5 Best Countries to Study Animation, Admission Process
Are you planning to take an animation course outside India? Here is a list of 5 best countries to study it.
Be it the beauty of ‘Avatar’ or the marine creatures in ‘Finding Nemo’, the effects of animation have caught the fancy of one and all. While we go gaga over this art of storytelling, it is compulsory to become a professional in the field of animation, it is good to understand the needs of the industry and choose the right course and institute. If you are planning to study abroad, you should know which country is the best for animation studies. Well! To make life easier, we give you 3 important factors to understand how to begin a career in animation:
Researching: Identify and understand the kind of jobs available in the animation industry.
Compulsory Skills: Focus on being original, artistic, innovative, and creative in addition to learn the new softwares and applications.
Identifying your Animation Field:
- In the present scenario, it is a vast field, thus it is compulsory to choose a course according to your talent, skill, and interest. One can choose from these courses:
- Animation & visual effects in movies, television and advertising.
- 3D Visualization – Medical animation, architectural walkthroughs and product simulations.
- Animated e-learning content.
- Online animated content for different portals.
- Games for mobiles, touch pads, consoles & PCs.
Why Study Animation Abroad?
Learning animation might be a dream for some, but getting the skills from abroad under professionals who have a different set of experience can bring a whole new horizon of learning and growth. The following are some reasons why you should try pursuing the course in a foreign land:
- Access to world-class Facilities and Institutions.
- Insights to Global Animation Styles.
- Increased networking with Professionals.
- Cultural and Personal Growth.
- Better Career Opportunities.
Best Countries to Study Animation
It would not be wrong to state that pursuing animation abroad from world-class institutes can open doors for an aspirant. The list of best countries for animation studies mentioned below has the top colleges, exams candidates need to take for admission, international student enrollment, etc.
Canada
It is a top choice for Indian students pursuing higher education. The diverse and multicultural environment makes candidates feel welcomed and comfortable. The country’s animation colleges offer a range of courses in various specializations, such as 2D animation, 3D animation, combined 2D and 3D animation, VFX, multimedia, and game design.
What makes it one of the best countries to study animation is the presence of several highly-ranked colleges such as Sheridan College, Vancouver Film School, etc. Aspiring animators can find the details about the top animation colleges in Canada below:
Sheridan College is a major destination for students to study animation from across the world and India. There are currently more than 8,500 international students studying in the institute.
Courses: Bachelor of Applied Arts (Animation) degree, 4 years; Computer Animation Certificate program, 1 year; Post graduation degrees in Game Level Design and Game Development - Advanced Programming, 1 year.
Tests Required: IELTS or TOEFL
2. Vancouver Film School (VFS)
Courses: Film-making; Character Animation Video Game Design etc.
The LA Times ranked VFS as one of the Top 10 schools favored by video game industry recruiters. Students who complete their graduation from the institute take up jobs at companies like ILM, Pixar, Paramount, EMI, Dreamworks, and EA. As part of the academic program, the candidate will get training in filmmaking, character animation, and video game design courses.
Tests Required: IELTS or TOEFL
3. Seneca College
Courses: 3-year Animation program; Post-diploma programs in 3D Animation and Visual Effects for Film and Television.
Established in 1967, Seneca College is a public college, located in Toronto with an alumni network of 240000 graduates and growing. The institute has more than 30,000 full-time students.
Tests Required: IELTS or TOEFL
Also Read:
- 2D Animation Vs 3D Animation: Which is Easier?
- Animation Course Salary [2024 Guide]
- Difference Between Animation and VFX
4. Vancouver Institute of Media Arts
Courses: 2D Character Animation; 3D Character Animation; Digital Photography; Game Art and Design; Visual Effects for Film and Television; Web Development and Interactive Design.
The Vancouver Institute of Media Arts was established in 1995, so it is one of the newer institutions. But despite but a young institution, it has quickly established itself as one of the premier institutes to study animation. The tuition fee at the institute for a one-year program can range from INR 13.32 L - 23.73 L.
Tests Required: IELTS or TOEFL
5. Ontario College of Art and Design
Courses : Guerrilla Entrepreneurism; Exploration; Insight and Foresight in Design; Illustrative Activism; Motion Graphics; Sequential Narrative; Virtual Communities; Play Behaviour and Game Design; and Interactive Communication: Clever Devices, Media, Messages and the Cultural Landscape and Illustration and the Rise of Popular Culture.
The Ontario College of Art and Design, also known as OCAD University, is a government-run institution of higher education and research in Toronto. It is one of the older institutions, being established in 1876. The alumni profile of the institute has names like Madeline Ashby (Writer), Rachel Hayward (Actress), Shary Boyle (Canadian Visual Artist), Martha Ladly (Musician and Designer), Frank Faubert (Canadian Politician), and Mary Margaret O'Hara (Actress and Musician).
Also Read:
United States of America
It is the home to Hollywood, where top-quality animated movies are produced. To support the film industry, colleges offer high-quality education to aspiring animators. Explore the best animation colleges in the USA below:
1. The School of Visual Arts
Courses: Undergraduate Program Majors in Advertising; Animation; Cartooning; Computer Art; Computer Animation and Visual Effects; Film and Video; Fine Arts; Graphic Design; Illustration; Interior Design; Photography; and Visual and Critical Studies.
Tests Required: TOEFL requirement: 213 computer-based score or 79 Internet-based scores. Minimum requirement: 173 computer-based scores or 61 Internet-based scores.
2. The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Courses: Introduction to 2D Animation; Introduction to 3D Computer Animation; Stop-Motion Animation; Intro to Animation Systems; Digital Tools for Animation; Research in 3-D Scanning; Sophomore Animation Seminar; Advanced 2D Animation; 3D Computer Animation II; 3D Modeling Landscape; Advanced 3D Open Studio; Character Modeling; Systems and Programming; 3D Video Game Character Devel and Animation workshop.
A private craftsmanship and plan school in Baltimore, Maryland, the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) was established in 19826. MICA is part of associations like the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), a consortium of 36 driving US workmanship schools, like the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Tests Required:TOEFL
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3. The Rhode Island School of Design
Courses: Bachelor of Fine Arts; and Bachelor of Graphic Design degree.
Established in 1877, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is another popular destination for students to study animation. The student-teacher ratio at the institute stands at 9:1. The employment rate is 90 percent, while the average salary for postgraduates is $56,400.
4. California Institute of Arts
Courses: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Character Animation; Bachelor of Fine Arts in Experimental Animation; and Master of Fine Arts in Experimental Animation.
The California Institute of the Arts is a private higher education institution in performing arts in California's Santa Clarita City. One of the main attractions of the university is its library, which hosts a wide collection of rare and unique books, journals, guides, magazines, and other printed volumes. You will also find a range of electronic resources like e-books, e-journals, databases, music, videos, CDs, and DVDs that can be accessed for research, learning, and teaching purposes.
5. Digital Animation and Visual Effects School
Courses: Digital Modeling and Texturing; Fundamentals of Computer Animation; Film Magic—The Art of Visual Effects; and Stereoscopic 3D Production.
Test Required: TOEFL
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United Kingdom (UK)
It is a top destination for Indians pursuing higher education. Colleges in the country offer affordable, high-quality programs across various subjects, making the UK a hub of education in Europe. Several top-rated colleges provide animation education aligned with industry requirements. These colleges are listed below:
It is also known as BU, is a public university located in South West England's Dorset region, United Kingdom. Being a highly-ranked university, it is very popular among international students, with more than 3,000 international students enrolled in the institute. Graduates from the university have a record of 93.3% employment rate. Notable alumni from the institute include prominent names like Nick Hector (Award-Winning Filmmaker and Editor), David Andrew Amess (Politician), Carl Ashmore (Children's Author), Angela Browning (Politician), Charles Mark Hansel (Psychologist and Academic), and Paul Kavanagh (Oscar-Nominated Visual Effects Artist).
Courses: Computer Animation Arts BA program and 3D Computer Animation MA.
2. National Film & Television School
Courses: Directing Animation and Digital Effects, and Games Design and Development
3. Royal College of Art
Courses: BA (Hons) in Animation and Video Game design and development, and Master's in Animation- Graphic Design & Illustration, Media & Game Design.
As per Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 - the University of West England (UWE) is ranked between 401-500. In the U.S. News & World Report 2022, the institute is placed at #1202. UWE in Bristol has a thriving international community, with 6,738 international students from over 140 countries enrolled at the institute. The institute has a strong alumni network of over 317,000 graduates across the world.
Courses: BA Hons. in Animation
It is a public research university located in South West London. The institute has been ranked among the top 100 universities in the UK by top-ranking publishers which also have the Guardian and the Complete University Guide for the last five years. Currently, the institute has 2452 international students enrolled in various programs.
The university is popular among students for its architecture and forensic science, film production, and photography courses.
Courses: Illustration and Animation BA Hons
In all the Above UK based institutes the IELTS or TOEFL is required.
Also read: Top Animation institutes in the UK
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