Animation

Program of Study

Animation is a medium that breathes life into concept through movement. As an Animation student you’ll discover how the dialogue of an otherwise stagnant image or object changes and evolves when put to motion. You will create narrative and experimental animation that bring both characters and environments to life. Our integrated curriculum focuses on sequential narrative storytelling, methods of animation, conceptual development, framing and staging, storyboarding, animatics, layers, and motion and figure studies.

Students, crew, and star Nicolas Cage on the set of Dog Eat Dog

Student and professor looking at sketches

An animation screened on the planetarium at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History

A still from a student animation project

As a student in our program, you will work with innovative production technologies in 2D and 3D digital media and animation, film, video production, and stop-motion animation. To enhance your skills in character design and set construction, you will study the development of personality in motion, lighting of small scale digital environments, sound related to motion and sync, and the broad scope of tactile sculpture media. In addition, we emphasize presentation and public speaking skills, which help prepare you for pitching your ideas and directing a team.

Real-world experience for real-world careers
What may best set CIA apart from other colleges of art and design is its commitment to engaged practice. CIA’s Engaged Practice provides you opportunities to learn through experience by working on real-world projects with external partners or clients, or in the public sphere—all before graduation.

These opportunities allow you to put your classroom and studio knowledge to work in a professional setting while still being guided by faculty. You’ll learn what it takes to meet clients’ expectations, and you will emerge with confidence that will serve you as you launch your career.

Major Application
Art and design education is structured to prepare students for the challenges of competition that define a career in the art and design fields. Consistent with that value, CIA students begin their major focus with an application process that is competitive. Students apply to majors in the spring semester of their Foundation year.