DigiPen Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Fine Arts Program Overview As the animation industry matures, there is a noticeable shift by companies to hire employees who demonstrate more than a working knowledge of a specific commercial software package or traditional animation skills. Industry-quality standards continue to rise, and competition for entry-level positions demands that animators possess sophisticated skill sets before they can even begin their careers. Studios seek animators with a broad and integrated foundation of theoretical, practical, and technical skills in production animation, traditional art, modern computer software, and media story flow. Insight and long-term potential have become increasingly important. The studios also demand professional accountability and consistency. For all of these restrictions, animation remains a very viable career opportunity. Animation is capable of solving informational, educational, and entertainment problems no other discipline can resolve. It provides a cornerstone for many industries including cinema, broadcast entertainment, cable television, software development, the Internet, education, simulation, product design, research, forensic science, architecture, telecommunications, advertising, travel and tourism, and video games. The fact that these industries depend upon qualified candidates accentuates the need for quality animation education. The broad scope of these demands presents a series of significant academic challenges. Most current animation students enter collegiate training with little or no substantial background knowledge relative to this field. Many secondary schools have been forced to cut back on the level of arts training they are able to provide. Consequently aspiring animators must acquire this foundation while they are also trying to establish their professional focus. The complexity of the individual components of this field demand highly structured curricula and programmed sequencing simply to enable most students to be successful. Some students are capable of the rapid assimilation of the integrated knowledge the studios now require, but most are better served by a deeper and more sequential approach to the material. DigiPen Institute of Technology's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production Animation seeks to address these needs. Examples of student projects can be found in our Digital Gallery. This degree prepares a graduating student for a career in digital three-dimensional animation, digital two-dimensional animation, and animation pre-production. Some of the careers for which graduates of the B.F.A. in Production Animation are trained include Props and Environment Modelers, Texture Artists, Level Designers, Character Modelers, Character Riggers, Character Animators, 3D Lighting and Camera Design, Effects Animator, Conceptual Illustration and Character Design, or Storyboard Artists.
