The animation industry is one of the fastest growing industries today. With a Renaissance of video games and movies that specialize in special effects, 3D animation, and character animation, talented and professional animators are in high demand in the entertainment industries.
Finding the right animation education can help you land that dream job in animation. Here are the top schools with animation related degrees in New Jersey.
1. Bloomfield College
Bloomfield, NJ
- Bachelor of Arts in Creative Arts and Technology with Concentration in Animation
- Bachelor of Arts in Creative Arts and Technology with Concentration in Game Development
- Bachelor of Arts in Creative Arts and Technology with Concentration in Interactive Multimedia
- Bachelor of Arts in Creative Arts and Technology with Concentration in Digital Video
At Bloomfield College, the Bachelor of Arts in Creative and Technology program introduces students to the importance of computer-generated art and medium.
Filmmaking, game development, and advertising are three giant industries in which professional and reliable skills in the creative and proficient use of animation are heavily valued.
Students are taught not only how to create their own projects through animation, 3D modeling, special effects, game development, animated film production, graphic design, web design, and more, but how to adjust their concepts for the needs of their future employers and clients.
All students in this program are required to complete a capstone project in their final year, and must display a high level of proficiency before they can graduate.
2. New Jersey City University
Jersey City, NJ
- Bachelor of Arts in Digital Design and Illustration
- Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design
- Bachelor of Arts in Illustration
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Design and Illustration
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration
The Media Arts Department at New Jersey City University believes in offering a holistic and well-rounded program, which will imbue their students with all the understanding required for a professional and real-world career in the digital art industry.
Students study both the creative and technological aspect of digital art and animation, with classes based on media theory, cinema studies, and writing, as well as more technical courses on film production, digital animation, and multimedia production.
New Jersey City University comes equipped with state-of-the-art technology and facilities, with digital media labs, audio and radio production facilities, high-end computers with the latest animation and digital art creation software, and more.
3. Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation and Illustration
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
- Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation and Illustration program offered by Montclair State University doesn’t limit itself to a certain specialization of animation and illustration.
Rather, this program aims to teach students how to develop an understanding of animation software and skills that will allow them to contribute and add value to any animation or illustration work, including video games, websites, cartoons, movies, advertising, motion graphics, special effects, book illustration, LED billboards, titling, and more.
Future illustrators and animators at Montclair State University are taught that the most important skill is telling stories with visual images, sounds, and movement.
Only the most successful graduates of this program go on to possess the most sophisticated animation and illustration skills, allowing them to fully understand the dynamics of movement, gesture, and form.
4. Kean University
Union, NJ
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with Concentration in Computer and Video Art
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration
First and foremost, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art program offered at Kean University is aimed towards preparing students for successful and fulfilling careers as professional artists. The program combines a liberal arts background with education in art history foundation and studio arts.
Students are expected to understand the relationship between culture and modern art, which will directly improve their written and oral communication, as well as critical thinking when it comes to expressing ideas and emotions through visual art and animation.
The concentration in Computer and Video Art pushes students to complete courses in visual thinking, video production, photography, experimental video, studio art, and modern art.
5. William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with Concentration in Computer Animation & Multimedia
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art program at William Paterson University requires students to first complete the core foundational courses, which include painting, life drawing, sculpture, 2D and 3D design, drawing, and art history.
Students must display a certain level of competency and understanding in these courses before they are allowed to proceed with their chosen concentration.
Afterwards, students in the Computer Animation & Multimedia concentration will complete courses in computer painting, 2D art, dynamic figure drawing, art history, 3D computer graphic modeling, and more.
In their final year, the student must produce a portfolio of animations, proving and displaying a skillset that will allow them to begin their career in the animation industry.
If the animation industry is the career path for you, securing the animation education that fulfills your interests most is crucial towards developing a skillset you can be proud of. Choose carefully and find the best school that fits you.
