The Animation School

The Animation School (TAS) is a specialized private higher education institution dedicated to digital arts, serving as a talent incubator for the animation, game art, and visual effects industries. With campuses in Cape Town and Johannesburg, plus a digital campus providing remote delivery, the school utilizes a pipeline-driven curriculum designed to transition students into professional production environments.

Pedagogical Approach

The institution emphasizes craft over theory, structuring its flagship three-year Diploma in Digital Animation to simulate professional studio conditions.

• Year One: Focuses on foundational artistic principles, including visual development, traditional and digital drawing, and character design.
• Year Two: Transitions to complex 3D workflows, encompassing rigging, texturing, look development, and character mechanics.
• Year Three: Functions as an experiential studio simulation where students work in specialized production teams to produce a broadcast-quality animated short film, supported by faculty mentorship and a mandatory two-week industry placement.

Facilities and Options

Physical campuses serve as 24-hour creative hubs equipped with high-specification computer laboratories, Cintiq drawing rooms, character reference acting spaces, and sound recording booths. The Cape Town campus provides secure on-site student residences. In addition to the diploma, TAS offers a one-year Higher Certificate in 2D Animation and a suite of six-week online short courses covering areas like stop motion, kinetic typography, and motion graphics.