Attend Centennial College’s Digital Animation Program and Get Creative

Digital Animation is essentially the art of visual storytelling. It is also a mainstay in many of today’s TV shows, commercials, movies, cartoons, and other such productions. From the dancing babies in the Evian water commercials to your favourite characters from children’s movies such as Despicable Me and Tangled, digital animation is used to enhance entertainment. If you have a creative nature and an interest in pushing the envelope, then perhaps attending one of Canada’s digital animation programs will put you on the path to success.

At Centennial College, you can study digital animation in a four-semester undertaking that results in an Ontario College Diploma. The reputable program was founded in 1996 and has helped to shape the careers of many digital animators. Within the program students participate in a wide range of digital animation courses in which they learn about TV, broadcast, game design and film animations. These classes include: Scripting, Integrated Media, Rendering and Lighting, Short Film Production, Matte Painting, Character Design and many others. While at Centennial College, students are based in the Centre for Creative Communications, which is equipped with 24-hour, 7-day a week accessible labs and workstations. In addition, students benefit from small class sizes, one-on-one time with instructors and a project-based learning approach that includes life drawing, acting for animation and storyboard training. All of these 3D modeling program aspects are designed to prepare students for a field placement. During this eight-week time period, students are able to apply their knowledge and skills in a professional setting. Students must pass all courses (minimum mark of 60 per cent in each course), before they can qualify for the field placement. As a result of their time in the digital animation program, students produce a demo reel to showcase their abilities.

Students interested in applying must present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. They are also required to possess compulsory English 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent. Lastly, English proficiency, a program admission session and a portfolio review are required. Portfolios may include 10 to 15 pieces such as illustration, photography, video animation, computer generated artwork, music, performance art or publishing.

Once they have completed the digital animation program, students work in positions ranging from level designers for games, texture artists, visual effects supervisors, compositors and technical directors to lighters, modelers, riggers and 3D character animators. People in all of these positions must work together in order to create the finished product. Each adds an important step the digital animation process, which includes the use of computer software.