Computer Animation (BFA)
Explore the world of 3D computer animation in Columbia College Chicago’s Computer Animation program. Learn technical and storytelling skills from a faculty of professional animators with decades of industry experience.
The best artists constantly create. At Columbia, you’ll start animating in your first year. With practice you’ll become more comfortable with the tools of the trade and develop a keen eye for storytelling. As a senior, you’ll collaborate with peers to create an animated film.
There’s a reason we’re consistently ranked among the top animation schools in the Midwest and beyond. Columbia animation students bring a unique voice and aesthetic to their work, and best of all, employers want our grads. You’ll find Columbia alums around the world working in major animation studios and showcasing their award-winning films at festivals.
Degrees Available
Columbia College Chicago offers three options for animation-related degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Animation and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in either Computer Animation or Traditional Animation. The Animation BA might interest you if you want to explore multiple animation techniques (hand-drawn, stop-motion, computer, experimental) and take on a minor or second major. The BFA allows you specialize within your area of animation interest and complete two animated films by your final year.
If you plan to apply directly to the BFA programs, you’ll need to include some additional materials.
View course requirements:
In the Classroom
What to expect your first year
You’ll take courses like History of Animation, a lecture-based theory class that provides historical context for your work. You’ll also learn by creating. Build virtual environments and create and animate rudimentary CG characters as you learn Autodesk’s Maya (an industry-standard software) in Introduction to Computer Animation. No matter which entry-level courses you take, the end product is a body of artwork for your portfolio.
What to expect your last year
BFA students are required to take Animation Production Studio and produce their own animated thesis film as a solo project. This is similar in scope to the team project except you’ll have three full semesters to complete it. You’ll work as the producer, director, editor, and every other role in between.
Animation Production Studio
This two-semester capstone course is an intensive introduction to the animated film process. You’ll supervise and be supervised in roles ranging from director to editor. In the first semester, you’ll pitch ideas to your team and choose a story together. Then, you’ll create preproduction concept art, storyboards, and computer-generated (CG) assets. In the second semester, you’ll continue to build and refine the film, presenting it in May at Manifest, Columbia’s annual urban arts festival that celebrates the amazing work of our graduating students.
Outside the Classroom
Want a glimpse of industry life? Animation Studios in LA is a one-credit, single week, January-session course for selected senior Animation students. You’ll spend the mornings learning professional standards and industry preparation and the afternoons touring local animation studios such as Nickelodeon, Warner Bros., DreamWorks, Cartoon Network, and Disney.
Student Work
Alumni
Animation alumni hold jobs in Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and production studios around the world. They win Oscars and Emmys and work at companies like Disney, Pixar, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros. Animation, DreamWorks Studios, Weta Digital, and more.
Animation alumni highlights
- Dan Comella ’11 is a senior environment artist at Reliance Games, an international video game publisher that has produced games such as WWE Mayhem, Monster Trucks Racing, and Real Steel.
- Allison Morse ’15 is a design coordinator at ShadowMachine, an award-winning animation hub that is home to shows like BoJack Horseman and Robot Chicken.
- Daniel López Muñoz ’96 served as the art director for Pixar’s Up and has character artist credits on major films like Coco, Finding Dory, and Brave.
- Erin Okeson ’05 is an architectural illustrator for Solomon Cordwell Buenz, an architecture and interior design firm based in Chicago.
- Rachael Russakoff ’12 is an animatic editor for Nickelodeon Animation Studio.
- David Tuber ’05 is a story artist and storyboard artist whose credits include The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie and TV series such as BoJack Horseman, Robot Chicken, Moral Orel, and Community.
- Rocky Vanoost ’06 is a lead animator at Weta Digital, a visual effects company cofounded by Peter Jackson.
- Marlon West ’85 is an effects supervisor and animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he has worked on films such as The Lion King, Pocahontas, and Frozen.
Related Minors
Faculty
Our faculty members are award-winning working professionals, who bring their in-depth knowledge of animation, game art, cinema, television, graphic novels, and illustration to the classroom.