3D Animation

Learn 3D Character Animation from Industry Pros
On Campus or Live Online

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Course Duration
18 months


Program Delivery
On Campus (Kelowna) or Online


FAQs
Answering your questions

Earn Your Diploma in 3D Animation

College for Arts and Technology's Diploma in 3D Animation is an in-depth, career-focused program packed with the training needed to get you working in this expanding industry! Taught over 18 months by working animation professionals, you'll get the industry connections and in-demand skills to jump into your career in the 3D animation industry. Join us on campus in Kelowna, or attend the same live classes from anywhere. Either way, you'll learn from the same instructors, on the same schedule, and graduate with a demo reel ready to show employers.

This hands-on program covers the key skills you’ll need to get noticed and hired, including:

  • Character animation processes and principles
  • Studio workflow etiquette
  • Animation speed and development drills
  • Acting and Character development
  • Mocap clean-up and game engine implementation
  • Creature/animal animation (body mechanics and acting)
  • Foundational skills in digital drawing and animation
  • History and cultural significance of the animation industry
  • Life Drawing (Including human and animal mechanics)
  • Storyboarding
  • Demo reel creation and portfolio preparation
  • Industry standard software including Autodesk Maya

Our Grads Power the

Arts & Tech Economy

CAT’s creative and technical programs are directly connected to a creative sector that makes a $6 Billion contribution to the British Columbia economy every year. Graduates from our 2D and 3D animation, filmmaking, graphic design, audio engineering and other programs are among the over 120,000 skilled arts and tech workers employed provincially in this vibrant, constantly growing ‘creative economy’. Over the years, hundreds of CAT animation graduates have made their mark on the industry, contributing their skills and creativity to numerous award-winning projects. Industry accolades include six Oscar-winning works and over 40 movies, TV shows and games that have garnered Emmys, BAFTAs, and Game Awards including KPOP Demon Hunters, Game of Thrones, Fortnite and Spider-Man: No Way Home just to name a few!

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Start Your 3D Animation Career

Animate Your Future

Get the hands-on training, industry mentorship, and demo reel you need to break into 3D character animation. On campus in Kelowna or live online

Get Info Now

01

Industry Connections

Animation industry professionals as your Instructors and mentors.

02

Let’s Get You Working!

Well-rounded, focused curriculum to get you successfully working as quickly as possible.

03

Degree Pathway Options

Established pathways with BCIT and University of Gloucestershire to further your education.

04

Top Tech

Latest technology, facilities and equipment in a dedicated animation lab classroom.

Here’s How You’ll Build Your 3D Animation Skills

Q1
You will be introduced to the practical skills and knowledge that are proven fundamentals of 3D animation, therefore laying the foundation for your entire 18-month program. This will be achieved through the introduction of Autodesk Maya that will be used consistently throughout your program and aid in the creation of, what will be, a regular end of Quarter demo reel. By the end you will display introductory knowledge/skill in the 6 basics of CG; modeling, texturing, rigging, lighting and rendering; Your introduction to the principles of animation is through traditional methods. In addition, traditional drawing as it relates to drawing the human form and perspective drawing and an introduction to the history and overall industry operations and trends that aid students in their motivation and knowledge around this career choice.
Q2
You will be introduced to the CG tools and pipeline of animating in Maya. The animation principles you were introduced to and how they translate to a CG medium will be a major focus of this as well. Parallel to this you will continue doing more advanced animation through traditional methods, while also continuing to study the human form/movement through life drawing studies and developing your visual storytelling and camera/film language skills through the art form of storyboarding.
Q3
You will continue to focus on animating in Maya through a more advanced study of body mechanics and an introduction to pantomime acting. Your traditional animation training will be complemented by introducing ToonBoom Harmony as a means of creating breadth and depth in your overall employability. Studies of the animal/human form/movement will continue, and 3D Layout will allow students to translate their visual storytelling and camera/film language skills from two-dimensional drawings into a CG medium.
Q4
CG animation training continues in Maya as acting to dialogue is introduced as your main focus. Complimenting this will be studied in acting for animation through film performance and genres. To further increase breadth and depth in your employability and understanding of organic movement and mechanics, creature animation will be studied along with the continuation of human/animal analysis through life drawing methods.
Q5
This quarter you will mainly focus on creating material for your final graduation portfolio and demo reel through more advanced CG animation studies of acting to dialogue and an introduction to animation specifically for gaming. Aspects of this training are now more self-directed with instructors taking on an increased mentoring role. Professional attitudes, studio practices, production schedules and networking are emphasized to a greater degree and put under more scrutiny, in addition to getting you prepped for this type of career.
Q6
Your final quarter is all about getting it done to the highest level. This is the culmination of all your hard work. Polishing your animation, creating a professional demo reel/portfolio site, job searching, networking and meeting the graduation criteria is your focus.

Quarter Descriptions

Department Head

Sean Ridgway

After graduating in 1992, Sean jumped right into animating and developing CD-ROM games for an independent video game company in Oakville, Ont. In 1994 the attraction of the West Coast and the burgeoning Vancouver animation industry led Sean to work at major pre-production houses in the Lower Mainland such as ‘Studio ‘B’ Productions’ and ‘Bardel Entertainment’ designing for many television shows such as “The Magic School Bus”, and “Tales from the Cryptkeeper”. In 1996 ‘Disney’ came to Vancouver and over the next 4 years Sean helped animate many feature-length projects including the award-winning “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas”.

Always looking for a challenge and a chance to broaden his skills, Sean accepted a position as a computer graphic artist on the ‘NBA Live” team at Electronic Arts Canada in Burnaby, BC.

In 2000, Sean started his teaching career, joining the ‘College for Digital Imaging and Sound’ as an instructor while working full-time in the industry. In 2002, Sean was offered the full-time position of Animation department head at the ‘Center for Arts and Technology’ in Fredericton, New Brunswick and decided to make the journey back east with his family.

Sean returned to BC in 2007 to join the Kelowna team and has been with the College for Arts and Technology for over two decades in the role of Department Head and full-time instructor.

What our grads are saying...

FAQs

Let's Get you answers

Do I need prior knowledge of 3D Animation before applying to CAT’s 3D Animation Program?
Experience is never a bad thing and we love it when program applicants have a passion for their industry of interest, and any applied skills are great too! However, formal knowledge and experience in animation principles are not required for entrance to this program. For complete application requirements, please book an appointment with an Animation Program Advisor.
Do I need a portfolio as part of my application?
We love it when applicants want to show off their talents and we’re excited to see your work, but a formal portfolio is not required for application to our 3D Animation Program. For further details on admission requirements, please reach out to a 3D Animation Program Advisor at 1.866.860.2787 or by filling out our contact form.
Is CAT’s 3D Animation Program accredited?
All of College for Art and Technology’s programs are backed by a designation through the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit and British Columbia’s Education Quality Assurance Program. For additional information on our designation, please visit our Designation page.
What equipment will I need for this program?

On campus: We've got you covered! Included in your tuition for the 3D Animation program, you'll have access to all the hardware and software you need to shine. 3D Animation students at CAT get to enjoy two dedicated classrooms on campus. You'll take your animation drawing classes, including life drawing and traditional animation, in our Life Drawing Classroom, outfitted with drawing light tables, easels and anything else a budding artist could want. You'll then bring your work to life in our Digital Animation Lab Classroom, set up like a real-world animation studio, complete with digital drawing tablets so you can get familiar working in a studio setting before you ever apply for a position.

Online: You'll need your own computer that meets our program's hardware requirements, along with a compatible drawing tablet, so you can join life drawing, animation, and studio classes live from home. A Program Advisor can walk you through the full specs for both and help make sure your setup is ready before you start.

Why choose CAT’s 3D Animation program over one offered at a University?
There are a number of reasons why CAT’s 3D Animation program stands out among the competition, including small class sizes taught by working animation pros, established pathways to universities around the world, mentorship, financial advising and support, and ongoing career guidance. Also, as a small and nimble institution, we have the ability to quickly adapt, giving our students the benefit of the latest industry trends and technology!
How does the online 3D Animation program work?

Our online option puts you in the same live classes as our on-campus students, on the same 18-month schedule. It's not a self-paced or pre-recorded course. You'll learn from the same instructors, follow the same curriculum, and build the same end-of-quarter demo reels. Hands-on components like life drawing, mocap clean-up, and studio critique are taught live and delivered remotely, so you get the same instruction and feedback as students in the room.

To join online, you'll need your own computer that meets our program's hardware requirements. We provide your Autodesk Maya license. You'll just need a drawing tablet and a compatible machine to run it on. Reach out to a Program Advisor for the full specs and help checking your setup.

Why choose CAT's 3D Animation program over one offered at a University?
Why choose a diploma in 3D Animation over a degree from a University? A few reasons: small class sizes taught by working animation professionals, established pathways to the University of Gloucestershire in Scotland, and BCIT if you want to continue your education; one-on-one mentorship, financial advising and support, ongoing career guidance long after you graduate, and now the flexibility to join those same live classes from anywhere in the world. As a small and nimble institution, we can adapt quickly to industry trends and technology, so you're always learning the tools and techniques studios are actually using today, not what was cutting-edge five years ago.
Do you offer job placements or internships with animation studios?
We maintain close connections with our animation industry partners and studios. Throughout your program, you’ll have info sessions with animation industry guests and you will be exposed to many real-world projects, and become familiar with the animation production pipeline. This early familiarity means that upon graduation, you’ll be more than ready to join the team at any animation studio around the world! After graduation, you can count on continued support from our Education and Student Services team who will share animation job opportunities with you and provide connections and resources to help you find a placement you love!
Is there a benefit to taking an animation program focused on either 2D or 3D as opposed to a 2D/3D blended program?

We love this question! While there may be some benefits to being a “jack-of-all-trades” as an animator, we firmly believe that the best route to lasting career success as an animator is specialization. When you stretch yourself to learn both 2D and 3D animation simultaneously, you may find yourself in future work situations where you feel out of your depth or comfort zone. At CAT, we’ve chosen to deliver 2D and 3D animation separately. We feel the differences between 2D and 3D are too great for students to get to the level of comprehension and mastery required by animation studios in the industry, even for entry-level positions.

So yes, you will have to decide on 2D or 3D animation before applying to CAT. But don’t worry, if you decide to start in 2D, but feel drawn to 3D during your program, you can always transition to 3D and vice versa. No matter your path, we’re here to make this work for you. Book an appointment with an Animation Program Advisor, they can answer more in-depth questions and even arrange for a campus tour!

Is this program eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permit?
College for Arts and Technology is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). This program is not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Please review IRCC requirements before applying. Final eligibility determinations are made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Animation Degree Pathways

Our Post-Graduation Pathways

Our graduates boast exceptional employment stats, so a degree is not necessary to secure a career in 3D Animation. However, should you wish to further your animation education after graduation from our program, we have established pathways with BCIT and University of Gloucestershire. For more information, book a time to speak with one of our Program Advisors or check out our Pathways page.

Finance Options
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