Hello, I'm hoping to pursue animation and I've been working on building my portfolio. Could anyone chip in with some advice on the top colleges for animation in the USA? I'm looking for schools that really support their arts programs.
Sure, I'm happy to provide some suggestions on this topic!First, I would look at the University of Southern California (USC), which has a very renowned animation program. The School of Cinematic Arts at USC offers a Bachelor of Arts in Animation & Digital Arts, which covers a broad range of areas in animation and encourages a very creative, hands-on approach.
Californian Institute of the Arts, often called 'CalArts', is another excellent choice. Established by Walt Disney himself, it is unsurprisingly very strong in animation. CalArts offers a Bachelor's in Character Animation, known for nurturing students to become skilled, expressive character animators.
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) has a focused animation program within the Film/Animation/Video department, focusing on both the technical and narrative aspects of animation.The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) offers a range of degrees in animation at the undergraduate and graduate level, with an array of specialty tracks within the programs. SCAD is well-known for its state-of-the-art facilities and industry connections.Finally, Ringling College of Art + Design in Florida has an excellent Computer Animation program, which has seen its graduates getting hired by studios like Pixar, DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, and others.
Each of these programs has a unique curriculum, so I'd encourage you to investigate the course listings and faculty at each school to see which program sounds the most interesting and conducive to your specific career goals. Best of luck in your search!
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