2D Animation Schools

[Stephen M. Levinson]

Hello everyone...

I'm a Jr. in High school and am looking more into colleges... My first choice is Cal Arts but I need others.. I was looking at Art Institute and Art Academy but they seem to focus much more on 3d animation rather than 2D like Cal Arts... Does anyone know of schools that focus on 2D animation? Preferably schools without academics because I want to focus 100% on what skills I need to develop, for this industry.

Best,
Steve

[Vincent Veidt]

Okay, just send me a personal email at [e-mail] when you've submitted your application. I might also be able to help you with your portfolio, if I could see what you intend to submit, I might be able to get it reviewed in advance. Yay, unfair advantages!

[Stephen M. Levinson]

That'd be great! I have an entire year before I apply though ;)

[Vincent Veidt]

You have no idea how precious that year will be.

[Eric]

There is a school in Paris, France called Gobelins, l'école de l'image (full disclosure : I work there) that has a well-known animation department with a three year course that is strongly based on drawing and 2D animation skills before approaching 3D animation at the end of the second year. The focus here is on the performance art of animation, not on the specific 2D or 3D tool, although both are learned and used in the school films (see examples in the gallery at www.gobelins.fr). The problem for many people, of course - aside from the diffculty of passing the entrance exam which attracts more than 500 applicants - is that the courses are in French. However Gobelins does offer a two week summer school course in English offering master classes in 2D and 3D animation with workshops for experienced animators from other schools or studios. You can get details at www.gobelins.fr/summerschool-animation.

[Vincent Veidt]

Gobelins does some beautiful work, I would personally love to attend the summer program.

[Kevin Smith]

Has anyone used the Art Institute? I'm in the military already so I don't have the time to enter a grounded art course so taking an online course would be best for me. Does anyone have any suggestions or should I just practice on my own?

[Vincent Veidt]

I strongly recommend against The Art Institute... it would be like getting a law degree from DeVry (does DeVry even offer law?). Would you hire a lawyer or a teacher from DeVry with no hands-on experience? I don't think so... just like I wouldn't hire an animator who has never drawn. That's just my take, though.

[Sparky Firepants]

Picking a school is a tough call, but you're getting some top notch advice here, Steve. Another reason for school is the other art-minded pals you meet along the way. Especially when you get handed a group project, you learn all kinds of good stuff like how to get along with others, accept ideas, offer ideas, and deal with the angst when all your ideas aren't accepted as solid gold. It's great to have mad animatin' skills, but the leadership and people skills you get at a good college will serve you well!

Speaking of colleges, my very humble opinion is that the school isn't so important as what you do with the time while you're there. Sure, CalArts or SVA look very nice on a resume and the quality of education is already well-known. When I look to hire an artist those schools on a resume almost always get an interview. To me, what happens in the interview is more important!

I went to a commercial art school for illustration. I didn't learn animation there, but the principles I learned through my early foundation studies gave me a leg up when I finally went down that road.

Kevin - practicing on your own is essential. Even while you're in the military, create your art! When your time is up, get into a school. Like I mentioned before, you get more out of the relationships with your professors and peers than just the book learnin'.

Be cool - stay in school. Or start, or whatever. I think I need coffee. Oh, another good reason for school. You get to drink lots of coffee. Although Kevin probably has a head start on that in the military. Great job!

[Ian D. Merch]

Like it was said in the thread already, don't bother with the Art Institutes colleges unless you love 3D. I went there, and received my bachelors from them, but I honestly learned most of my animation techniques from various blogs. Besides going online wouldn't give you the experience of dealing with a teacher, which was a great experience regardless of my feelings on the school itself.

I'd say go to John K's blog and start from the beginning. Regardless of whether or not you like him as an artist or cartoonist, the lessons he gives you will make you a much better at drawing, and prepare you for drawing for animation.

[rokrok]

Yo Stephen,
check out John K's idea of
an animation school curriculum.
I copy and pasted it from this interview ( a good read )

===========

1ST YEAR
Rubber hose animation
Walks, runs, basic movement
Basic lip synch
Figure 8 motions
Animating to beats
¾ walks with animating backgrounds
How to read and write ex sheets
Animating the impossible - using the medium to do what only animation can do
History of cartoons, comics and animation from around 1920 till about 1965 - this would be every year and each year I would have the students study aspects of classic cartoons that relate to their exercises
Life Drawing with an emphasis on slow careful drawings, structure, perspective and proportions
Caricature
Observation over style: Learning to use your eyes and senses to analyze, rather than copying trendy styles
Music, Dance (every year)


2ND YEAR
40s principles of animation
Using simple organic characters made of pears and spheres
Basic acting, staging, timing
Observation and application
More Life Drawing
Applying concepts from Life Drawing to your animation
Caricature of bodies as well as heads


3RD YEAR
Character animation
Animating different types of designs
Solving design/animation problems - animating cartoon designs from media other than animation-comic strips, magazine cartoons, etc.
Advanced acting and dialogue animation - timing and pacing
Animating caricatures
Animating specific gestures and expressions that your fellow students make


4TH YEAR
I'll have to think about this one... maybe make a film.

===========

and my only advice to you is
whether you go to an art college or community college
just make sure you have a figure drawing class every semester
or you attend a figure drawing workshop on a regular basis.
and to get a head start,
ask your art teacher in your high school
if there are any local art programs you can take
during your senior year.

[rokrok]

one more thing,
keep a sketchbook with you at all times.
especially, if you are in a bus or subway
or other heavily populated areas.

[Vincent Chavez]

hey steve!

im current going to Art Institute of California - San Francisco and frankly they focus more on 3D here then 2D mainly because i think they feel that your more then likely to get a job as a 3D artist instead of a 2D... and i have to agree with the first bloke who responded that said you must take Academics to get a well rounded education, but if your wonder how its spread out, well in my school its like this, 12 units, 3-4 units per class, one class is academic rest is focus on degree your perusing. anyways, sometimes i regret going here, then other times i don't so im not sure if i really gave you any advice, just a warning... well im not sure what i gave you...