for international students / USD 1,239 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
About: The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Animation & Visual Effects at Academy of Art University teaches students to master digital technology. Students choose emphasis: visual effects, 3D modeling, 3D, 2D and stop-motion animation, or storyboarding. The program requires minimum grade of C- in core and major courses and LA 107 or 108, minimum 2.0 GPA, and general education units across writing, art history, quantitative literacy, and employment communications.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can pursue career opportunities including animator, VFX artist, 3D modeler, storyboard artist, compositor, and game artist; they can work in film, TV, advertising, games, and multimedia.
The School of Animation & Visual Effects BFA program provides students with the skills necessary to master today’s digital technology. Students choose one primary area of emphasis between visual effects, 3D modeling, 3D animation, 2D animation and stop motion, and storyboarding.
Unit Requirements
Degree Requirements
BFA Animation & Visual Effects Degree Requirements
- 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
- 1 Written Communication: Context & Style
- 2 Art Historical Awareness: Western Art
- 2 Art Historical Awareness: Surveys
- 1 Historical Awareness
- 1 Quantitative Literacy
- 1 Cultural Ideas & Influences
- 1 Employment Communications & Practices
Semester 1
- ANM 101: Introduction to Computer Graphics for Animation
Core / 3 Units - ANM 108: Cinematics for Animation & VFX
Major / 3 Units - ANM 180: Introduction to Animation Principles & Techniques
Core / 3 Units - FND 113: Sketching for Communication
Core / 3 Units
Semester 2
- ANM 105: Computer Animation Production
Core / 3 Units - ANM 203: Preproduction Principles
Core / 3 Units - ANM 206: Producing for Animation & Visual Effects 1
Major / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - FND 112: Figure Drawing
Core / 3 Units - LA 108: Composition for the Artist
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - LA 132: History of Animation
Liberal Arts / 3 Units
Semester 3
- ANM 190: Traditional Animation 1
Major / 3 Units - ANM 202: 3D Modeling and Animation 1 (Maya)
Major / 3 Units - FA 213: Introduction to Anatomy
Core / 3 Units - FND 122: Color Fundamentals
Core / 3 Units - LA 291: Designing Careers
Liberal Arts / 3 Units
Semester 4
- ANM 205: Careers in Animation & VFX
Core / 3 Units - ANM 221: 3D Character Animation 1
Major / 3 Units - FND 116: Perspective
Core / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - ILL 120: Clothed Figure Drawing 1
Core / 3 Units - LA 120: Art History Through the 15th Century
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 121: Art History Through the 19th Century
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion & Argument
Liberal Arts / 3 Units
Semester 5
- ANM 222: Introduction to Rigging
Major / 3 Units - ANM 303: Previs & Postvis
Major / 3 Units - FA 222: Expressive Heads & Hands
Major / 3 Units - LA 110: Writing the Short Story
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 462: Power of Myth and Symbol
Liberal Arts / 3 Units
Semester 6
- ANM 251: Fundamentals of Texturing & Lighting
Major / 3 Units - ANM 321: 3D Character Animation 2
Major / 3 Units - ANM 498: Collaborative Project
Elective / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - LA 124: Physics for Artists: Light, Sound, and Motion
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 134: History & Technology of Visual Effects & Computer Animation
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - LA 359: Urban Sociology
Liberal Arts / 3 Units
Semester 7
- ANM 270: Storyboarding 1: Camera Language & Animatics
Major / 3 Units - ANM 324: Lip Sync & Facial Performances
Major / 3 Units - ANM 421: 3D Character Animation 3
Major / 3 Units - LA 195: History of Comics: American Comics
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 285: Physical Theatre
Liberal Arts / 3 Units
Semester 8
- ANM 405: Senior Portfolio for Animation & VFX
Core / 3 Units - ANM 462: Character Animation Studio
Major / 3 Units - ANM 498: Collaborative Project
Elective / 3 Units - ANM 500: Internship in Animation
Elective / 3 Units /Recommended for summer - LA 131: History of Gaming
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - LA 157: The Genius of Appeal
Liberal Arts / 3 Units
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 design solutions
- 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 and software
- Demonstrate facility with digital media
Professional Readiness
- Assemble a professional digital or portfolio demonstrating an understanding of the target market
- Demonstrate an understanding of the production pipeline through successful participation in the collaborative / pipeline process
Specialty Skills: Storyboarding
- Create and pitch stories and concepts through the use of sequential imagery
- Demonstrate an understanding of cinematic continuity by creating sequential imagery that supports narrative, character, and/or mood
- Demonstrate proficient drawing skills: composition, perspective, proportion, and anatomy
Specialty Skills: 2D Animation
- Apply the principles of animation to effectively communicate character action, emotion, and mood
- Convey motion (biped and quadruped) and the interaction of moving objects
- Demonstrate proficient drawing skills: composition, perspective, proportion, and anatomy
- Demonstrate facility and flexibility with both relevant character and asset creation tools
Specialty Skills: Modeling
- Model with appropriate use of form, proportion, and anatomy
- Create and apply texture and lighting consistent with the overall look of the project
Specialty Skills: 3D Animation
- Apply the principles of animation to effectively communicate character action, emotion, and mood
- Convey motion (biped and quadruped) and interaction of moving objects
Specialty Skills: Visual Effects Compositing
- Design and generate digital elements and effects that meet the needs of the imagery
- Combine digital effects and elements from diverse sources to create a fine degree of visual believability and consistency
Specialty Skills: VFX Producing
- Exhibit an understanding of how VFX pipeline skills and tools support animation by clearly and effectively presenting project management work samples
Specialty Skills: Rigging
- Create efficient and effective integration of rigs into original or collaborative projects
Specialty Skills: Stop Motion Animation & Fabrication
- Apply the principles of animation to effectively communicate character action, emotion, and mood
- Convey motion (biped and quadruped) and interaction of moving objects
Specialty Skills: Dynamics
- Apply appropriate integration dynamics into professional-quality shots or sequences
Specialty Skills: Texture & Lighting
- Create and apply texture and lighting consistent with the overall look of the project
- Apply appropriate integration of lighting and texturing skills into professional-quality shots or sequences
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.