Animation Option - Film and Animation BFA | College of Art and Design

RIT's animation BFA allows for the exploration of the many facets of the animated form — from films, games, and AR/VR to digital effects, compositing, sound design, and the integration of animation with live-action storytelling.

Overview for Animation Option - Film and Animation BFA

Why Study Animation at RIT

Focused Degree Options: Choose one of three tracks: 2D, 3D, or stop motion animation.
Get Ahead in the Summer: Enjoy a selection of the School of Film and Animation’s courses during the summer term.
Study in LA: Spend a semester in Los Angeles with Study Away: LA, RIT's semester in LA where you can intern at top studios and entertainment companies.

The animation BFA is an option within the BFA in film and animation. The Animation option enables students to choose one of three tracks:

2D animation concentrates on traditional forms drawn by hand, a mixture of both traditional and digital, or all digital origination.
3D animation courses focus on advanced 3D modeling, lighting, texturing, and animating in a 3D space.
Stop motion focuses on digital technology in support of puppet fundamentals and non-puppet frame-by-frame techniques.

Additionally, students can work in experimental forms, animated documentary, and mixed-media storytelling.

RIT’s Animation BFA

While Animation students focus on a particular technique, they are encouraged to explore all methods and approaches. The program builds up from foundation drawing and design to full-fledged filmmaking.

Regardless of the medium, students make films from day one, culminating in a thesis film their final year. They learn and create through the entire process, from story, design, and animation to post-production and distribution. They will draw, paint, rig, model, texture, light, build, and animate past the edges of their creativity while learning the art and craft of visual storytelling.

Labs and classrooms are filled with the latest software, technology, sound, and screening options, including:

TVPaint (2D)
Maya (3D)
Toon Boom Harmony
Dragonframe (stop-motion)
Adobe Creative Suite

The School of Film and Animation program also offers a limited selection of courses during the summer term. For information on summer workshops, please contact the school.

The school maintains memberships in a number of professional organizations, including:

Animation World Network
College Art Association
Rochester Audio Visual Association
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
University Film and Video Association
Siggraph
BEA

Hands-On Experience to Gain Real World Skills

Study Away: LA gives film and animation majors the opportunity to spend a semester in Los Angeles learning from industry professionals. The bulk of your time will be spent at internships, but you'll also complete two courses that will complement your study-away experience. Learn more about Study Away: LA and how you can gain industry experience in traditional filmmaking, animation, or cutting-edge areas like virtual production in Los Angeles, the epicenter of the global entertainment universe.

Interested in a Career in Game Arts?

We’ve got you covered. The animation option allows you to explore your creative interests related to video games. You’ll have endless opportunities to collaborate with developers and fellow artists on game and digital media projects. Animation alumni have gone on to establish successful careers as game artists. Learn how you can use the animation option to launch a career in game arts.

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Apply for Fall 2025

First-year students can apply for Early Decision II by Jan. 1 to get an admissions and financial aid assessment by mid-January.

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Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical Job Titles

3D Modeler	Art Director	Character Animator
Character Designer	Creative Director	Experimental Film Artist
Layout Artist	Post Production Supervisor	Producer
Rigging Artist	Story Artist	Visual Development Artist
Visual Effects Compositor	Writer

Industries

Animation
Movies, TV, and Music
Writing and Editing

Cooperative Education and Internships

What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart.

Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Co-op in the College of Art and Design provides hands-on experience that enables you to apply your artistic capabilities in dynamic professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.

Students in the animation option are strongly encouraged to complete a cooperative education or internship experience.

Creative Industry Days

Connect with Design Industry Leaders

RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education hosts Creative Industry Days, which connects students majoring in art, design, film and animation, photography, and select computing majors with companies, organizations, creative agencies, design firms, and more. Creative Industry Days are a series of events that allow you to network with company representatives and interview directly for open co-op and full-time employment positions.

Featured Work and Profiles

Video Game Development

“That Damn Goat!” is a party game where chaos reigns, frustrations mount and everything you think you know about your situation is instantly thrown out of whack by a head-butting goat with magical...
Read More about Video Game Development
Virtual Reality Film

In making a virtual reality film for their thesis, Emily Haldeman and Tim Stringer — 2019 alumni of the Animation option in the Film and Animation BFA — used...
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Sizzle Reel

A collection of student work from Rochester Institute of Technology's School of Film and Animation, which offers a BFA and MFA in Film and Animation and a BS in Motion Picture Science.
Read More about Sizzle Reel
Tell Compelling Stories in the School of Film and Animation

RIT School of Film and Animation students are exposed to cutting-edge technology, unmatched faculty and facilities, and a supportive community.
Read More about Tell Compelling Stories in the School of Film and Animation
Short Attention Span Film Festival 2023

RIT's Short Attention Span Film Festival is a showcase of moving media projects by students from a variety of majors in the College of Art and Design. Submission include animations (2D, 3D and stop...
Read More about Short Attention Span Film Festival 2023
Pre-College Portfolio Prep Workshop

RIT's annual Pre-College Portfolio Preparation Workshop offers students an engaging and rewarding experience. The course, taught by our School of Art's drawing and painting faculty, is a visual arts...
Read More about Pre-College Portfolio Prep Workshop

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Admissions and Financial Aid

This option is part of the Film and Animation BFA. Please visit the degree program page for admission requirements.

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Financial Aid and Scholarships

100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.

RIT’s personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs. When all these are put to work, your actual cost may be much lower than the published estimated cost of attendance.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships

Faculty

Facilities

October 10, 2024

Venice Art Biennial showcases RIT's extensive creative community

Six faculty are featured in an exhibition in Venice that showcases the College of Art and Design's breadth of creative disciplines through the unification of sculpture, film, photography, and industrial design.
August 15, 2024

RIT’s School of Film and Animation ranked among the top 25 American film schools

RIT’s School of Film and Animation (SOFA) has earned a spot on The Hollywood Reporter’s top film schools list. Ranking at number 25, this is the first time RIT has been included in The Hollywood Reporter’s rankings.
July 2, 2024

Student films to be showcased on WXXI-TV in effort to raise visibility for young creatives

Student filmmakers at RIT will have a new opportunity to strive for, thanks to a collaboration between RIT and WXXI. RIT Shorts, a new, biannual series that will showcase student-made films, is set to premiere this month on WXXI-TV, a PBS-member station.