At the New York Film Academy’s film school, faculty members and curriculum are focused on providing students with the real world know-how to help them achieve their goals. These achievements are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances. Below are some of the positions and networks in which our alumni have worked:
Hands-On Degrees, Programs, and Workshops at NYFA
At NYFA’s 3D Animation & Visual Effects (VFX) School, students learn to create 3D art, animation, and visual effects for use in film, TV, games, and virtual reality. During their time at NYFA, students study in professional facilities using state-of-the-art equipment and industry-standard software, which may include Autodesk’s 3D Maya, MotionBuilder, Motion Capture, Unreal Game Engine, Pixologic’s ZBrush digital sculptor, SideFX’s Houdini FX, Chaos Group’s V-Ray, and Foundry’s Nuke compositing and editing program.
From short-term intensives to our highly specialized Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program, we set ourselves apart with an emphasis on the practical, technical and artistic skills required to bring CG-enhanced stories to life. During their time in our programs, students learn through a rigorous progression of real-world projects that actively prepare them for the rigors of a professional studio.
Depending on the workshop or program in which students choose to enroll, they can expect to take animation courses in Screenwriting, UV Mapping, Lighting and rendering with V-Ray and Arnold, Storyboard & Animatic, Animation, MEL and Python scripting, Maya Polygonal modeling, Acting for Animation, Particle Dynamics and Visual Effects in Maya, Concepting with ZBrush, Advanced Rigging, Professional Development in Animation, Character Design, Compositing with Nuke, and Lighting & Cameras.
NYFA strives to make education in 3D Animation, VFX, and the visual arts accessible to the most diverse, international, and broadest community of students. Students work under the guidance and instruction of industry professionals who actively work in the film, television, and entertainment industries, collaborating with peers from all over the world as they build confidence in their unique artistic voice and style. Please note that 3D animation and visual effects software may vary based on program duration and current industry practices.
3D Animation & VFX Degrees
NYFA’s 3D Animation & VFX degree programs are designed to give prospective animators and storytellers the tools needed to become creative leaders. Students gain hands-on training and experience, exploring every facet of the animation and visual effects process.
Throughout the degree programs, students complete a variety of projects for their reel, advancing their skills in modeling, texturing, lighting, rigging, animating, compositing, and learning essential motion capture and pipeline practices. The MFA and BFA in 3D Animation & VFX are offered at NYFA Los Angeles. Students studying in the BFA in Entertainment Media at NYFA New York City who choose to concentrate in 3D animation will complete the degree with a final year of study at NYFA Los Angeles.
1-Year 3D Animation & VFX Program
In the 1-Year 3D Animation & VFX Program, students develop the technical and artistic skills needed to create 3D animation and visual effects for film and video. During these full-time programs, students learn fundamental storyboarding, modeling, texturing, animation, VFX and lighting skills and techniques, gradually building a strong body of work.
Our 1-Year 3D Animation & VFX Program is available at NYFA Los Angeles.
3D Animation & VFX
Workshops
NYFA’s 3D Animation & VFX School offers short-term workshops for students who wish to build introductory animation skills. In these workshops, aspiring visual artists are introduced to the professional software, Maya, and create their own original 3D computer animated content. There are currently a selection of in-person and online programs available.
This part-time evening workshop offers the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of 3D Animation and VFX while balancing daily responsibilities. Students learn how to perform basic modeling and create their own original 3D computer animated film.
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This is a full-time, in-person workshop that provides an immersive introduction to the art and craft of 3D Animation and VFX. Through in-class instruction and exercises, students learn the major concepts of animation using the Oscar-winning software Maya. The class is held Monday through Friday, and students spend an additional twenty to forty hours a week in independent lab work on their own project.
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The 12-Week Evening Adobe After Effects Workshop is a part-time program held on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings. There may be some classes on Wednesday evenings. Projects include animate a quote, a rhythm exercise, setting the mood, and title sequence projects.
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The 4-Week Adobe After Effects Workshop is a full-time program held Monday through Friday. All classes are typically scheduled for full-time hours. Projects include animate a quote, a rhythm exercise, setting the mood, and title sequence projects.
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This is a full-time, in-person workshop held Monday through Friday, and offers an intensive introduction to the art and craft of 3D Animation and VFX. During the class, students learn the major concepts of animation using the Oscar-winning software Maya. Students also spend an additional twenty to forty hours a week in independent lab work on their own project.
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In this intensive workshop, students are actively creating, manipulating, editing, and assessing VFX imagery. The program is constructed to deliver a great deal of content in just one week, and students cover topics such as compositing, 2.5D animation, and visual effects.
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Online 3D Animation
& VFX Workshops
NYFA’s 3D Animation & VFX School has an online, full-time workshop that provides training in foundational 3D animation skills.
The 4-Week Online 3D Animation & VFX Workshop covers basic introductions to modeling, texturing, rigging, lighting, rendering, compositing, and VFX. In this full-time, intensive course, beginners gain foundational 3D animation skills and knowledge and more advanced students have the opportunity to refine their craft.
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3D Animation & VFX
School Faculty
The 3D Animation & VFX School at the New York Film Academy is home to a distinguished and accomplished faculty of professional 3D animators and visual effects artists, many who have worked on Academy Award, Emmy, or Game of the Year teams. Our faculty bring years of experience working on groundbreaking films, television shows, and games at leading animation studios, cable networks, streaming platforms, and production companies that include, but are not limited to, Disney Animation, Disney Channel, Disney Parks, Netflix, Dreamworks, Apple, HBO, Comedy Central, SyFy, SideFX, Laika, Digital Domain, NFL, Microsoft, Starburns, Atomic Cartoons, Film44, and Tau Films.
Faculty credits include films, television shows, and games such as Jurassic Park (1993), Shark Tale (2004), The Incredibles (2004), Robot Chicken (2005), Coraline (2009), Inception (2010), How to Train Your Dragon (2010), Life of Pi (2012), Spider Man 2 (2014), Anomalisa (2015), Frozen II (2019), Naughty Dog’s Last of Us II (2020), Last of Us (2021), Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), Black Widow (2021), The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021), and Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio (2021).
Our award-winning faculty possesses a wealth of practical knowledge that supports students to pursue their interests in 3D animation & VFX.
3D Animation
School Alumni
The 3D Animation & Visual Effects School at the NYFA strives to offer an intensive and focused education that provides practical training and hands-on experience. The achievements of any NYFA alumni are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances, and we’re proud of our alumni who work in diverse industries such as animated films, animated series, VFX work, video games, and much more. Our alumni credits include an array of blockbuster and commercial productions from Game of Thrones, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Thor, and Captain America: Winter Soldier to Lipton Tea and Samsung’s Galaxy S8, fulfilling roles including, but not limited to Character Animator, Character Designer, Visual Effects Artist, Animator, Motion Graphics Artist, and more.
Satellite Locations
Spotlight NYFA
Please note: Equipment, curriculum, and projects are subject to change and may vary depending on location. Students should consult the most recently published campus catalog for the most up-to-date curriculum.