Did you know that the job growth in the animation industry is expected to average around 8% for the 2016-2026 decade? This is about as fast as average for all occupations. Even more promising is, today’s animators can expect to earn an average of $70,530 per year, with the potential to earn $120K or more. And artists working in the top three industries for animators can expect to earn even more than the national average at $80,850 (software publishing), $77,240 (motion picture and video industries), and $72,820 (computer systems design and related services) annually.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wages for all occupations was just $37,690 in 2017 and just $45,250 for art and design workers overall. This means that animators are among the highest paid artists in the industry, and salaries are expected to increase in the coming years.
Industry growth and demand has created plenty of opportunities for talented animators to enter the field with a bachelor’s degree, strong technical skills, and a good portfolio. Thousands of colleges, universities, and centers across the U.S. and abroad offer programs leading to a degree or other credential in animation, with new options entering the arena often.
Today, we are pleased to announce that Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Institute of Technology Carlow (IT Carlow), Brockenhurst College (Brock College), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), and Arena Animation have launched animation programs and courses designed for animators at all levels.
Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia
Savannah College of Art and Design has announced that students can now major in Virtual Augmented and Mixed Reality. The program, called “Immersive Reality,” leads to a BFA. According to a recent Forbes report, this unique offering “was built to train thinkers and builders who are fluent in the language of virtual reality, augmented reality, and the vast gray area between.” Dean of SCAD’s School of Digital Media, Max Almy said:
"When designing the degree curriculum, we wanted to make sure it was not only innovative and creative, but technologically strong as well.” The students’ degree focus can be Animation, Film, Game Development and Interactive Design, Mobile AR, Immersive VR, or MR, “as well as innovative combinations with other SCAD departments like Industrial Design or Architecture."
The program consists of 36 courses, 11 of which are brand new for the program. New courses include Immersive Revolution: Augmented to Virtual Reality, Integration of Immersive Realities, and Immersive Sound Design and Visual Effects for Immersive Environments. “The program combines innovative virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality courses along with cutting-edge tech resources.”
“Students will have the opportunity to explore futuristic frontiers that extend far beyond the entertainment sector into industries like science, travel, fashion, manufacturing, real estate and health care,” said Almy.
Students will also benefit from diverse projects (via collaborations with seven different SCAD departments) and the school’s direct relationships with industry leaders at Oculus, Google, Microsoft, HTC Vive, Epic/Unreal, Unity and more.
Applications for admission to the new Immersive Reality BFA at SCAD are being accepted now. Visit the schools official website for details.
Founded in 1978, Savannah College of Art and Design serves more than 14,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The school, which offers over 40 majors, 75 minors and certificate and online programs, has campuses in Savannah and Atlanta, GA., Hong Kong, China and Lacoste, France. SCAD is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, Republic of Ireland
Institute of Technology Carlow has launched two new honors degree programs that the school says are a “direct response to national and regional socio-economic needs in the technology sector.” The BS (Hons) Computing in Interactive Digital Art & Design, which will be taught at the Carlow campus, and the BS (Hons) Creative Computing & Digital Innovation, which will be delivered at the Institute’s Wexford Campus, are now open for applications through the Central Applications Office (CAO).
The new programs will cover areas such as Games, Animation, Application Development, UI Design, DevOps Engineering, Simulation, and Virtual Reality. “Successful graduates will be able to creatively apply software technology to solve problems and operate at this dynamic nexus of computing and business in a range of roles, including web and mobile developer; DevOps engineer; social media integration; business data analyst and digital entrepreneur.”
The new programs at IT Carlow brings the total number of Level 9 programs to 80, on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) by Institute of Technology Carlow, which has seen a 70% increase in student enrolments in the last five years.
Founded in 1970 and serving more than 8,300 students from 100 different nations, IT Carlow is the third largest of Ireland’s 14 Instituted of Technology. The school, which has campuses in Carlow, Wexford, and Wicklow, offers programs in Business, Humanities, Sport Media & Marketing, Science & Health, Computing & Networking, Aerospace, Mechanical & Electronic Engineering, and Built Environment.
Brockenhurst College, Brockenhurst, England
Brockenhurst College (Brock College) has announced that it plans to offer a new program designed for students interested in a career in the TV or Film industry. The two-year program launches in September 2019 and will be led by Tim Hamilton, Head of the Art, Design & Photomedia Department at the school. Students in this unique program will spend hours studying classic Disney films, Aardmann Animations’ Wallace and Gromit, and Rick and Morty.
Per a Metro UK report, "while watching the shows, the course description claims students will learn about the ‘historical contexts’ and discover ‘important industry techniques.’ They will also have to analyze the works of top animators including Ray Harryhausen, Jan Svankmajer, and Disney." An exciting component of the program at Brock College is the opportunity to fly to Los Angeles to get “first-hand experience of the industry.”
“We already have a popular Animation group,” said Hamilton, “so expanding this offering to A Level offers even more opportunities. Students who opt to study this exciting new digital course will have access to state-of-the-art equipment and be taught by lecturers who have professional and academic backgrounds within the creative sector.”
To complete the program, students must complete an ‘in-depth’ project, with a 1,000-word justification for it, along with a timed 15-hour exam project. For more information about the program, visit the school’s official website.
Founded in 1909, Brockenhurst College serves more than 8,000 students enrolled in programs from Animation and Visual Arts to Travel & Tourism. The Art, Design & Photomedia Department currently serves around 3,000 students. The school welcomes international students from around the world.
Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
Vellore Institute of Technology has announced the launch of several new courses or programs in the fields of Animation, Artificial Intelligence, Business, Games, Media, and Visual Effects (VFX). The Animation, VFX and Games options are offered in collaboration with Toonz. Animation Film Making-Advanced, Visual Effects-Advanced (VFXA) and 3D Finishing Program courses will also be offered.
In a New Indian Express report, VIT Chancellor Dr. G. Viswanathan said, “twelve universities from the U.S., UK, Australia and Spain are offering International transfership programs. To train B Tech students, VIT-AP University is offering 6-month and 9-month long internship programs right from the completion of students’ first year.’’
All courses and programs will begin in the upcoming 2019 academic year. For additional details about the program and to apply, visit the school’s official website.
Established in 1984, Vellore Institute of Technology offers 20 undergraduate, 34 postgraduate, four integrated and four research programs. It has campuses in Vellore, Chennai, Bhopal and Amravati Andhra Pradesh.
Arena Animation, Mumbai, India
Arena Animation has announced the launch of its first center in Belgaum, Karnataka, India. The new Center was launched in the presence of Belgaum (I.P.S) DCP, Law & order Seema Latkar, and music composer and Grammy Award Winner Keerthi Narayan.
According to an Animation Express report, the "initiative is a part of Arena Animation’s expansion plan who’re already operational in Shimoga, Davangere, Mangalore, Hubli, Mysore and Tumkur." The organization has further plans to expand to Gulbarga, Bijapur, Udupi in next six months.
"Arena Animation has been a pioneer in animation and VFX training across the country," reports AE, and "has the potential to offer students an opportunity to learn 3D animation, VFX, multimedia, graphic and web designing, from the leading experts of the industry. In order to cater to the growing need of animators in various segments, the center will offer advanced cinematic courses in animation, visual effects and multimedia. Some of the flagship courses such as – AD3D EDGE, ADMD, VFX Plus, Max Pro and Maya Pro will be available at the new Belgium Center."
Subhash Bhatt and Shirish Chincholimath, Arena Animation Business Partners at the Belgaum Center, stated that the center is “well-equipped with state-of-art-facilities and is committed to providing contemporary quality education to the students.” For additional details, visit the official Arena Animation website.
Arena Animation is the Animation, Web Designing, VFX & Multimedia education arm of Aptech Ltd. Since 1996, Arena Animation has successfully trained more than 450,000 students through its career-oriented courses.