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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

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Major

121

4 Years

PNCA Campus

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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Student Work

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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.

Animation 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.

  • 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.

  • AA436 Animated Arts Project Incubator

    Apply your creative practice with practical work experience. Students will collaborate to enhance concept development skills, understand target audiences, and pitch strategies. All while learning about art direction and time management.

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. In addition, we also offer BFA Equity Scholarships, Juried Scholarships, Pre-College Scholarships, International Scholarships and Community College Transfer Partner/Transfer Agreement Scholarships.
A person digitally drawing in front of a Mac computer with an animated cat in a red hat that is cooking

FAQs

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