Best school for Animation?

[Y.V.]

Hello everyone, i want to know if Calarts really is the best choice for animation and also for financial reasons. I would really appreciate it if someone can tell me are there other schools with good animation programs before i try again for cal arts , thank you for your time in reading this.

-y.v.

[Kendraad]

Best for Traditional Animation -- CalArts
Best for Computer Animation -- Ringling School of Art and Design

Also, Vancouver Film School and Sheriden I believe are suppose to be good as well. But the other top two I listed are suppose to be the best.

[sula_nebouxi]

Yup, Kendra's right. Calarts is the Mecca of traditional animation. If you love drawing, that's the place to go. They focus on artistic exploration which I think is really cool.

Ringling is more suited for computer animation. They want you to get a job too so you'll focus on stuff that's applicable in the real world.

Sheridan and VFS are supposedly good too. Although VFS is more geared towards SFX and modeling+texturing it seems.

[Hett15]

I agree with these two crazy people.

Cal=Trad
Ringling=CA

[PHL]

If you really want to animate, have no problems with drawing (and want to focus purely on animation), then CalArts could be a good choice.
Sheridan is quite nice too. There was an atmosphere there that reminded me of an actual studio environment.
Ringling is good for a general overview of the 3d process and animation.
Academy of Arts doesn't seem so bad either. If youre good enough then you should be able to get into the Pixar classes over there.

Please keep in mind that it's a good idea to consider the California schools, because almost all of the industry is over there.
Since the accreditation requires teachers to have MFAs, or at least BFAs in animation or other majors, finding good artists/teachers with the proper degrees might be a problem.
If you go to a school that is located closer to the major companies, theres a higher chance that those professionals actually teach on the side.

No matter where you go, you can make sure that youll have to work hard to achieve anything.

[Y.V.]

Thank you so much for your time but in the long run which school would i benefit more to have a long time career?

[bloaty]

I think it's all kind of subjective as far as which school would best prepare you for a long time career. Animation is one of those fields that changes with the wind. There aren't many securities. I think the most secure type of animation job you'll find is probably something within the gaming industry. If you're doing more film oriented work, people typically only stay for the duration of production, and then have to look for other work. Connections are a must....

Anyway.... personally I think Ringling will probably get you a steady career (and a better artistic background than many other CG schools) being that it's probably the best CG school around. However, I think Calarts will make you a better artist and animator in general, and may lead you down the path of leader rather than worker in animation. I believe there are more power players in animation who went to Calarts than Ringling. Look at Brad Bird, Tim Burton, John Lasseter, Craig McCracken, and countless others.

I recently got accepted to both schools, but am going to Calarts because of it's reputation and willingness to let the artist experiment.

-bloaty

[Kendraad]

I agree with bloaty. CalArts focuases more on drawing skills and will probably make you a better artist, and Ringling does not on the other hand, they focus almost purely on computer animation (this school, more so, this is a huge emphisis on character animation) with the exeption of core classes that emphisize drawing.
Though, being in California, there are tons of job opertunites, but Ringling also gets tons of major companies from California to hire. We get every big name in the industry to come here, Disney, Dreamworks, CIA, American Greetings, Blue Sky, ILM, Lucas Arts, and much much more. So not necessarily will you get a better job oppertunity in California then you would here, since we get all the big names and companies to come down here, too.

But most importantly--These schools are only tools. CalArts and Ringling offer the best tools, but in the end, its all what's in your portfolio. You can go to either school, but if your portfolio is only so-so, you won't get a job.

[rblitz7]

I recently got accepted to both schools, but am going to Calarts because of it's reputation and willingness to let the artist experiment.

-bloaty

Could I please see some pieces from your portfolio? I recently visited Calarts and will be attending Otis College of Art and Design summer program.

[Y.V.]

I recently got accepted to both schools, but am going to Calarts because of it's reputation and willingness to let the artist experiment.

-bloaty

i got rejected (first time) but i'm gonna see what i can do to get in next time, what did you put in your portfolio if i may ask?

[bloaty]

I haven't received my portfolio back from Calarts yet (you were supposed to send a hard copy of original work), but when I do, I'll post if you're curious.

-bloaty

[rblitz7]

I haven't received my portfolio back from Calarts yet (you were supposed to send a hard copy of original work), but when I do, I'll post if you're curious.

-bloaty

Hell yeah im curious!

[Soliloque]

me too ! please send a link

[jubjubjedi]

I was at CalArts for their end of the year animation presentation a few weeks ago and found it very enjoyable! One problem with the school - it's located in a very uninspiring town (unless you're into amusements parks)...

[bloaty]

Yeah, it kind of sucks that such a good school like Calarts is located in a conservative suburb like Valencia. It would be much cooler if it was closer to LA, or San Francisco. But what can you do, right?

-bloaty