The role of the animator in the entertainment industry has radically expanded over the past several decades and the animation school at the New York Film Academy reflects these changes. With a focus on immersing students in the fundamentals of 3D animation, visual effects, and 2D animation, our award-winning faculty has designed an intensive, hands-on curriculum to prepare the next generation of animators and visual effects artists for an ever-growing and competitive industry, making it one of the best animation schools in the world.
An unparalleled animation institute, the animation school at the New York Film Academy provides students with state-of-the-art facilities and hands-on experience with the industry standard Maya software and top-notch equipment.
Review Of The Animation Program
Animation Courses
Students interested in taking an animation course at the New York Film Academy’s animation school can expect to take many of the below animation courses depending on which workshop or program they enroll in.
Modeling
Rigging
Introduction to Shaders
Lighting & Cameras
Screenwriting
Materials and Textures
Storyboard
Character Design
Introduction to Animation
3D Computer Modeling
UV Mapping
Rendering, Editing & Compositing
Animation
Lighting
Hard Surface Nurbs Modeling
Acting for Animation
MEL and Python
Particle Dynamics and Visual Effects
ZBrush
Mental Ray
Putting Together Your Reel
Compositing with Nuke
Advanced Rigging
Animation Classes
Aspiring animators interested in taking an animation class at the animation school can enroll in one throughout the year. To learn more about the start dates and tuition rates for the animation classes, please click here.
Animation Degrees
Students that wish to obtain an animation degree can complete a one-year program at the Academy’s NYC campus and apply for advanced standing in the BFA animation degree program offered at our Los Angeles campus.
The animation school at the New York Film Academy offers a short-term workshop at our NYC campus designed for students who wish to obtain a working knowledge of the fundamentals of 3D animation.
Designed to accommodate students looking to make a longer time commitment to their studies, the animation school at the New York Film Academy offers the following animation program.
In addition to its top-notch curriculum and facilities, the animation school at the New York Film Academy is home to a distinguished and accomplished faculty of professional 3D animators and visual effects artists. Each faculty member possesses a unique skill set that helps to create well-rounded students who are comfortable with the numerous aspects of the animation pipeline. Some of the faculty members at the animation school include:
Robert Appleton: As chair of the animation school at the Academy’s NYC campus, Appleton has worked as an acclaimed professor of 3D animation and visual effects at a number of institutions including the Ecole Superieure de Realisation Audiovisuelle, Pratt Institute, New York University, and Bloomberg LP London UK.
Juniko Moody: With decades of experience in both 3D and 2D animation, Moody served as a production 3D lighting/compositor for Disney Feature Animation and Sony Imageworks in addition to working as a 2D compositor at Kodak Cineaste and Warner Digital. Moody’s transition to teaching came through holding corporate digital training in 2D and 3D animation for Dreamworks Feature Animation. Her teaching specialties include 3D animation, digital modeling, and lighting.
Mark Sawicki: A visual effects cameraman with decades of experience, Sawicki was originally trained as a clay animator. After nearly forty years, Sawicki has eighty-nine visual effects credits under his belt, having worked on such blockbuster films as The Dark Knight Rises, Tropic Thunder, Gangs of New York, From Dusk Till Dawn, Cape Fear, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and The Terminator. In addition, he is also the author of Animating with Stop Motion Pro and Filming the Fantastic.
Boaz Livny: An instructor in Advanced Lighting and Shaders, Livny is a CG/VFX supervisor for various post-production companies in the NYC area that include Elementary and Recom Farmhouse. Furthermore, he runs his own company called Vision Animations that provides production services, consultancy, and in-house training for studios around the world. He is also the author of Mental Ray for Maya, 3ds Max, and XSI: A 3D Artists’s Guide to Rendering.
Animation Alumni
The animation school at the New York Film Academy regularly graduates successful alumni that have gone on to find employment in such diverse industries as animated films, animated series, visual effects work, video games, and much more.
Career Opportunities
Students who graduate from the animation school at the New York Film Academy have a number of career paths open to them, many of which are listed below. Furthermore, past graduates have gone on to work for a number of companies and organizations that include the following.
3D Modeling
Character Development
Art Direction
Storyboard Artist
Architectural Modeling
Layout Artist
Visual Effects Artist
Character Rigger
Key Animator
Lighting Technician
Video Game Designer
Stop Motion Animator
2D Animator
Forensic Animator
Texture Artist
Color Key Artist
Compositing Artist
Mathematical Modeler
Render Wrangler
Cartoonist
Contact Us
To learn more about the animation school at the New York Film Academy, prospective students are encouraged to call us at +1 (212) 674-4300 and follow the links below to download more information.
REQUEST INFO
1-800-611-FILM | 1-212-674-4300 
Animation Degrees
