Animation (BA)

Why USF for Your Animation Degree?

We structured our program to run like a professional animation studio. This means you not only get graphic design and digital storytelling experience right away, but you also will learn about project management, product development life-cycle and cross-team collaboration.

Equipped with business know-how, solid design and production skills — and the talent creativity that led them to this field in the first place — USF graduates have brought characters and scenery to life in blockbusters like Frozen and Moana, developed and designed branding campaigns, built special effects for live performances, and so. much. more.

Fundamentals to FIN: Hands-on from Beginning to End

The nature of an animation degree means plenty of practical learning experiences. At USF, you’ll develop a foundation in art, drawing, traditional animation and even human behavior. You will conceptualize, design, produce, edit and share using industry-standard technology.

Your classes will include:

• Visual Storytelling
• Traditional Animation
• Motion Graphics
• 3D Production
• Character Puppeting
• Lighting and Rendering

Beyond your everyday classwork, your hands-on experience will include student productions in our animation and TV studios, your senior project, and professional assignments through internships with ad agencies, media outlets, film companies, game developers and marketing departments of businesses of all kinds.

Connect With Industry Experts

From Fort Wayne to Studio City. USF’s animation degree program has earned a nationwide reputation for talent, and this recognition continually opens up career connections and learning opportunities for our students and alumni, such as:

• trips to the Creative Talent Network Animation Expo in Burbank, California
• meetings with professionals at Disney, DreamWorks, Pixar, Warner Brothers and Blizzard
• workshops and webinars with well-known industry creators

Faculty & Facilities

You will learn skills and techniques — and find motivation and inspiration — from a faculty made of artists, animators, producers and writers.

Digital storytelling students have 24-hours access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities in our Animation Lab and Television Studio

Campus and Community Involvement

Animation and graphic design students at USF are some of the most involved on campus and in their industry. Here’s a look at how they keep busy:

BigThink Animation – the USF chapter of a national club for artists, animators, engineers and graphic designers (formerly called SIGGRAPH)

Film Festivals – our students regularly submit their work to regional, national and international film fests. Among their achievements:

• Cool Science: The Atom earned a Bronze Telly Award and won Best Educational Short at San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival
• Little Pig won Second Place in 3D at the Jalloo Festival and was named a semifinalist at the LA CineFest.

Our campus is full of creators: USF is home to about a dozen other majors with a creative focus, so you’ll find plenty of showcases, performances and career-focused or arts-related campus clubs that might interest you, including:

• Artists in Action
• f/8 Photo Club
• Film Club
• Pencil Pusher Sketch Club
• Dead Artists Society
• American Advertising Federation

There’s a great sense of community in the Animation department —we’re like a family. Even though we’re all different, we support each other. There’s no judgement here, only support.

Louis Soria ‘20
Animation major

Get Your Career in Motion: What You Can Do With an Animation Degree

A degree in animation gives you a diverse set of skills and experience working with the latest tools, technologies and best practices in the industry. Digital storytelling, graphic design and other multimedia skills can lead to positions such as:

• 3D or 2D Artists
• Motion Graphic Artist
• Animation Editor
• Storyboard Artist
• Compositor
• Visual Effects Artist/Designer
• Game Artist or Designer
• Character or Environment Designer
• Production Coordinator
• Art Director

Animation and design skills aren’t just for arts and entertainment: you can find opportunities in education, manufacturing, industrial design, architecture, biotechnology, healthcare and other industries.

USF graduates create content, tell stories, design products and animate at companies such as:

• Disney Animation Studios
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Group
• Blizzard Entertainment
• Smashbits Animation/Dreamworks TV
• Midwest Film Factory, Inc.
• WANE, 21 Alive
• Industrial Light & Magic
• MotionLit Services
• Telltale Games
• Blue Sky Studios
• Journeys

I was hired into my current position before I even graduated, which was amazing. The job came through a USF referral. I’m immensely grateful for how well the Animation program prepared me for my career.

Jennifer McKibben ’15
Motion Graphics Director
Boyden & Youngblutt