This past winter, colleges and universities around the globe welcomed thousands of students into hundreds of newly launched art and design programs. Among them were dozens of animation programs designed to educate and train aspiring animators at all levels. Today, several schools would like to let you know they have added a number of new animation programs or courses to their collection of offerings, and all are accepting applications right now.
We are pleased to announce that the following schools have new animation offerings: The DAVE School in Orlando, Florida, Jumbla Academy in South Melbourne, Australia, and Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University (KCAD) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Read on.
The DAVE School – Orlando, Florida
THE Dave School (Digital Animation & Visual Effects) has launched seven concentration tracks for the online bachelor’s in programming. The school says that the tracks “further expand the DAVE School’s diverse academic catalogue, which includes a four-year degree in Motion Graphics and diploma programs in Visual Effects and Game Production.” Concentration tracks include Game Design, Graphics Programming, Mixed Reality Development, Mobile App Development, Simulation, Game Programming and Game Productivity.
“The new Production Programming concentration tracks were created to satisfy emerging industry needs,” said David Sushil, the program’s lead instructor. “The rise of VR, the proliferation of mobile devices and the widespread use of gamification to improve productivity in industries across the board, are all areas in which our students will be prepared to meet technology challenges.” Besides in the video game and film production industries, programming skills are highly valued in “healthcare, defense and aeronautics, which rely heavily in visual effects and animation technologies.”
The Game Production program at The DAVE school launched in September of 2013, and in the summer of 2016, the school was proud to introduce two online bachelor programs in Motion Graphics and Production Programming.
About DAVE
Founded in 2000, The DAVE School is located on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Sound Stage 25. The campus includes a 35,000-square-foot facility that offers three labs, a shooting stage with a 65′ x 25′ green screen and a motion capture system. The DAVE School, which offers comprehensive training in 3D modeling and animation, game production, motion graphics creation, 3D visual effects production, and production programming, places graduates in the visual effects and gaming industries.
The DAVE School is a division of Florida Technical College, an EduK Group institution and it is accredited the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to award Bachelor degrees, Associate of Science degrees, and diplomas.
Jumbla Academy – South Melbourne, Australia
Jumbla Academy has launched six in-studio animation and motion design courses at its South Melbourne, Australia headquarters in the first major overhaul of its educational division since 2016. According to Jumbla Managing Director Andrew Dehnert, “the growth of Jumbla Academy from one to six courses came after two years of heavy demand and maximum-capacity classes.” Per the Jumbla website, the original 15-week Jumbla Academy course will be replaced by a suite of 10 and 20-week offerings designed to meet the needs of students with diverse skill levels and needs.
“We’ve seen the opportunity to build on the initial success of Jumbla Academy by extending our offerings in response to overwhelmingly positive student feedback,” Andrew said. “What we learned these past two years is that people are upskilling in animation and motion graphics for a multitude of reasons. Our creative directors have responded by developing programs that cater to everyone from advanced practitioners to complete beginners; illustrators to marketers, and studio owners to freelancers,” he said.
“While the courses are new, the goal of Jumbla Academy remains the same - helping people upskill or find better jobs via hands-on learning in our working studio.”
New course options include Motion Design Foundations (20 weeks), Animation in After Effects (20 weeks), Cinema 4D (20 weeks), 3D Character Design and Animation (20 weeks), Animating a Logo (10 weeks), and Character Design and Animation with Puppet Rigging in After Effects (10 weeks). Applications for the first semester of Jumbla Academy’s new-look course suite close on May 25, 2018.
About Jumbla
Introduced in 2016 as the educational arm of Jumbla Studios, Jumbla Academy is a design-driven animation and motion graphics studio based in Melbourne and London. The Academy’s 40-strong team spans the globe and works to apply the best production, scriptwriting, creative, design and technical practices to help clients successfully tell their stories. The Academy works with industry leaders including Microsoft Studios, Riot Games, Leo Burnett, McCann, ANZ, Barclays, QANTAS, Toyota, Suzuki, Ogilvy, BBC, ESPN, and Netflix, to name a few.
Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University (KCAD) – Grand Rapids, Michigan
Last year, Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University (KCAD) launched a Digital Art and Design BFA program that converted its former Digital Media major into a broader program with two distinct focus areas including Entertainment Arts and Multimedia Design.
Four new courses also were developed for the program: Digital 3D Design, Digital Character Drawing, 2D Character Design and Interaction Design. Other courses for animators include Imaging for Game, Animation & Film, Animation & Motion Graphics, Storyboard Art, and Comic Media Design.
According to Grand Rapids Business Journal (GRBJ), the first half of the program’s curriculum blends the two focus areas together, exploring the intersection of graphic design, interaction design, animation, illustration, digital 3D and sound design. The second half gives students the opportunity to delve into the area that best aligns with their skills and interests. Each focus area culminates in two professional studio courses in which students work collaboratively with each other as well as with outside organizations in real-world learning experiences.
KCAD said, “although several of its other programs have digital components, such as graphic design, industrial design and interior design, this is the college’s first exclusively digital-focused degree program.” Students can apply to the new program online until 11:59 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the start of any given semester.
About KCAD
Founded in 1928, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University prepares students for careers in the visual arts, design, art history, and art education. The school serves more than 1,000 students from Michigan, 17 other states, and six countries. KCAD offers around 25 programs of study leading to a BFA, BS, MA, MFA or graduate certificate. As part of Ferris State University, Kendall College of Art and Design is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).