Animation

Animation

KCAI’s animation major provides students with the quality education, technical expertise and career skills necessary to realize their artistic visions and to succeed upon graduation. Animation students receive intensive instruction in classical, experimental and computer animation. Our approach is based on mentorship, creative exploration and self direction.

The animation curriculum is prioritized into a suite of sequential classes that emphasize the creative process by combining aspects of animation principles, concept modeling, production methods, history, theory and technique into each project. Courses within the major have planned synergies that develop over three years the essential skills necessary for students to identify and solve problems in physical, virtual, cognitive and cultural contexts.

Professional practice seminars are a compulsory part of studio practice, and all three levels (sophomore through senior) benefit from exposure to and interaction with visiting artists and other animation professionals, who present lectures, demonstrations and engage with students in interactive, hands-on critiques and workshops.

Jobs and internships

In addition to an ever-growing list of student film screenings in globally competitive festivals such as the Ottawa International Animation Festival, KCAI Animation majors have worked or interned for the following studios and institutions: Disney, DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, Hallmark Cards, Shadow Machine Films, Bill Plympton Studio, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Bazillion Pictures, T2, MK12, Intake Studios, Encyclopedia Pictura, Dream Studio, Fuzzy Duck Design, Titmouse Inc., Panda Panther, Grasshorse, Threehouse Studio

Check out the animation blog.

Samples of Work

Animation Faculty

  • Doug Hudson, assistant professor and chair of animation

    Hudson has worked as an animator, film composer, director and videographer. His minimalist style ranges from stream of consciousness...Read More
  • Liz Van Verth, assistant professor

    After graduating cum laude from Syracuse University in 1995 with a B.F.A. degree in illustration, Liz Van Verth moved to Brooklyn, NY...Read More.

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