California Institute of the Arts

Incorporated in 1961 through the merger of the Chouinard Art Institute and the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music—and championed by Walt Disney—the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) operates as a multidisciplinary visual and performing arts institution. The school's pedagogical framework, known as "The CalArts Way," approaches enrolled students as practicing artists from their first day, organizing instruction around a mentor-mentee studio dynamic with active critique rather than rigid academic hierarchy.

Animation Programs

Within the School of Film/Video, CalArts maintains two distinct animation pathways catering to different creative trajectories:

• Character Animation (BFA): Focuses on traditional and CG character performance, visual storytelling, and commercial pipeline workflows. First-year coursework emphasizes foundational life drawing, 2D design, and narrative development, progressing into dialogue, sound design, and 3D computer animation. Students are required to independently write, design, and direct an original short film each academic year. The program culminates annually in the Character Animation Producers' Show, a faculty-juried screening held at industry venues such as the DGA Theater in Hollywood to present student films directly to studio recruiters.
• Experimental Animation (BFA and MFA): Concentrates on aesthetic innovation, alternative techniques, and expanding moving-image boundaries. Instruction covers 2D animation, stop-motion, installation, stereoscopy, and performance animation. The three-year MFA track emphasizes critical animation theory and interdisciplinary exploration across other CalArts disciplines, including theater and music, culminating in an individual thesis project.

Design and Digital Media

Beyond animation, the School of Art houses programs in Graphic Design (BFA and MFA) and Art and Technology (MFA). Graphic Design students work in dedicated 24/7 communal studios grouped by year level, encouraging ongoing peer exchange and critique. The curriculum spans typography, print design, motion graphics, UI/UX, and XR/AR design, with two-year and three-year MFA paths depending on prior design preparation. The MFA in Art and Technology bridges digital tools and fine art, incorporating creative programming, interactive media, and digital sound.

Production Facilities and Software

Production infrastructure includes specialized computer labs, stop-motion stages, and post-production suites. Students train on industry-standard tools across 2D, 3D, and real-time production, including Autodesk Maya, Toon Boom Harmony, TVPaint, Dragonframe, SideFX Houdini, Cinema 4D, ZBrush, Unreal Engine, DaVinci Resolve, and Adobe Creative Cloud.