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Break into the industry via the best animation program on earth

Michael Hirsh, CEO of Cookie Jar, refers to Sheridan as the Harvard of animation colleges. We began offering animation courses in 1971 and have been leaders in the field ever since. Our Animation degree students come from all over the world, and after graduation they go to work for Pixar, Dreamworks, Cookie Jar, Cuppa Coffee, Studio B, Nelvana, Corus, Electronic Arts, and other giants of animation and gaming.

What makes Sheridan the best animation college in North America?

  • Rigorous instruction in both classical and computer animation. You’ll do cutting-edge 3D computer animation at Sheridan, but a great animator has to understand 2D principles of movement, performance and expression. No animation degree program teaches the fundamentals better than Sheridan.
  • Professional, hands-on instruction. You’ll be taught by industry pros, using the same techniques and tools that you’ll eventually need in the workplace.
  • Creative freedom. You’ll create your own scripts, characters and layouts, and produce your own films.
  • Career connections. After Year 3 you’ll gain professional experience during a three-month work placement. And at our annual Industry Day, employers fly in from across North America to meet you, see your work, and conduct interviews.

From Story Pitch to Finished Film

In your first two years of Sheridan’s Animation program you’ll study the principles of animation, learn the art of storyboarding, and hone your life-drawing, layout and painting skills. In Years 3 and 4 you’ll be making films. You’ll learn the entire process from start to finish — working in 2D, 3D or stop motion.

Sheridan Animation courses are held in Oakville, Ontario.

Program Critical Performance:

By the end of the program, the graduate will have demonstrated the ability to create quality animation performance through a creative and professional portfolio using principles of animation, drawing, design, cinematic storytelling, artistic expertise and innovation. The graduate will have exhibited a personal and professional commitment to artistic growth and cultural literacy that conveys passion, confidence, a collaborative and independent spirit, refined communications skills, and the adaptability to work within a dynamic animation community.

  • Create animated sequences from the development of the original concept through design to final film or video production. 

  • Communicate ideas, believable action and emotion effectively by employing principles of animation and performance in all aspects of drawing. 

  • Integrate the concepts, principles and theories involved in the physics of animation in all aspects of drawing. 

  • Refine personal narrative voice that holistically integrates the elements of storytelling and performance in order to actively engage the audience.
    •  
  • Create 2D and 3D characters and environments that reflect the integration of graphic clarity, design principles, performance principles and theoretical constructs. 
    Design layouts and backgrounds that incorporate principles of composition, perspective and colour, with speed, accuracy and dexterity, using a variety of media. 

  • Create an animated film incorporating a range of artistic styles and techniques, reflecting the principle that form follows function. 

  • Coordinate and manage the production of a student film, including the aspects of cinematography, art direction and editing. 

  • Collaborate effectively with peers on film projects.
    •  
  • Use critical thinking skills and problem solving strategies in all dimensions of development and production. 

  • Manage targets within the production schedule to effectively achieve completion of required tasks.
    •  
  • Communicate ideas, emotion and intent effectively in visual, oral and written forms. 

  • Generate work that reflects initiative, creativity, adaptability and personal style. 

  • Create animation that incorporates the basic principles of constructive anatomy and drawing using economy of expression. 

  • Incorporate technology effectively in the development of animation projects.
CODE TITLE CREDITS
 

TERM 1

ANIM 10102 Introduction to Life Drawing 3
ANIM 13921 Animation Principles 1
 5
ANIM 17198 Story Development 1 3
ANIM 18081 Introduction to Dimensional Drawing 4
ANIM 10009 Introduction to Digital Tools 1 2
ENGL 17889GD Composition and Rhetoric 3
 

Total:
20
 

TERM 2

ANIM 13672 Introduction to Dynamic Anatomy 3
ANIM 10082 Animation Principles 2 5
ANIM 10172 Story Development 2 3
ANIM 19014 Drawing for Layout 4
ANIM 10004 Introduction to Digital Tools 2 2
ANIM 15142 Animation History 3
plus one Breadth Elective
3
Total:
23
 

TERM 3

ANIM 28263 Intermediate Figure Analysis 3
ANIM 27198 Action Analysis: Animation and Design 5
ANIM 20146
 Storyboarding: Critical Structures
 3
ANIM 26859 Visual Development: Layout and Painting 4
ANIM 20065 Digital Methodologies: 3D Animation 3
plus one Breadth Elective
 3
 

Total:
21
 

TERM 4

ANIM 22350 Exploration of Figure Analysis 3
ANIM 20036 Animation: Dialogue and Design 5
ANIM 21888 Sequential Narrative 3
ANIM 25586 Digital Painting and Layout 4
ANIM 10261 Digital Methodologies: 3D Modelling 2
HIST 28448 Acting for Animation 3
plus one Breadth Elective
3
Total:
23
 

TERM 5

ANIM 37370 Continuity, Design and Figurative Performance 3
ANIM 36529 Animation: Classical and Stop Motion 6
ANIM 30102 Storyboarding: Advanced Story Structure 3
ANIM 30408 Layout and Art Direction 3

Choose on of the following two:

    
ANIM 33310 Digital Methodologies: Character Rigging and Set Up 3
ANIM 21044
 2D Applications 3
plus one Breadth Elective   3
COWT 10023 Co-op Forum (Degree Programs) -
 

Total:
21
 

TERM 6

ANIM 37721 Exploring Character and Costume 3
ANIM 30123 Animation Production 4
ANIM 30261 Storyboarding: Project Development 2
ANIM 30146 Layout and Production 3
ANIM 20065 Digital Methodologies: Dialogue, Music and Sound Effects 3
plus one Breadth Elective 3
 

Total:
18
 

MAY WORK TERM

COWT 18888 Co-op Work Term (Degree Programs) -
 

TERM 7

ANIM 45436 Senior Animation Project 3
choose one of the following three: 6
ANIM 44310 Advanced Figure Drawing and Art Direction 3
ANIM 44049 Digital Methodologies: Final 3D Frame Creation 3
ANIM 31362 Digital Methodologies: Final 2D Frame Creation 3
plus two Breadth Electives
6
 

Total:
15



TERM 8

ANIM 47028
 Capstone Animation Project
 9
plus two Breadth Electives
6



 Total:    15



Note: The curriculum for this program is currently being reviewed. Any applicable updates and/or revisions to the course offerings will be posted on Sheridan's website.

During a recent visit, DreamWorks CEO and founder Jeffrey Katzenberg told our Animation degree students, “Sheridan is the best in animation training.” Employers regard our animators as the cream of the crop; Sheridan graduates routinely go straight to work for top-flight studios and firms in:

  • Feature films
  • Television animation
  • Gaming
  • Advertising

At our annual Industry Day, you’ll have the chance to meet and show your work to employers from around the world.

Program Eligibility

Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, including these required courses:

  • English, Grade 12 (ENG4U)

plus

  • One senior-level Visual Arts credit at the M, or Open Level
  • Four other Grade 12 subjects at the U or M level
  • Minimum 65% overall average

or

  • Two semesters of postsecondary education including required courses with a minimum 65% overall average

Applicant Selection

Eligible applicants are selected on the basis of previous academic achievement (the average of their six highest senior-level credits, including required courses), and the results of their portfolio assessment. A portfolio review fee is required with the submission.

Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for this program will be assessed and advised individually and may be considered for other, related programs.

PROGRESSION POLICY

Academic progress in the program is based on meeting the requirements of an internal academic policy that outlines course and program grade standards, as well as pre- and co-requisites. This policy is distributed to students at the commencement of the program.

Sheridan has been granted a consent by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to offer this applied degree for a further five-year term starting December 31, 2007. Sheridan will ensure that all students admitted to the Bachelor of Animation program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame. An application for renewal of the consent has been submitted and the current consent remains in effect until a decision on the renewal application is made.

An application for renewal of the consent has been submitted and the current consent remains in effect until a decision on the renewal application is made.

Bachelor of Animation - Bridging


Faculty: Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design
Program Code: PBANB
Duration: 1 semester
Designation: Bridging Program
Campus: Trafalgar Road Campus
Start Date: May


Program Information

Bridging students from an advanced diploma in animation will be required to successfully complete three courses within the spring semester before entering the Bachelor of Animation degree program in the fall. Students will then be required to take semesters 5, 6, 7 and 8. There is a 14-week internship between semesters 6 and 7.

Career Eligibility

Upon successful completion of the bridging program, students will be eligible to enter Year 3 of the Sheridan Bachelor of Animation degree program.

Admission Requirements

Program Eligibility

Successful applicants to the bridging program will have graduated from an Ontario Advanced College Diploma in Animation (MTCU Code 61901) as of 2008 with a GPA of 2.4 or better and will have submitted a portfolio of work that demonstrates technical and artistic skills comparable to students entering the third year of the degree program.

Applicant Selection

Eligible applicants are selected on the basis of previous academic achievement and the results of their portfolio assessment. A portfolio review fee is required with the submission.

Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for this program will be assessed and advised individually and may be considered for other, related programs.

Courses


Code

Title

Credits

ANIM18263

Drawing & Performance

3

ANIM18823

Animation & Narrative

3

ANIM10025

Constructs in Layout & Painting

4

Total:

10


Note: Courses subject to change.

Program Details

Faculty:
Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design
Program Code:
PBANB (Bridge)
PBAAA (DEGREE)
Duration:
4 Years (PBAAA (DEGREE))
Designation:
Bachelor’s Degree
Campus:
Trafalgar Road Campus
Start:
September (PBAAA)
May (PBANB)

Useful Information