Best place to get a MFA in Animation?

[Taboo]

So just browsing around, I am definentally applying to Calarts and A&M College Station (my back up). I'm also thinking about applying to SCAD, MCAD, USC, and UCLA, however I dont know anything about these schools. I live in Texas, so it's really difficult for me to get out to most of these places.

The school I'm graduating from has a very bare bones animation department, so I dont have as much experience that I'd like. However, I'm willing to work really hard to pick up the slack, and I do study outside of classes.

I guess I want to know:

-Am I missing any big name animation schools I should be looking into?
-What schools are unforgiving, and what schools are more lenient in terms of animation skill?
-Is there anyone out there with an MFA in animation who absolutely loved the school they went to?

[RyerOrdStar]

You want a Masters of Fine Arts? I don't understand...Is MFA some sort of acronym for animation?

[Meloncov]

I suspect you'd be better off attending a non-degree granting program. MFA programs tend to devout little energy to technical skills, instead focusing on developing ideas. It sounds like you might be better off at g nomon, or Vancouver Film School or the like.

[burning_chrome]

Here's a interview from 2003 with some big-name studio execs from Dreamworks, Disney, Pixar, and Rhythm & Hues talking about what they would like to see in terms of training and development of potential recruits and new hires: link (http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=cat&category2=&category1=&article_no=1877&page=1)

Frank Gladstone of Dreamworks mentions some of the North American schools listed below:


Art Center
Ringling
RISD
Sheridan (Canada)
San Jose State University (Animation/Illustration Club) (http://www.shrunkenheadman.com/program/)

[Meloncov]

Frank Gladstone of Dreamworks mentions some of the North American schools listed below:


Art Center
Ringling
RISD
Sheridan (Canada)
San Jose State University (Animation/Illustration Club) (http://www.shrunkenheadman.com/program/)


I'm not sure how many of those have MFA animation programs. I know Ringling doesn't.

[Storyboard Dave]

Is it skills or diploma you're looking for? I agree that getting an MFA is the right track but that's obviously a personal choice. If you've got some serious mad skills, there might be other ways of polishing up those skills other than getting an advanced degree.

But if you want an MFA program, take a look here:

http://www.aicad.org/grad.htm

[burning_chrome]

I'm not sure how many of those have MFA animation programs. I know Ringling doesn't.

Sorry Mel, I should have prefaced my previous post with an acknowledgment that I'm in agreement with you that if some aspiring animator desires technical skills first & foremost, he or she doesn't really need a MFA.

IMO, unless you want to teach animation/visual effects at some big name school, the MFA doesn't carry nearly as much weight as a well-developed demo reel would with potential employers.

[Taboo]

Is it skills or diploma you're looking for?

Skills more so than a diploma, but I'm really interested in just simply making more supervised animation. I do plan on applying to a few studios as well as grad schools, but I don't really think I have much of a chance.

I figure getting into a grad school and being around other animators, making connections, and putting out more work would be a better choice than sitting on a minimum wage job and waiting to be accepted.

[forsaken dreams]

If you're interested in solid training in animation, you may be better off applying for another BFA at top animation school.

Very few MFA programs will provide you with any technical training in either 2d or 3d if your skills aren't up to snuff. However if you've got your 2d/3d skills down and just want to spend some time pursuing independent filmmaking, then an MFA program would be an excellent choice.

Other MFA programs include AAU, RIT, Pratt. Most MFA programs are very lenient on animation skill - you pretty much need zero to get in. There are other benefits to MFA programs though, both USC and UCLA have very strong film schools with excellent resources and classes in cinematography and such. AAU has some great illustration and fine arts instructors.

For the technical side of 3D A&M is a very good place to go so I've heard. But for hard-core animation training, look into animationmentor.com