Whether you are an animation-enthusiast living in Colorado or admiring Colorado from afar, we have an up-to-date list of the best schools to attend in order to live out your animation dreams.
It doesn’t matter if you’re more interested in the fine art, digital art, communication, or game design aspect of animation, in Colorado there is bound to be a school for you. Below we have compiled a list of the best schools to attend for both current animators and animators-to-be.
By attending the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, you will be able to apply for their Bachelor of Innovation™. This undergraduate program allows students to research and works on design projects according to their preferred subject area.
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’. If you are a student residing in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington or Wyoming you may be eligible for reduced tuition as part of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education’s Western Undergraduate Exchange Program.
Colorado State University offers its Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Electronic Art for those with an interest in both art and animation. This degree is suitable for the future pursuit of a career in studio art. First-year students cover the basics, such as art history, drawing, 2D, and 3D fundamentals.
Second-year students move on to graphic design, digital visual fundamentals, and electronic art. Third-year students then continue with interactive media and experimental video. Finally, seniors focus on their BFA portfolios, while taking advanced interactive media as well as advanced experimental video.
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The University of Colorado Denver offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 3D Graphics and Animation. Within this program, students will attend courses such as 2D and 3D media, digital 3D, intermedia, art history, drawing, rigging and animation, surface modeling and properties, and lighting and animation production.
In order to complete this degree, the fulfillment of a thesis is required. If money is an issue, this university offers quite a few scholarships ranging from $500-$2000 for in-state and out-of-state residents.
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is a school that caters to you. This university offers a number of undergraduate programs, both online and on-site. Whether you are more comfortable learning within a classroom setting or in front of your computer, this school has something for you.
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The BFA 3D Animation program, for example, includes courses you are able to complete at your own pace and place, within an 8-week period. Courses include scriptwriting, visual design, storytelling, motion studies, 3D computer lighting and material, digital imaging, visual design, and drawing.
The BFA. Animation program, on the other hand, requires classroom attendance in similar classes, storytelling, and scriptwriting, as well as business ethics. Both of these programs require a thesis for completion.
Game Art is another BFA degree program within this school. This degree hones in on 3D computer animation, motion studies, 3D character development, scriptwriting, game texture and lighting, strategy, and psychology in games. Lastly, the BFA Illustration program is also an attractive option for those interested in animation.
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This program focuses on pencil drawing, illustration media, illustrating literature, animal anatomy and drawing, life drawing and painting, and landscape painting. Both B.F.A. Game Art and B.F.A. Illustration require a portfolio in order to complete your studies. An interview, as well as a portfolio, is also required in order to be admitted to the university.
Metropolitan State College of Denver offers a degree with the opportunity to choose one concentration from two possible options. The first undergraduate degree concentration focuses on Digital Arts. Students within this program will be attending courses such as video art, web art, and visual thinking.
The second program, Communication Design, involves courses such as typography and design research. Both programs require students to attend drawing, 2D and 3D design, art history, and color theory.
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In order to complete this degree, the attendance of internships will be required, as well as the development of an art portfolio. The studies will be concluded with a thesis exhibition.
So it’s settled. If animation is your passion, Colorado is the place to be. There is a program available for every type of animator or digital artist. The choices are all laid out in front of you, all that is left to do is choose.
A graduate of Penn State University and a Philadelphia native, Bryan has been a gamer since day one. Using his vast experience of gaming, game culture, and all things tech, Bryan aims to deliver the most up-to-date and captivating game design content to readers.Local artist and digital art aficionado Rob Gray, right, leads 9- to 11-year-old students in a class on making NFT (virtual) art at the Denver Art Museum.
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Student Maya O. created this virtual artwork, 'Modern Princesses, ' over three days at the Denver Art Museum. It depicts Ariel, Belle, Pocahontas and Merida. 'I created this art because fashion makes me happy, ' she said. She hopes to sell the work online 'to purchase an iPad and continue to support my fashion career.'
Student Harper W. made this piece of virtual art called 'Foodanimals Meal' at the Denver Art Museum's NFT summer camp, and it is available for sale online.
Classrooms at the Denver Art Museum campus buzzed as summer camp students bustled about, huddled around tablets, researching sources of inspiration, and peppering their teacher with questions as they worked.
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Amid the hum, Harper White, 10, sat at a workspace sketching an intricate design of swirls and flowers while Harrison Ivanoff, 10, was fast at work molding blue clay into a sculpture, not sure yet what the creation would become. As Harrison’s imagination let loose, Harper contemplated turning the pen and paper sketch into something else entirely — a non-fungible token.
Behind the young artists a large projector screen displayed a group of NFTs created by the class of 9- to 11-year-olds, already posted to a virtual gallery and waiting for bids. From 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. the week of July 11, the class of nearly 20 children came to the Denver Art Museum to learn the art of making — and selling — NFTs.
Student Maya O. created this virtual artwork, 'Modern Princesses, ' over three days at the Denver Art Museum. It depicts Ariel, Belle, Pocahontas and Merida. 'I created this art because fashion makes me happy, ' she said. She hopes to sell the work online 'to purchase an iPad and continue to support my fashion career.' Courtesy Denver Art Museum
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The Denver Art Museum’s youth camps have been running since the 1990s but shut down in 2017 while the museum undertook a renovation of the campus’ Martin Building. The plan was to relaunch the camp program sooner, but the COVID-19 pandemic hit and kept the return at bay until this year.
Nearly five years later, the camps are in full swing and looking to teach children art skills across mediums, including preparing them for an increasingly digital world.
This summer’s camp offered two courses dubbed Design Thinking, where students not only learned about the Metaverse but the burgeoning art of NFTs. The first session was in June and the second in July, both for ages 9 to 11, and both filled to capacity.
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NFTs have gained more recognition in recent years, particularly within the digital art world. They are a digital image or asset, typically one-of-a-kind and often bought and sold using cryptocurrency.
The Design Thinking course’s lead instructor was local artist and digital art aficionado Rob Gray, also one of the forces behind the Five Points digital art gallery, IRL. While making their first NFT, Gray told the class to create something that represented their personality.
Harper dreamed up a collection of doodles portraying tacos, burgers and sushi, then brought them to life with bold colors and animal faces. Gray converted the drawing into a digital image, and it became the class’ first official NFT.
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Gray taught the students NFT basics, which Harrison and Harper explain with ease. NFT stands for non-fungible token, Harrison said. An artist can make an NFT from anything, either starting with a tangible piece of art then converting it to digital, or working exclusively with digital tools. Designs can be simple or complex, Harper said. The most alluring part to Harrison is that NFTs could generate funds to use in video games.
Gray hung the students’ pieces in his virtual gallery. People across the globe can go into the gallery and see the children’s NFTs. They can verify the pieces are original works from students at the Denver Art Museum learning the trade, and bid to buy one.
“It might not be the most aesthetically pleasing but it has a story behind it, ” Gray said. “It’s been really inspirational to see the kids realize they can be the stars. You don’t have to create the Mona Lisa.”
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Student Harper W. made this piece of virtual art called 'Foodanimals Meal' at the Denver Art Museum's NFT summer camp, and it is available for sale online. Courtesy Denver At Museum
At least one of the students’ NFTs from the June camp had received a bid. Gray transferred the ownership of the students’ NFTs to their parents,
