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More Education | Schools and Training Centers

WHERE CAN I GET A BACHELORS DEGREE IN 3D?

Here are the top schools that I know of -- in order from top to bottom, mixed for both local and national.

  • VizTAMU Texas A&M Visualization Lab (College Station, TX)
    • http://vvvvvv.viz.tamu.edu/
    • good for "Technical Director" training
    • Disney/Pixar & Dreamworks have a summer program with them
    • Used to just have a MS (Master of Science)
    • Now they have MFA...
    • ...& BA
  • CalArts California Institute of the Arts (Valencia, CA)
    • http://calarts.edu/
    • well respected studio arts school founded by Walt Disney
    • Disney used to send animators to teach there, not sure what their faculty is like today
    • Super competitive admissions; difficult to get into
  • Academy of Art University (San Fran, CA)
  • RINGLING College of Art & Design (Sarasota, FLA)
  • USC University of Sounthern California (Los Angeles, CA)
    • http://anim.usc.edu/
    • My alma mater; they didn't have an animation program when I went, but I and a bunch of my contemporaries bridged the gap between Art/Film. The year after we graduated they established a MFA. They now have a BA & MFA
    • This school is WELL connected in LA and has a lot of money for equipment, facilities and staff.
    • It's expensive, tho.
  • UCLA University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
    • http://www.tft.ucla.edu/programs/animation/
    • The state school. ;-)
    • Really tho, these guys have a lot of the same things that USC has going for it, but its a state school, so there is more money there... but only for RESIDENTS.
    • Also, this is an MFA program only. 
  • VanArts (Vancouver, CAN)
  • Full Sail (Winter Park, FL)
  • RISD - Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI)
    • http://www.risd.edu/
    • well respected school
    • located far from the industry
    • http://www.vfs.com/programs/3D-animation-vfx
    • well respected school, but not sure how good their placement is these days
    • located far from the industry
  • SCAD Savanah College of Art & Design (Savanah, GA)
  • Art Institute (Dallas, TX)

ART SCHOOLS

  • Gemini School of Visual Arts (Cedar Park, TX)
    • http://www.geminischool.com/html/index.asp
    • It's in Cedar Park!
    • The program is expensive and takes a long time, but the artists that come out of this program are amazing.
    • There is no degree offered that I know of, but they have deep ties to the game development industry here in Austin, TX
  • Gnomon School of Visual Effects
    • http://www.gnomonschool.com/
    • Founded by industry professionals looking to train up a talent pool in Los Angeles
    • You need to be self-driven to excell in this school; should take it upon yourself to get involved with your instructors to become networked within the industry
    • One of my students, Jerry Kung, has gone on to study here on my recommendation. He works with big directors like Sam Rami and Peter Jackson to help visualize their films

ONLINE SCHOOLS

Most of the academic institutions listed above are moving towards ONLINE education and have a sister program that's online.

  • Gnomon Workshop
  • Rigging Dojo
    • http://www.riggingdojo.com/
    • Brad Clark, one of the founders, is a famous rigging artist (living here in Austin) who worked on the Golem rig for the Lord of the Rings with WETA. He's one of the owners. REALLY knows his stuff
    • Only takes on a few ppl at a time
  • Animation Mentor
  • Anim School
    • http://www.animschool.com/
    • Former Blue Sky Studios Supervisor Launches New Online School For 3D Animation, 3D Modeling and Rigging.
  • Think Tank

ONLINE TRAINING DVDS