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Animation student presenting on computer

Animation

Earn an Associate Degree in Animation

Turn your passion for art and technology into a career in animation. Earn an animation associate degree and develop professional skills to work in a field that uses cutting-edge technology to express creativity.

Animation is the ability to make things move through time and space. The industry is thriving due to the demand for visual effects in movies, television, video games and business. Companies that produce multimedia content need teams of skilled professionals who can create animations to tell stories or convey ideas that resonate with viewers.

If you’re into comic books or video games and love a good story, getting a two-year animation degree can help you gain the creative, technical and industry knowledge to begin building a career. Learn how to draw backgrounds and characters, sketch storyboards and add sound to produce 2D and 3D animations. Gain extensive experience using industry standard software on state-of-the-art computer equipment. Learn career-building skills while developing a portfolio to help you find a job in animation.

If you’re a creative person who loves art, storytelling and working with technology, this program will give you the skills to start a career path in animation.

Turn Your Passion for Art, Storytelling and Technology Into a Career

Aims Degree Video - Graphic Design and Rich Media - Animation

Professor Brian Dunning talks about how the animation program at Aims helps students prepare for a career.

Get Hands-on Training in Animation Software and Techniques

Animation is a collaborative field where people work in teams to create a final product. In core degree classes, learn how to collaborate, communicate and work on multiple project phases just as you would in the real world. 

While earning your animation associate degree, build professional skills and gain industry knowledge, including:

  • Learning industry-standard cutting-edge animation software
  • Mastering solid drawing and sculpting techniques
  • Creating storyboards from scripts
  • Generating frames in between images (tweening)
  • Learning 2D and 3D animation skills and techniques
  • Building a portfolio to share with potential employers and clients

This is a hands-on program spent working in teams using the latest software and related technology. You’ll also gain career skills such as building a portfolio, preparing for job interviews, accepting client feedback and teamwork. Along with your core animation classes, choose elective courses in subjects like drawing, art history and interpersonal communication. 

Learn animation and related software programs, including:

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Maya
  • Toon Boom Harmony
  • Storyboard Pro
  • ZBrush
  • Tinkercad
     

Learn Creative and Technical Skills with an Animation Certificate 

Earning a certificate is a cost-effective way to explore an area of interest without committing to a full academic degree program. Aims offers three animation certificates that build upon each other, including one that earns dual credit starting in high school. You can also use these animation certificates as the starting point for an associate or bachelor’s degree.

  • Basic Animation Certificate
  • Animation Certificate
  • Graphics, Web and Motion Certificate

Launch Your Career in Animation

Animation skills are in high demand, with opportunities to work in many fields. Types of projects animators work on include creating 3D architectural walk-throughs, forensic recreations of accident scenes, medical device prototype demos, and animations for movies, television and video games.

Examples of organizations that hire animators include:

  • Architectural firms
  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Law firms
  • Movie studios
  • Television networks
  • Aerospace organizations
  • Medical companies
$58,131 Median salary w/associate Source: salary.com

Animation Faculty and Staff

Professors with direct industry experience teach the animation classes at Aims. Learn what it’s like to work in the field from instructors who strive to find your strengths and build strong teams for projects. Class sizes are small, with plenty of one-on-one interaction with professors and peers.

  • Portrait of Brian Dunning

    Brian Dunning

    Chair/Professor - Graphic Design & Rich Media
  • Charly Bratt

    Charly Bratt

    Technical Paraprofessional - Graphic Design & Rich Media
  • Headshot of Bo Baird

    Bo Baird

    Part-Time Faculty - Graphic Design & Rich Media