Canada is undoubtedly one of the best locations to study to become a computer animation expert. It has a booming film and entertainment industry as well as hundreds of animation, game, and VFX studios.
So, if you are particular about getting the best education, study animation today in one of the best animation schools and colleges in Canada offering animation programs.
Canada has no short supply of schools and colleges where you can get an arts degree in animation. Toronto, Ontario, and Vancouver, British Columbia have numerous art and film schools providing competitive animation degree programs.
Animation, as you may already know, is a progressive art. The media industry needs a steady supply of top-notch animators, which is why you must get a degree that will equip you with the right qualification for a rewarding job.
So, in this post, we’ll show you the best animation schools in Canada. We hope that this, you won’t have to go all over the web sorting through the numerous art schools in Canada.
Is Animation a Good Career?
Animation is a very lucrative profession. Basically, you work to produce motion pictures for games, cinemas, and movies. Professionals new to this industry generally work in the capacity of junior animators in animation studios and production houses.
Becoming an animator will allow you to work with top media houses in the country. It will get you to network and connect with so many media gurus in the industry and will ultimately pay you off well. Animation in Canada is a good career you should consider.
Do animators get paid well?
According to BLS, the median annual wage for special effects, artists and animators was $77,700 in May 2020.
Glassdoor has the national average a bit lower at $74,000. Like many other fields, compensation for animators also depends on experience: it’s not uncommon for senior-level animators or art directors to earn well into six figures.
Best Animation Schools in Canada
We will now proceed to list our top 10 animation schools in Canada in 2024. But you should know our criteria for selecting our best animation colleges in Canada.
The schools that make our list of top animation colleges have the following:
- They are specialized Art schools or universities and colleges with vibrant Art Scool/department/Faculty
- These schools offer at least a popular animation program that prepares students to take animation jobs, and
- Utilize a practical approach to teaching a comprehensive animation program.
Following the criteria above, here is a list of our top 10 animation schools in Canada.
- Max the Mutt College of Animation, Art & Design
- Sheridan College
- Visual College of Art and Design of Vancouver
- Capilano University
- Seneca College
- Vancouver Institute of Media Arts
- The Art Institute of Vancouver
- Vancouver Film School
- Ontario College of Art and Design
- Emily Carr University of Art and Design
In the next section, we will rank these schools in descending order.
10. Ontario College of Art and Design
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Tuition: CAD $1,479.36 – $5,716.88 p/credit
Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD U) is on the list because you can’t talk about an Arts degree in Canada without mentioning OCAD U.
OCAD University is the largest and most comprehensive art, design and media university in Canada. However, OCAD offers just one Bachelor of Arts program in Animation.
But being that it is a comprehensive, 4-year degree program, OCAD university ranks as one of the best medical schools in Canada.
OCAD University’s Digital Painting and Expanded Animation (Drawing & Painting) program has a four-year duration.
In this program, you’ll take the core Drawing & Painting classes but also experiment with stop motion techniques, 3D animation, and 2D visual effects for animation and painting.
At the end of this OCAD’s Animation program, you’ll graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (BFA).
The beauty of the program is that you emerge as a more versatile graduate who can work in artistic practice; animation; mural work; film; video, and TV production.
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9. Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Location: Vancouver, BC
Tuition: CAD $2,764.17 – $10,216.89 (18 Credits)
Emily Carr University of Art and Design is another of the best animation school in Canada on our list with its two-degree programs on Animation.
This Canadian university is a wholly art higher institution with four faculties providing leading art, design, and media degree programs, certificates, continuing education courses, graduate studies, and research opportunities.
However, on animation, Emily Carr offers the 2D + Experimental Animation Major and the 3D Computer Animation Major.
These two programs are 4-year programs that equip graduates with a Bachelor of Media Arts. The 2D + Experimental Animation Major embraces diverse animation media and crafting practices. Students develop as creative animation designers and critical thinkers.
They explore forms of narrative storytelling through classical animation in both traditional and digital drawing methods. Emily Carr’s 3D Computer Animation Major, on the other hand, brings animation to life.
The program offers students hands-on animation production experience that will prepare them for life after school, whether as commercial artists or independent filmmakers.
Emily Carr can also tell of the grand achievements of its alumni. The award-winning “Late Night” animation and the CGI Animated Short Film, “Lucky” were developed by Emily Carr scholars.
8. The Art Institute of Vancouver
Location: Vancouver, BC
Tuition: CAD $44,625 – $57,750
The Art Institute of Vancouver or the LaSalle College Vancouver is another of the best colleges in Canada for an animation degree program.
They may not be loud about their success, but the Art Institute of Vancouver has produced some exceptional alumni.
One of their alumni, Calista Chandler works with Disney on Various Disney XD production.
The Art Institutes of Vancouver offers an Animation Art & Design diploma program that lasts for 7 quarters. In this program, you’ll begin with a foundation in drawing, color, design, and computer applications; then progress to 2D animation, 3D animation, modeling, acting, and pantomiming.
Graduates of the Art Institute of Vancouver’s Animation program take up entry-level jobs as a 3D animators, 2D Animators, Motion Capture artists, e.t.c.
7. Seneca College
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Tuition: CAD $10,469
Seneca College is the place where you can convert your passion to a profession. It’s one of the best Canadian animation schools with the best Arts, Animation & Designs programs.
Its animation programs include 3D Animation, Game Art and Animation, and Visual Effects for Film and Television.
There is just no way you won’t enjoy studying animation in Seneca with its experiential learning and engaging curriculum.
Seneca’s 3D Animation program is a certificate program that will develop your skills in animation, modeling, rigging, lighting, rendering, and composition.
Its Animation program is a three-year advanced diploma program. Seneca’s Game Art and Animation Program is an eight-month graduate certificate program, as well as its Visual Effects for Film and Television.
Providing all these animation varieties, Seneca College makes our list of best animation schools in Canada.
Read Also: Students from Canada and all over the world who want to study in the UK are applying for the £18,000 British Chevening Scholarships
6. Visual College of Art and Design of Vancouver
Location: Vancouver, BC
Tuition: CAD $36,458.00
Visual College of Arts and Design (VCAD) is another comprehensive Arts college in Canada that offers a degree program in animation. VCAD’s animation program is the 3D Modelling Animation Art and Design.
This program grooms you to be a 3D Texture Artist, 3D Character Artist, 3D Character Animator, and 3D Lighting Specialist who is in hot demand.
VCAD’s reputation in 3D animation makes them one of the best 3D animation schools in Canada.
Their diploma program takes you through 4 years of learning game development, staging scenes, game environments, storyboards, and designing and animating 3D characters using industry-standard software.
5. Capilano University
Location: Vancouver, BC
Tuition: CAD $31,644 – $66,867
If you want to become an expert in 2D and 3D computer animation, you should watch Capilano University. Capilano offers a two-year 2D Animation & Visual Development Diploma as well as a two-year 3D Animation for Film & Games Diploma program.
Capilano’s 2D program trains you in animation and animation design, after which you’ll find promising careers in TV animation like some of the school’s alumni.
On the other hand, the 3D animation program in Canada will provide you with the artistic skills you need for a fulfilling career in the computer graphics and animation industries.
Suppose you choose to complete these two diploma programs at Capilano. In that case, you will just be getting yourself ready to join the happy list of Capilano alumni working in 20th Century Fox, Rockstar, Dreamworks, and EA.
4. Vancouver Institute of Media Arts
Location: Vancouver, BC
Tuition: CAD $25,750.00 – $31,750.00
You can refine and unleash your creative wizard at the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (Vanarts).
This is one Arts college in Vancouver that ensures that its students study to become the best creatively, intellectually, and emotionally in preparation for a fulfilling career.
However, Vanarts offer only an Animation program for the duration of twelve (12) months.
Vanarts 2D/3D Character Animation is a full-time program that can be a game-changer for you. Their alumni have gone on to produce groundbreaking animation for the screen. Eight (8) of Vanarts alumni worked on the popular Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse at Sony Pictures.
Also, a local animation studio selected 19 Vanarts graduates to work on the Pokemon: Detective Pikachu movie.
If you know you’re cut for greatness, then one year at Vanart’s could be what you need to kick you into the limelight.
Their 2D/3D animation program focuses on character animation through body mechanics and performance, and strong foundation training in modeling, lighting, character building, and art direction.
Of course, you’ll use industry-standard software and learn from award-winning faculty.
Animation Scholars have found the Aspiring Animation Professional Scholarship very helpful.
3. Sheridan College
Location: Oakville, Ontario
Tuition: CAD $9,733 – $28,492
Sheridan College’s Faculty of Animation, Arts, and Design (FAAD) is another unique comprehensive animation school in Canada. The faculty offers a total of 37 programs that train you to become performers, animators, filmmakers, designers, and artists.
If you’re looking to grab an animation degree in Canada, Sheridan College is one of the places to look to. This animation College in Canada offers an Honors Bachelor of Animation that has produced a good number of Academy Award Winning Animators.
This program takes you on a joyful and challenging ride where you’ll learn from industry professionals who employ a hands-on style of training and allow you creative freedom.
You’ll also learn the classical principles of animation in several forms including 2D and 3D. One of the beautiful things about this program is that you get a chance to learn in the industry through a three-month work placement.
2. Vancouver Film School
Location: Vancouver, BC
Tuition: CAD $10,500 – $53,250
Thinking about specialization in any kind of animation? Then think of Vancouver Film School. Vancouver Film School (VFS) is an art school in Canada that prepares you for a glamorous career in acting, animation, film & TV production, screenwriting, programming, makeup, sound, interactive, or game design.
The school’s programs to build you to become any of these are post-secondary programs that deliver the most current and on-demand techniques.
The interesting thing about VFS is that they offer various courses in animation, making you a genius in a particular aspect. You can choose between its 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Classical Animation, and Animation Concept Art.
VFS 3D Animation & Visual Effects is a 12-month diploma program that trains in visual effects and modeling.
Its classical animation program is also a 12-month diploma program that delves into drawing, animation, and basic art direction fundamentals.
VFS Animation Concept Art is also a 12-month diploma program. However, this program trains in the creation of characters and worlds for animation.
Visual Arts Vancouver is a force to reckon with, ranking #1 in the world in both animation programs and international animation schools by Animation Career Review.
1. Max the Mutt College of Animation, Art & Design
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Tuition: CAD $11,850 – $14,000
Max the Mutt College of Animation, Art & Design is one of the places in Canada you have to go to get a comprehensive education on animation. It is one of the best animation colleges in Canada.
Max offers a 4-year diploma degree course in Classical & Computer Animation and Production, Illustration & Storytelling for Sequential Arts, and Concept Art for Animation & Video Games.
The interesting thing about Max the Mutt’s animation program is that its instructors are working professionals who have working contact in the animation community.
So, you will not only be learning from professionals who are experts in the field but also building a strong network for the future.
Also, Max the Mutt animation program’s curriculum involves 2D and 3D computer animation which you’ll learn in your 3rd and 4th year respectively.
Thus, you’ll graduate from Max the Mutt with a solid portfolio, a demo reel, the skills to write a cover letter and résumé, an online profile page, and the ability to conduct yourself professionally in a job interview.
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If you’ll attend any of these Canada Animation Schools, then check out these 18+ Best Animation Scholarships
FAQs
It is easy to go to an animation school. All you need to do is have a plan for the location you’ll like to attend an animation school and then the kind of animation degree you want.
After that, search for the animation school that meets your criteria. Our post on the top animation schools in Canada will guide you in selecting an animation school.
The minimum requirement for an animator is a diploma degree, which is a post-secondary degree.
Employers like to see a portfolio and a demo reel of your work to prove to them that you’re worth employing.
However, in the USA, and certain other countries, you may need to get a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts (BFA) to start your career as an animator. Afterward, you can take up a Master’s degree in Animation as well as update your skills with short certificate courses.
You need a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art (BFA) or a Bachelor’s degree in Media Arts to become an animator. However, if you have a convincing portfolio and a diploma, some employers will consider you.
When you major in animation in most animation schools, you’ll start with foundation courses in art, drawing, multimedia, 2-D and 3-D animation, and graphics.
Depending on the kind of Premier, animators may be able to attend. Premiere with the e* at the end is a ceremonial event.
The purpose is to draw media attention before its first official opening date, so, yes animators can attend this.
However, Premier without the e* at the end is a serious (red carpet) event where attendance is by invitation. So, the animator may be invited, or they might not be invited.
Conclusion
British Columbia (BC) and Ontario, in Canada, are the best locations in Canada to get an animation program or degree. These are the places with the best animation schools in Canada.
While there may be other animation schools in Canada, our list of best animation schools in Canada will guide you to attaining the height you hope to attain.
References:
- Animation Career Review: Canada – Animation School Options – Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver.
- Fun Art: Top 10 Animation Schools in Canada
- VNIS Education: Vancouver Film School
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