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Willamette University

Study Animated Arts

Develop your unique voice and style through hands-on learning. Build your skills in animation principles and creative ideation through our animation degree.

Program Snapshot

Degree Type

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Program Type

Major, Minor

Credit Hours

121

Time to complete

4 Years

Campus

Portland

Request Info
Person manipulating a puppet with a hand control device in a studio.

Our Animated Arts Major & Minor

Reimagine frame-based work by applying fine art to animation software. Learn more about character design, visual storytelling, and other skills that are essential in the industry.

Why choose Animated Arts at Pacific Northwest College of Art?

  • High-end animation facilities. Animation students can utilize on-campus spaces like the Animated Arts Lab to hone their craft. Take advantage of work stations for digital animation and 2D animation, or explore the Stop Motion/3D Animation Suite.
  • Support for a broad variety of animation techniques. Our animation degree encourages students to explore character-driven narratives, poetic experimental, non-fiction documentary, video gaming, gallery installation, and interactive projection.
  • A lively animation scene and professional connections. Make connections in the animation and visual effects industry. Join on-campus workshops and visiting artist talks to meet animators in the community. Show off your skills and present your project to an audience during Thesis Week.

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Request Information

Do you have questions about the Animated Arts program at PNCA? Fill out this form and we'll get in touch!

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Student Success

Lydia Jovi Cruz BFA’27 came to PNCA to study animation and ended up helping scientists explain dense data and abstract concepts. During an artist residency, she turned abstract ideas in cognitive and biochemical science into illustrations that make research easier to understand.

Lydia Turned Visual Storytelling Into a Scientific Tool

At PNCA, interdisciplinary thinking is the point. Lydia’s work shows what happens when an artist builds fluency across fields. She collaborated with researchers, translated dense concepts for academic publications, and proved that art can move ideas farther, faster, and to more people.

Read Lydia’s Story
Two scientific illustrations by Lydia Jovi Cruz BFA’27
An lustration by Lydia Jovi Cruz BFA’27
At PNCA, creative practice can lead to unexpected places.

Student Work

Students explore different facets of animation, turning their life drawings and artwork into frames that create movement. Take a peek at some of the work PNCA students have created.

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Alumni Stories

After graduating as an animation major, PNCA alumni have pursued careers in top animation studios. Some graduates have used their animation degrees to benefit them in other career paths.

  • John Summerson '15

    Animated Arts major wins grand prize in national art competition
    John Summerson '15 was awarded the $5000 Grand Prize in LG’s Art of the Pixel competition. His film Road Trip (2013) was honored with an Audience Choice Award at PNCA REC Fest, as well being screened at the 2014 Northwest Animation Festival and Portland’s Experimental Film Festival.

    Man wearing a grey flat cap and black sweater, using tweezers to arrange small beads on a table with a camera mounted above.
  • A woman standing in front of a yellow and blue backdrop wearing a white shirt and floral skirt

    Pamela Guest '17

    PNCA grad lands paid internship at New York design firm
    Pamela Guest is an illustrator, animator, and emerging director. During her time at PNCA, she received a Princess Grace Film Scholarship for her film Small. Using her strong online platform, she landed a paid internship at a New York design firm over the summer of 2016.

Introducing Some of Our Faculty

Learn from professors and creators who are leaders in the animation field. Gain hands on experience by working directly with faculty members to hone your skills, voice, and tone.

  • Headshot of Adam DiTerlizzi

    Meet Adam DiTerlizzi

    Adam DiTerlizzi, a faculty member in PNCA's Foundation and Animated Arts departments. Having worked with major studios like Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Warner Brothers, Adam leverages his extensive professional background to inspire and equip students for success.

  • Za Photo

    Meet Yer Za Vue

    Yer Za Vue, Assisting Professor and Chair of the Animated Arts Department at PNCA brings extensive teaching and industry experience including over a decade at Disney, contributing to classics like Mulan and Lilo & Stitch. With a passion for teaching, she nurtures artistic talents and fosters community.

  • Headshot of Adina Cohen

    Meet Adina Cohen

    Adina Cohen is an acclaimed animator known for her work on the Emmy-winning Robot Chicken and other major projects like Anomalisa and MODOK. She inspires students through her professional expertise and a passion for storytelling.

Curriculum

PNCA provides a holistic approach to animated arts. Our animation courses cover a variety of topics that combine real world experience with artistry. Dive into puppet fabrication, take a course on animated short films, or learn more about animated installations. Choose between a variety of animation courses to tailor your education to your interests.

  • AA336 2D to 3D Animation Production

    Dive into industry standard software like After Effects, Photoshop, and Cinema 4D to develop your unique artistic voice. Learn advanced compositing and image polishing to further your understanding of animation work.

  • AA352 Layout and Background Design

    Examines studio practices in layout and background design for animated films as part of the production pipeline, exploring composition, visual storytelling, industry terminology, and the psychological impact of color through hands-on exercises and projects.

Program Requirements

Our Animated Arts major requires 121 credits to complete the degree. This includes: 76 in studio, 30 in Liberal Arts and Sciences, and 15 in Art History. Of the studio credits, 16 are required courses in the Foundation program, at least 36 are the required courses in the studio major, and the remainder are available for studio electives. A minimum two-year residency at the College is required.

Two students working on a computer with a professor guiding them

Admissions Information

Our Animated Arts program is open to first-year students, transfer students, and international students. Learn more about PNCA’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.

Two students working on an animation project using technology and a green screen

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Most students receive financial aid, ranging from scholarship opportunities to federal work study and need-based grants and loans. PNCA also considers animation students for full tuition scholarships. PNCA is committed to a better future by providing fair and equitable admission processes. The BFA program automatically considers all students applying for merit-based scholarships. We offer additional scholarships, some of which include separate applications.
A person digitally drawing in front of a Mac computer with an animated cat in a red hat that is cooking

FAQs

The process will look different if you're a first-year student or a transfer student. At PNCA, we put an emphasis on your portfolio. We also require an artist statement and a transcript. We recommend leveling up your skills and portfolio by attending PNCA's pre-college courses.

Review PNCA's undergraduate application process to build your portfolio and stand out as a future animation student.

To learn animation, students should blend formal education with self-guided learning. Animation degree programs teach the basics and help you build essential art skills. These programs also introduce common software tools to improve your industry knowledge.

Hands-on experience is another important way to learn animation. Dive into personal projects, freelance work, or internship experience to enhance your skills. Utilizing software and connecting with other artists and animators can help individuals define their style and focus.

Becoming an animator is highly competitive. Begin by pursuing formal education in animation. During this time, focus on building your skills in drawing, painting, and sculpting –particularly through storyboarding. It's also important to spend time learning software and tools that suit your animation style.

Create a portfolio that demonstrates your practical experience, skill level, and artistic voice. Attend workshops, seminars, and conferences to build your network and tailor your resume to each job you apply for.

At PNCA, our Career Design Office can help students navigate the transition. We can help you prepare your portfolio, build your network, and develop interview skills. PNCA also offers events and artist talks each semester to help students prepare for their careers after college.

Computer animation is a subset of animation. It specifically uses computer technology to generate either 2D or 3D animated images. This animation form is versatile, allowing productions to utilize advanced effects in movies, television, and video games.

PNCA offers courses that cover computer animation, traditional animation, motion graphics, stop motion, puppet animation, and more.

Absolutely! At PNCA, we offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an animation major. You can devote your education to making your drawings and characters come to life. Sharpen your knowledge of software, techniques, and processes to prepare for a future in animation.

Choosing a major can be difficult, as it relies on your interests, career goals, and skills. If you're interested in art and technology, animation is a great outlet for combining the two fields. The animation industry also offers diverse roles including film, TV, video games, and advertising. For those looking to combine technical skills and artistic talent, majoring in animation is a great choice.

Willamette University

Animated Arts