Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute combines traditional fine arts foundation with modern digital production across its historic Brooklyn campus and Manhattan facilities. Housed within the School of Art, the Department of Digital Arts and Animation provides specialized undergraduate and graduate programs spanning 2D animation, 3D animation, game design, interactive media, and visual effects.

Undergraduate study begins with a mandatory Foundation year in art and design, grounding students in drawing, spatial dynamics, and aesthetic theory before digital specialization begins. Studio courses maintain an intimate 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, allowing industry-active faculty to provide direct critique and individualized portfolio mentoring.

Academic Concentrations

• 2-D Animation (BFA): Integrates traditional paper-based and stop-motion techniques with digital painting and compositing pipelines.
• 3-D Animation & Motion Arts (BFA, MFA): Focuses on modeling, texturing, rigging, dynamic simulation, and character performance, culminating in self-directed capstone productions.
• Art + Technology (BFA): Emphasizes creative coding, interactive installations, virtual reality, and physical computing.
• Interactive Arts (MFA): Explores digitally mediated sculpture, immersive spaces, and virtual environments at the graduate level.
• Game Arts & Game Design (BFA, AOS): The BFA covers 3D environment modeling and game narrative, while the two-year AOS program offers a career-focused curriculum available in Manhattan or fully online.

Studio Facilities and Screenings

Digital arts facilities are centered in Myrtle Hall, providing 24-hour access to workstations equipped with Maya, Houdini, Nuke, Unreal Engine, ZBrush, and the Substance 3D suite. Dedicated production resources include a stop-motion studio equipped with Dragonframe, a green screen stage, sound booths with Pro Tools, and the DDA Gallery for testing interactive and virtual reality installations. In addition, the Film and Video building provides two soundstages, audio post-production suites, and a 96-seat screening room.

Student projects culminate in senior theses and reels exhibited publicly during the annual Pratt Shows, with featured digital work screened at venues such as BAM Rose Cinema and Alamo Drafthouse.