Animation Academy
Want to animate a character? Build a world? Tell a story that moves? You’ll do it here — hands-on, from day one.
Bring your ideas to life.
At the Animation Academy at Champlain College, you won’t just watch animation tutorials or sketch on the sidelines. You’ll create.
In two weeks, you’ll work with the same professional tools used in major studios, guided by animators who’ve made this their life’s work.
Our Animation Academy is an immersive experience that throws you straight into the creative process. Experiment with different techniques. Test your ideas. See what happens when you push your creativity, bend timelines, and discover which corner of the animation world calls to you.
This is your chance to discover that animation is your calling. Through hands-on experience, you’ll get a taste of what makes the Champlain College Animation program so special.
|
Ages & Grade Level |
Dates |
Cost |
|
| Animation Academy | Ages 15–18 Grade 10–12 |
Monday, July 19 – Friday, July 30 |
Friday, July 30 $4,500* |
*This Early Bird Rate ends on January 4, 2027, at 5:00 PM. Use code EARLYBIRD27 when registering.
What you’ll do
- Create 2-D animations with Toon Boom Harmony
- Bring characters to life in 3-D using Autodesk Maya
- Sculpt and design characters with ZBrush
- Develop character concepts and art in Photoshop
- Create visual effects and compositing with Adobe After Effects
- Explore stop-motion techniques, including pixilation
- Discover career pathways and opportunities in the animation industry
This isn’t a typical summer program. It’s immersive, project-based, and built around creating, not watching. You’ll experiment, make mistakes, try again, and surprise yourself — and have a blast doing it.
Why You’ll Love the Animation Academy
In the Animation Academy pre-college summer program, students will:
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- Experiment with the fundamentals of 2-D and 3-D animations
- Work with industry-standard tools, including Toon Boom, Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop, and After Effects
- Try different animation techniques, from character design to stop-motion to visual effects
- Experience what studying animation at the college level actually looks like
- Create original work you can add to your portfolio
- Discover which areas of animation excite you most
- Build skills and confidence through hands-on project creation
- Explore the beautiful city of Burlington, Vermont
- HAVE FUN!
In this pre-college summer program, animation will be taught by Champlain College faculty, all of whom have significant industry expertise and extensive professional connections.
Program attendees will have a lot in common with their fellow students. By working together in the classroom, living together in the residence halls, and enjoying extracurricular activities, students form friendships that last far beyond the length of the Academy.
“I had a great time, made lots of new friends, learned a lot, developed a bunch of new skills, and found out some skills I didn’t know I already had.”
— Program Attendee
In an ever-changing world, Champlain College is renowned for preparing future leaders in the most sought-after career fields and professions that today’s students are most passionate about. Explore our facilities, learn from our industry-expert faculty, and enjoy our beautiful campus.
Who Should Attend
- Students entering grades 10–12 and recent high school graduates
- Students who are considering studying animation in college and would like hands-on experience with industry-standard animation software
- Students looking to create animations for their portfolio
- Students who want to explore career pathways in this evolving field
What You’ll Gain From It
- Original work for your portfolio — pieces you actually created, not just followed instructions to make
- Hands-on experience with the same professional tools working animators use daily
- Real insight into animation careers in film, TV, and gaming
- Skills and knowledge that matter, whether you’re applying to art programs, exploring creative careers, or discovering what you’re capable of
Sample Daily Schedule
| TIME | ACTIVITY |
| 8:00–9:00 AM | Breakfast and Morning Meeting |
| 9:00 AM–12:00 PM | Animation Lab I |
| 12:00–2:00 PM |
Lunch and Recreation |
| 2:00–5:00 PM |
Animation Lab II |
| 5:00–10:00 PM |
Dinner and Evening Lab or Recreation Activity |
| 11:00 PM |
Lights Out |
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