In the Experimental Animation program, you’ll mix traditional and digital media using 2D, 3D, stop-motion, digital compositing and augmented/virtual reality, while having the flexibility to take art and design elective courses beyond animation. The program has growing relationships with other schools around the world and many connections with Toronto’s growing animation industry, and our instructors are all practitioners in contemporary art and animation.
OCAD U notable alumni include Canadian NFB legends Grant Munro, Evelyn Lambart and George Dunning, who directed The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, as well as Richard Williams influential animation director on Who Framed Roger Rabbit. More recent alumni include stop-motion filmmaker Ghazal Tahernia and VR artist Jawa El Khash, and others working at at Industrial Light & Magic, Yowza, Guru, Jam-Filled, Stoopid Buddy, The Stop Motion Department, StereoD and Moment Factory.
At the End of this Program...
At the end of this four-year program, you’ll earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. This program focuses on experimental animation and contemporary art but many students will find careers in creative industries such as animation and gaming.
Admissions Requirements
- For Ontario high school students, a minimum overall average of 70%
- Portfolio
- Statement of Intent
- Official transcripts
- see detailed academic requirements here
Jobs You Can Get
Graduates of the program work as:
- Independent Artists and Entrepreneurs
- 2D Animators
- 3D modelers and texture artists for games
- VFX artists
- Stop-motion character animators
Internships & Experiential learning
OCAD U offers so much more than co-ops because creative careers take many forms. Our career services help you build a professional community, valuable experience and skills you need for a meaningful career. Get access to:
- Short experiential learning placements from among hundreds of organizations
- Creative in-class projects with real-world industry partners
- Exclusive summer internships
- Gallery exhibitions of your work
- Freelance creative opportunities
- Jobs after graduation
You will have flexibility in taking different classes to get a good foundation for future years. A few are mandatory, such as Introduction to Experimental Animation and Animation Reframed, a course covering the state of animation art today. The rest of your study subjects could include:
- Sculpture Concepts
- Form and structure
- Wearable art
- Photography
- Painting
- Video Production
- 3D Animation and Modelling
- Painting & Digital Imaging
- Sonic Art
- Body and technology
- Printmaking
- Art and code
In second year, you’ll start developing core storytelling and technical skills. You will be exposed to many different animation practices, approaches and theories. You will be introduced to animation principles, learn Toonboom Harmony and strengthen your timing fundamentals. You will study storyboarding and building meaningful concepts. You’ll also focus on expanded animation like installations, game engines and virtual/augmented reality.
You can also take animation electives of your choice, such as:
- Extended Reality (XR)
- Compositing
- Digital Collage
- Visual design for animation
- Drawing for animation
- Stop motion
- Material exploration
- 2D character animation
- Experimental character design
In third year, you’ll work on a year-long project. You’ll develop your personal vision, research and core media and animation skills. You’ll also have a choice of electives that could include:
- 3D modelling
- Advanced character design
- Sound design for animation
- Stop-motion puppet show
- Abstraction
- Animated documentary
- Experimental 3D simulations
You’ll also choose an experiential learning course that will help you prepare for your professional career.
In fourth year, you’ll be able to choose your focus and do a deep-dive on a personal, year-long project in the EXAN Thesis Course. In this course you will work closely with your classmates and faculty to develop your vision into a final project that you will be able to show in festivals and venues around the world.
In your last year, you’ll also take an Experiential Learning course, working with any ofOCAD U’s industry and cultural partners. Past projects have included making animations for billboards at Yonge-Dundas Square or the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, developing projections for the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, projection mapping animations on buildings for the City of Toronto with AVA Animation, teaching workshops or assisting professional animators at the Toronto Animated Image Society.
At the end of the year, you’ll showcase your work at GradEx, OCAD U’s Graduate Exhibition, the biggest free art and design exhibition in Toronto with more than 40,000 visitors.
Minors
In all undergraduate programs, you can choose a minor to go along with your major. A minor gives you the opportunity to pursue a focused secondary field through electives, helping you expand your practice, skills, and knowledge. It can make you stand out to employers, graduate schools, or in grant applications by showing expertise in more than one field.
You don’t need to choose a minor on your application; once you start at OCAD U, you can choose from over 90 electives to build towards one of our 25 focused minors. Learn more about Minor Programs here.