Animation Is and Will Be the Hottest Sector in Movie Industry

 Animation is currently very hot in the movie business and a career in it should be considered if you're looking on entering the entertainment industry and have a technical bent.

Student at DePaul University

How to break-into this discipline may start with attending a program at a school that specializes in animation. Here's the best:

Art Center College of Design - Pasadena, CA

With cutting-edge facilities and a degree program in design, illustration, graphic design with an emphasis on motion design, graduates work in the visual development, directing, art direction, title sequences, etc.

Brigham Young University - Provo, UT

Barring its conservative culture and religious studies, BY's Center for Animation was created with the support of Pixar co-founder Ed Catterall. Although far from Hollywood and its leftist persuasion, BY has strong ties with all of the major studios, and their program is geared to support Hollywood's visual needs.

California Institute of the Arts - Valencia, CA

Founded by Walt and Roy Disney in 1961, this school has a very select admission requirement but offers students the opportunity to develop and produce their own short films.

Cal State University - Long Beach, CA

Cal State offers animation and preproduction curriculums. Students have opportunities to produce short films. Its facilities include a 360-degree theatre, VR rooms, motor capture, and 2D and 3D production shops.

Still rendition from USC student

DePaul University - Chicago, IL

Offering both bachelor's and master's degrees in animation, DePaul uses AI art tools. It has a virtual production stage, as well as a 60,000 sq. ft. production facility with all the bells and whistles.

New York University - New York, NY

NYU's Kanbar Animation School focuses on storytelling and filmmaking through the use of animation. Facilites are top-grade and the first year of tuition for most students is free, if you're accepted.

Rhode Island School of Design - Providence, RI

Students have access to production studios for film, video, 16mm, 35mm, and puppet animation. Students work where they have the most interest and present their works at the school's acclaimed and well-attended annual film festival. 

Animated film from Ringling School

Ringling College of Art and Design - Sarasota, FL

This school offers students the opportunity to make a feature film as its facilities are comparable to that of the major film studios, including Pixar and DreamWorks. Enrollment is kept low, and it prides itself on having won 15 Student Academy Awards.

San Jose State University - San Jose, CA

At only $8,400 for tuition ($21,000 out-of-state) San Jose offers an affordable and very competitive means of obtaining a BA in animation and illustration, color theory, printing, and storyboarding.

Savannah College of Art and Design - Savannah, GA

The animation and motion program allows students to delve into 2D, 3D, stop-motion animation, digital modeling, rigging and lighting for films, TV, and video gaming.

School of Visual Arts - New York, NY

Students can obtain a BA or Master's degree. Programs include motion design, use of AI, and general animation filmmaking from concept to final product. Its new facility features a stop-motion shop and sound and editing studios. 

University of Southern California - Los Angeles, CA

USC's intensive programs teach animation from a filmmaker's perspective. The school promotes career placement and has state-of-the-art facilities.

So, these are the best U.S. schools for training in animation. International schools that rank high include Gobelins (France), Sheridan College (Canada), and VIA University (Denmark).