Animation
Start a movement with motion.
Life is full of movement, and you’ll learn how to capture it in CCAD’s Animation program. Here, you’ll learn the latest in animation tools and techniques, including 2D, 3D and experimental forms (think claymation, stop-motion, or other forms of animation made with unexpected materials). That’s not all: You’ll also learn about creating motion graphics, digital modeling, and virtual reality. And you’ll make work using professional-grade tools and facilities, all with the support of our expert faculty.
You’ll also sharpen your creative skills through other activities, like CCAD Sketch, a one-of-a-kind program where we bring in animals for live-sketch sessions (like this one). The Animation Student Collective is where you’ll meet new friends and take your creativity to new places. And you won’t want to miss out on fun creative competitions like the worldwide 24-Hours Animation Contest for Students.
Animation student work
3D Lighting
Joel Simon
Particles
Anastasia Smith
Experimental Animation
Jay Dickson
Sign Here
Gia Kornfeld
HotPaw-suit
Eleanor Hauck
3D Lighting
Landon Shell
Color Script
Mollie Malizia
Abstract
Liv Jones
When We Are Home Again
Sophia Reza
Fishy Fishay
Riley Ellis
3D Lighting
Joel Simon
2025
Maya, Unreal
Particles
Anastasia Smith
2024
Houdini
Experimental Animation
Jay Dickson
2023
Various Media, DragonFrame (Digital)
Sign Here
Gia Kornfeld
2025
Digital
HotPaw-suit
Eleanor Hauck
2025
Digital
3D Lighting
Landon Shell
2025
Maya, Unreal
Color Script
Mollie Malizia
2024
Digital
Abstract
Liv Jones
2023
Motion Graphics
When We Are Home Again
Sophia Reza
2023
Animation
Fishy Fishay
Riley Ellis
2025
Animation
Spaces to Make
Our campus has the tools and the spaces to help you make your vision real.
The Animation Student Collective meets regularly on the first floor of Design Studios on Broad (or DSB as we call it)
You’ll find PC labs loaded with industry-standard software and 24-inch Cintiq tablets so you can express yourself in 2D and 3D animation environments.
The Cloyd Family Animation Center features a stop-motion lab equipped with DSLRs and Dragonframe, and a virtual reality drawing lab.
Faculty
Meet the people who will help you along your creative and professional journey.
Adjunct Faculty
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Nathan Adams[email protected]
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Nicole Lemon[email protected]
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Jason Mowry[email protected]
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Tyler Newby[email protected]
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Ronald Price[email protected]
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Jamarr Threatt[email protected]
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Allie Vanaman[email protected]
Course Spotlight
Visual Development
Gain a better understanding of visual development for animation through a combination of exercises, workshops, demonstrations, film analysis, and critiques. You’ll learn practical, in-depth approaches to 2D, 3D, and experimental techniques in support of creating production-ready materials that tell your story.
Animation First Year Experience
Academic Year
Total Credit Hours
Freshman Year - Fall
| Course Title |
|---|
| 2D Creative Practice |
| Systems of Drawing |
| Collaboration |
| Mod Contemporary or Historical Art History |
| Writing and the Arts |
Freshman Year - Spring
| Course Title |
|---|
| Intro to Animation |
| Drawing for Entertainment Design |
| 3D Making with Care |
| History of Animation |
| Liberal Arts Self and Society Course |
Animation Careers
After earning their BFA in Animation, our graduates leave ready to take on such roles as:
- Architectural visualization producer
- Augmented reality designer
- Character animator for feature films
- Effect house animator
- Game artist
- Live theater effects designer
Recent employers
- Aardman Animations
- Aha Media
- Amazon Studios
- AXIS Studios
- Bartha
- Buck
- Cartuna
- Epipheo
- Final Pixel
- Framestore
- Hornet
- Illumination Entertainment
- Netflix
- Nickelodeon
- PIXEL Park
- Respawn Entertainment
- Riot Games
- The Shipyard
- Titmouse
- ZeniMax Media
Animation News
Who gives LeBron James his tattoos? It might not be who you think. Andy Friz is an associate professor of Animation at Columbus College of Art & Design who maintains an active creative practice, including special effects work for the long-awaited Space Jam sequel, officially titled Space Jam: A New Legacy.
Congrats to this year’s participants in this year’s world-wide, completely virtual 24 HOURS Animation Competition for Students. The teams of five students each were charged with creating a fully realized half-minute short within 24 hours.
