LAUNCH YOUR ANIMATION CAREER IN ONE YEAR
The First Step
Towards Your Dream Job:
Our programs transform hungry creative minds into the best in the industry.
For 25 years VanArts has been a top tier animation school with a highly experienced team of faculty members passionate about teaching the craft of character animation.
25 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM VANARTS
World-Class Faculty
All of our Department Heads and instructors at VanArts are top industry professionals with industry work experience. They are here because of their passion for teaching and desire to help you become a creative professional they can proudly work alongside.
Compared to the broad general curriculum offered at many other schools, programs at VanArts are much more focused and specialized. Because of our size and strong industry connections, we can quickly adapt what we teach to ensure your education is based on the skills you need to work in your chosen field.
Specialized, Adaptable Curriculum
Through a small, focused classroom environment you will receive substantial one-on-one attention from your instructors. You will have your own personal workstation for the year and the close-knit collaboration with your peers and faculty will lead to lifelong friendships and partnerships.
Small Class Sizes
More than half of our student body are from all over the world, which expands your network in an increasingly global industry. If you wish to continue your studies after graduating from VanArts, degree pathways are available through our university partners in Canada, United States, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
An International Network
"VanArts is the best decision I ever made. It’s intense, I had so many sleepless nights during the course, I went crazy at times but in the end it’s totally worth it.! I will choose VanArts over and over again. The Teachers were really helpful and supportive."
- Pavithra K.
★★★★★
FROM STUDENTS TO PROS
"VanArts is an amazing school and taught so much more than I thought there was to acting. The acting teachers here taught me how to really bring these characters to life and even helped me discover things about myself in my own personal life."
- Darien B.
★★★★★
"the staff is extremely helpful and kind. They are also a few of the best in their respective industry. The environment is very friendly and calming too. I for one have learnt a lot in one year that another student would take years to learn."
- Mathews G.
★★★★★
In Just One Year You Could Have Your Dream Job
Many students are offered jobs before graduation thanks to our strong industry connections and networking opportunities
SPEAK TO AN ADVISOR TODAY
2D/3D CHARACTER
ANIMATION
VanArts' Character Animation diploma program lets each student select their own animation path to major in, either 2D or 3D. Our students use industry-standard softwares such as MAYA for 3D and Toon Boom's HARMONY for 2D using modern 19-inch Yiynova tablets.
Strong foundation training is given in animation essentials of body mechanics and performance, with supporting courses in story & visual language, life drawing, and building characters.
You will learn from award-winning animation instructors with experience working at studios such as Disney, Dreamworks and Industrial Light & Magic.
Check out our latest 2D/3D Show Reel!
Interested in 2D/3D Character Animation?
Audit a class, attend a webinar, or ask our admissions team for more information on salaries and job outcomes in this industry.
Contact us and ask your questions. We're here to help your dream career happen!
2D & 3D CHARACTER ANIMATION PROGRAMS
CHOOSE THE RIGHT PATH FOR YOU!
2D Character Animation
- Great for cartoon fans
- Crosses over with comics & illustration
- Harmony software industry-standard
- Many jobs on animated TV series
3D Character Animation
- Characters are 3-dimensional & lifelike
- Great for technical artists
- Maya software is industry-standard
- Jobs in feature films, video games & TV
The hit animated TV series Rick and Morty is produced in Vancouver at Bardel Entertainment, and many of our own animators have been a part of it, including Nathan Litz, who won this year’s Emmy for his direction on the show.
Other shows that our graduates have worked on include: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Hilda, The Dragon Prince, Teen Titans Go, Mega Man, The Incredibles 2, Disney's The Lion King, Transformers: Rescue Bots, and many, many more…
A total of 9 VanArts alumni worked on the ground-breaking film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse at Sony Pictures Imageworks in Vancouver. One of them was Samuel Rico, who has served an an Animation Director for studios in Mexico and now animates on features such as Hotel Transylvania 3 and The Angry Birds Movie 2.
Into the Spider-Verse has been a game-changer for animated filmmaking, winning both the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and hard-working animators like Sam got to share in the glory!
There's demand for both 2D & 3D Animation careers. Choose the track that appeals the most for your career goals.
RECENT GRAD CREDITS
2D/3D CHARACTER
ANIMATION
Salaries for animation workers:
- Average wage: $59,128 ($30.28/hour)
- Entry level positions: $35,000 - $40,000
- Senior positions: $100,000+ up ($50-90/hr)
Job Titles:
2D or 3D Animator, Production Coordinator, Environment Artist, Storyboard Artist, Compositor, Creature Artist, Revisionist, Generalist, Layout Artist, Editor, Supervisor, Director, Producer
Sources: Neuvoo, Indeed, Globe & Mail
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES & SALARIES
VanArts was founded in 1995 with Lee Mishkin as its founding program director. Lee animated and directed an Academy Award-winning short film, and was the sole animator behind the legendary opening credits to the live-action Batman TV series of the 1960s.
Just like Lee, VanArts instructors are all highly trained in their industries to prepare students to become the next generation of media arts experts.
VanArts Animation grad Meg Leader holds her team's Emmy for working on Netflix's The Last Kids on Earth.