Top 5 Schools in the World For Animation, Gaming and VFX
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The best animation schools in the world consistently feature institutions like GOBELINS Paris, known for its top-tier reputation; Sheridan College (Canada), a leader in 2D/3D; CalArts (USA), famous for its innovative approach; and Ringling College of Art and Design (USA), strong in computer animation, alongside European powerhouses like ArtFX (France) and Royal College of Art (UK), with strong programs also in Australia (RMIT, Griffith) and specialized schools like Gnomon.
Animation, Visual Effects, and Gaming are for those who are passionate storytellers and who love to give life to their characters. It is the perfect blend of technology and entertainment. Animation is currently a well paid job with steady career growth. With this also comes competition based on skills. So, it is essential to have good training. Below are some of the top animation schools in the world, known for their animation programs, which have to date produced successful animators and are worth taking a look at.
Also Read: Top 5 Animation Institutes in the UK
- Best Animation Schools in the World 2026
- Other Top Institutions for Animation
- General Eligibility Requirements for Top Animation Schools in the World
- Tips to Get into Top Animation Schools in the World
Best Animation Schools in the World 2026
The top 10 best animation schools in the world are given below.
Gobelins Paris
Also referred to as the GOBELINS, l'école de l'image, the Gobelins Paris is a renowned institute for the study of visual communication and arts. Founded in 1964, Gobelins Paris is famous for its bachelor's and master's courses in character animation, animated film-making, and visual storytelling. The school is often ranked #1 globally, renowned for its influential French animation style and innovation. The school also offers programs in many in-demand fields like motion/graphic design, web and mobile design, photography, video games, and audio & video. Most of its bachelor's courses are 3-year long, and master's courses are 2-year long. The school also offers preparatory year programs in animation, both online and full-time in-classroom courses. The school has strong industry connections, often providing good job prospects to its graduates while also providing them with practical and project-based learning. The admission requirements for getting into Gobelins Paris include having a French Baccalaureate (or equivalent foreign diploma) for a bachelor's degree and a higher-level degree (preferably a bachelor's) for a master's degree.
Sheridan College
Nicknamed the ‘Harvard of Animation’ or ‘Disney North’, Sheridan College, located in Ontario, Canada, is a top choice for animation aspirants. The school is a powerhouse of animation, especially for 2D animation, producing many industry legends. Distinguished graduates of Sheridan include Academy and Emmy award winners in the field of animated filmmaking and directing. Sheridan offers more than 130 programs leading to diplomas, certificates, degrees, and postgraduate diplomas. The Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design (FAAD) of Sheridan is Canada’s largest Art School. The faculty offers 37 programs and has produced to date 7 Oscar award winners. Today, the school offers a four-year Honours Bachelor's degree in animation, which is comprised of a mandatory internship and three post-graduate programs in computer animation, visual effects, and character animation. By the end of the training, you will be able to create world-class animated sequences, create 2D and 3D sequences, develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and communicate ideas and emotions visually, among other skills necessary to succeed in this field. Besides, FAAD also offers programs in Film, TV, and Journalism; Design, Illustration, and Photography; Material Art and Design and Visual and Performing Arts.
California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a world leader in the education of artists. CalArts’ programs in visual, media, performing and literary arts are top-ranking and highly selective. It is a legendary institution for experimental, 2D and 3D animation, and is often linked to Disney/Pixar. For animation aspirants, the school offers a highly ranked BFA program in Character Animation and a BFA/MFA program in Experimental Animation. Each program is designed to cater to individual student needs and various studies involving animation, its concepts, and practices. Cutting-edge animation, visual and multimedia labs, video studios, and post-production facilities provide CalArts students with superior hands-on training in both theory and professional practice. To date, CalArts graduates have made a mark in their respective fields. Some of the notable animation alumni include Mark Andrews (Brave), Wesley Archer (The Simpsons) and Adam Beckett (Star Wars).
Also Read: Top 5 Animation Institutes in the USA
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art (RCA), located in London, UK, is a leading public research university and the only university in the world for postgraduate art and design studies. It is also the top UK institution offering advanced animation studies. The university offers cutting-edge postgraduate programs in many areas, including Animation, Digital Direction, Architecture, Fashion and more. The highly ranked MA Animation program offered by the School of Communication/Animation comprises three pathways (Documentary Animation, Narrative Animation, and Experimental Animation) and to will be selected when you are applying for the program. Applicants can check the details of each pathway to understand the structure and career outcomes before selecting a pathway. The application process is supposedly competitive; applicants must, therefore, prepare a strong application package to be considered by RCA.
Emily Carr University of Art + Design
Located in Vancouver, Canada, the Emily Carr University of Art+Design is a highly regarded, world-leading art and design school. The university’s Ian Gillespie Faculty of Design + Dynamic Media offers interdisciplinary studies in areas of visual communications and storytelling; experimental and 3D animation; film and video; and interactive and integrated design, among other areas. The Bachelor of Media Arts degree offers animation aspirants to choice of majors in 2D & Experimental Animation or 3D Computer Animation. Emily Carr is the only animation school in British Columbia to offer a bachelor's degree with both 3D and CG animation. Animation students learn about animation principles, character development, design, story and production techniques, opportunity to engage in international projects, research, etc. Walt Disney Animation Studios and Sony Pictures Imageworks are among the few notable employers recruiting Emily Carr’s graduates.
Also Read: Top 5 Animation Institutes in Canada
Other Top Institutions for Animation
In addition to the above-reputed schools for animation programs, the following schools can also be considered for various professional and short-term training programs in animation.
| The Animation Workshop - VIA University College, Denmark | Bournemouth University, UK |
Griffith University, Australia |
| Gnomon School of VFX and Animation |
Billy Blue College of Design-Torrens University, Australia |
RMIT University, Australia |
| Yoobee School of Design, New Zealand |
School of Visual Arts, New York |
Supinfocom RUBIKA, France |
| ChungKang College of Cultural Industries, South Korea |
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Malaysia |
Swinburne University of Technology, Australia |
| Vancouver Institute of Media Arts |
Max The Mutt College Of Animation, Canada |
Seneca College |
Source: Animation Career Review
General Eligibility Requirements for Top Animation Schools in the World
For admissions, top animation schools in the world require strong creative portfolioos that represent your creative art and expressions. You must also submit other important documents like personal statements, recommendation letters; and sometimes - qualify for entrance exams like NID DAT or aptitude tests, focusing heavily on demonstrated artistic skill, storytelling and technical potential. These eligibility requirements are discussed in detail below.
- Your education: If you're seeking a bachelor's degree in animation, then you must score at least 45%-50% marks in your class 12 examinations. And if you're applying for a master's, then you must have completed your bachelor's degree in a relevant field with good CGPA.
- Portfolio Submission (most important aspect): Your portfolio shows a glimpse of your skills to the admission committee. With this, you talk to the admission committee indirectly that whether you can take on the challenging course in their institution or not. It must contain your best artistic work (drawings, digital art, 3D models, character designs, animation reels).
- English proficiency: English language is a huge requirement as to cope in a completely English speaking environment, you would need it. This can be shown by qualifying in exams like IELTS, TOEFL or PTE.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
Tips to Get into Top Animation Schools in the World
Tips for getting into the best animation schools in the world are given below.
- Create a portfolio that demonstrates your drawing skills.
- Get 2-3 recommendations from your ex-faculty or supervisor.
- Make a theme that shows your own style of creation in all your work
- Connect with industry leaders and seek their mentorship
- Have an idea of the latest softwares that there are in this field
This was all about the top animation, VFX and gaming schools in the world. If you have any doubts, feel free to drop your queries in the comments below.
Commonly asked questions
New Zealand is home to some popular universities offering MBA courses. Of these, some universities are even ranked among top 250 universities under QS Global Ranking 2026. These include University of Otago and Massey University. Students here can study MBA for an average annual tuition fee of less than INR 25 lakh, which is affordable when compared with countries such as the UK and the USA.
MBA graduates from New Zealand can earn up to NZ$83k or over INR 41 LPA, which on par with that of UK MBA graduates (£34K per year or INR 41 LPA).
Some of the popular profiles that MBA graduates can get include General Manager, CEO, Project Manager, National Sales Manager, among others.
The first-year tuition fees to study MS in New Zealand ranges between INR 10 L – INR 40 L. A majority of the MS universities in New Zealand have the tuition fees in the range of INR 20 L – INR 40 L The first-year tuition fees of top ranked MS universities in New Zealand are given below:
University | 1st-Year Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
University of Auckland | INR 22 L - INR 29 L |
University of Canterbury | INR 21 L – INR 47 L |
University of Otago | INR 18 L - INR 25 L |
Victoria University of Wellington | INR 17 L - INR 36 L |
Massey University | INR 19 L - INR 42 L |
AUT University | INR 18 L – INR 34 L |
According to Payscale, average base salary of MS graduate is NZD 75,000 per year. The table given below specifies the MS jobs by Salary in New Zealand:
Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|
Environmental Scientist | NZD 68,728 (INR 38.25 L) |
Project Manager | NZD 99,222 (INR 55.22 L) |
Senior Data Analyst | NZD 105,697 (INR 58.83 L) |
Ecologist | NZD 60,061 (INR 33.43 L) |
Operations Manager | NZD 108,595 (INR 60.44 L) |
Air New Zealand Aviation Institute (ANZAI) is one of the pioneer training institutes of New Zealand providing top-notch education and training. It is specialised in the aviation training programs unlike Nelson Marlbourough Institute of Technology. Also, it’s the training arm of Air New Zealand. It offers pilot, simulator, engineering, and cabin crew training programmes.
There are a total of five groups of Training programs by Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. The School of Flight caters to ab-initio training through its five approved flight schools and advanced simulator training programmes. The School of Engineering offers 2-year EASA approved maintenance course that is popular with international students.
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