Animation - 393

Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Three years
OSAP Checkmark OSAP Eligible
Animation is a storytelling genre created entirely through the artist's imagination and skill. Learn about current industry styles which embrace both 2D and 3D production methods, and gain artistic skill and fluency in all aspects of this fantastic medium

Mohawk’s Animation program provides students with a solid foundation in the principles of performance animation, visual communication, concept generation, composition, 2d and 3D image construction, and filmic storytelling.

Through hands-on experiences applying these principles to a progressive series of exercises, assignments, projects, and collaborative learning experiences, students will engage in experiential learning that will build proficiency in all aspects of animation as a storytelling art.

Students will employ a variety of hand drawn and CG processes including idea generation and planning, modeling, construction, rigging, texturing, lighting, and animating within industry standard animation software programs.

Program Advisory Committee 

Program content is enhanced through consultation with industry leading professionals sitting on our Program Advisory Committee:

  • Rex Grignon – Creative Lead across Pixar, Dreamworks, Nimble Collective, and Amazon
  • David Soren – Director, Writer and Story Artist at DreamWorks
  • Marissa Collyer – Director of Production, Pipeline Studio
  • Evan Bonifacio – Animator known for work on Incredibles 2, Brave, and Inside Out
  • David Pietila – Layout Supervisor at Brownbag Films
  • Lavio Fidelis – Gameplay Animator at Ubisoft Toronto 
  • Joe Giampapa - Studio Head of Story at House of Cool Inc.

Program Highlights

  • Taught by industry professionals.
  • Bring stories and characters to life through performance animation.
  • Focus on animation, design, drawing, composition, and filmic storytelling principles.

What you'll learn

  • Pre-production skills:
    • Writing skills to develop idea generation and entertainment through story structure and character.
    • Figure drawing to develop strong drawing and character performance skills.
    • Traditional drawing skills for generating visual design concepts, environments, characters, storyboards/animatics, and planning animated performances.
  • Production skills:
    • Performance animation skills and techniques that can be applied to all forms of animation.
    • Laptop computer skills for digital construction, rigging and animating characters.
    • Construction of CG props and environments with texture and lighting to complete the scene.
    • Camera, rendering and editing techniques to create a finished production.
  • Experience and functional use of industry standard hardware and software.
  • Transferable skills to entertainment, gaming, virtual reality (VR), commercial and industrial productions.
  • Develop real-world industry production work practices.
  • Understanding the business of art for profit.

Note: Nude Models

Nude models are an essential component in every Life Drawing course within the Animation Advanced Diploma program. Students are required, as part of the curriculum, to study life drawing.

 

Program Length

3 academic years (periods of 8 months)

Join us at Open House from April 6 - April 11

Come and explore our campuses, meet with faculty and staff and learn about the many student services and supports available to Mohawk students to help you succeed.

 

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We're here to help

We’re here for you to support applications and admissions by providing online and virtual service.

 

Applied and have questions?
The admissions team is available to help, you can contact them via Admissions or by phone at 1-844-767-6871.

 

Haven’t applied and need help?
Contact us or phone 905-575-2460.


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Explore Mohawk College from the comfort of home! Our virtual campus tours provide a guided visit of our buildings, labs, services, classrooms and athletic and recreation centre.

 

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Program delivery

Learn about program delivery terms.

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Student Animations

Animation by Graham Stoltz

Animation by Lavio Ribeiro Fidelis Neto

Animation by Lokun Mike

Animation by Martin Melissa

Animation by Ryan Oneil Davis

Lavio with an award trophy

Mohawk 3D Animation student Lavio Ribeiro Fidelis Neto has been announced as winner of the much coveted Ubisoft Toronto Live NEXT Awards, claiming 1st place winner in the Gameplay Animation category. Beating out all entrants from animation programs through out Ontario, Lavio will have a paid internship with Ubisoft Toronto. Ubisoft judge and Team Lead Animator Michael Rivera says Neto presents a great display of dynamic posing, body mechanics, and presentation of the character from start to finish, leading him to the first-place spot.
To view more of Lavio’s work please visit Lavio's artstation.

Admission

Domestic and International student admission requirements

Options are available for mature applicants.


Optional Portfolio Submission and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Declaration

Applicants are able to submit a portfolio. Submissions can be completed electronically through our portfolio submission portal. Please note that portfolios submitted without a valid ontariocolleges.ca applicant number will not be accepted or considered.

Additionally, all applicants to this program can also fill and sign an EDI Declaration. This EDI Statement is reflective of the core values being instilled at Mohawk College, industry standards, and speaks toward the diverse audiences animators are expected to engage with. The EDI declaration is submitted as a component of the portfolio submission portal.


Language Requirements for Applicants with English as a Second Language

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English.

Don't have the necessary requirements?

Tuition and Fees

2023 - 2024 Domestic Tuition and Fees

DescriptionSemester 1Semester 2
Compulsory Ancillary Fees$864.60$758.46
Co-op FeesN/AN/A
Compulsory Program Fees$0.00$0.00
Domestic Tuition$2,882.25$2,882.25
Total Domestic Charges Per Semester$3,746.85$3,640.71
Total 1st Year Fees$7,387.56

Above fees based on full-time September program start date. Contact Student Services to confirm fees for other start dates or semesters.


2023 - 2024 International Tuition and Fees

DescriptionSemester 1Semester 2
Total Tuition & Ancillary Fee$8,875.00$8,875.00
Co-op FeesN/AN/A
Program Compulsory Fees$0.00$0.00
International Tax Recovery$450.00 $375.00 
Total International Per Semester$9,325.00$9,250.00
Total 1st Year Fees$18,575.00

If you pay by wire transfer, please note your bank might charge you a fee to transfer money. Make sure your transfer includes the Mohawk payment and the wire transfer fee. This applies to each wire transfer payment you make.

Additional Information

Financial Assistance

When it comes to paying for your education, investing in your future can be more affordable than you think. A Mohawk education is one of the most cost-effective means of acquiring the skills and knowledge you need to have a prosperous and rewarding career. 

As you start on your chosen career path, it's important to have a realistic set of expectations regarding the expenses associated with attending college. In addition to your tuition fees, you will also need to budget for books, supplies, housing, and other related living expenses. You may be able to supplement your income and savings with scholarships, bursaries, or loans. It pays to do some research into what types of financial assistance you may qualify for.

Available Financial Assistance Resources:

Apply for Awards:

By submitting a Scholarships and Bursaries Application every semester, students have access to over $3 million in Mohawk College scholarships, bursaries and Ministry-partnered funding to help meet their financial needs.

Financial Literacy and Money Coaching:

Whether saving for school, sticking to a budget, or planning for a major purchase, financial literacy affects us all. That's why Mo' Money is committed to helping our students improve their money skills and become more confident with their money.

Course Overview & Descriptions

Click on the course title for a course description.

Note: Nude Models

Nude models are an essential component in every Life Drawing course within the Animation Advanced Diploma program. Students are required, as part of the curriculum, to study life drawing.

Experiential Learning

How you'll gain skills

To learn more, please visit the Centre for Experiential Learning.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes, often referred to as ‘Program Standards', set out the essential learning that a student must achieve before being deemed ready to graduate.

In many cases these program learning outcomes were developed by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) in consultation with employers and educators who are experts in the program field. To ensure the outcomes remain current and in line with industry needs, we invite our employers, graduates working in the field and current students to re-examine and update them during regular, ongoing program review focus groups.

Career Opportunities

Your future career options

Graduates of our program will develop the knowledge, skills, and competitive portfolio that will enable them to work as:

  • Animator (2D & 3D)
  • Character designer, modeler, rigger
  • Storyboard artist
  • Environment designer, modeler
  • Concept artist
  • Texture artist
  • Effects artist
  • Director
  • Producer

Where you could work includes:

Graduates of our program will work in animation across a variety of industries including:

  • Feature film
  • Television
  • Gaming
  • AR/VR
  • Advertising /promotional      
  • Architecture
  • Education

Educational Pathways

 

Pathways to Mohawk 

If you've successfully taken a course at another post-secondary institution, you may be able to earn course exemptions toward your credential here at Mohawk.
 

Pathways within Mohawk

If you have successfully completed one of the following programs at Mohawk, you may be eligible to receive transfer credit in this program. *

This Pathways map shows how the identified program can lead to future program choices within Mohawk.

 

Pathways beyond Mohawk

Earn a degree:

See ontransfer.ca for additional opportunities at other colleges or universities in Ontario.

Search the Mohawk Transfer Database for opportunities outside of Ontario.

Additional Information

Software and Hardware Requirements

The Animation program has a mandatory laptop requirement. All students are required to have a laptop that is capable of effectively running the software packages that we use for instruction. This provides our students with 24/7 access to industry-relevant production tools and learning resources.

The requirement of an approved media capable laptop is foundational to our learning structure and is necessary upon program entry. We have updated our policy to include laptops capable of meeting our required software specifications.

Minimum and recommended Workstation Laptop configurations for Fall 2024

Minimum and recommended Workstation Laptop configurations for Fall 2024

Windows Workstation Laptop: (costs will vary based on your personal budget and choices This list is a minimum Hardware requirement)

  • OS: Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit)
  • CPU: Intel 12th Gen i7 or better (or AMD Ryzen 7 equivalent)
  • GPU: Nvidia RTX 3050 or better (or AMD Radeon RX equivalent
  • RAM: 16GB or greater (32GB recommended)
  • Internal storage: 500GB or greater SSD

Important Note: Basic PC laptops and Chromebook devices will not be able to run the required professional media-industry software that our students will use regularly during each semester of the Animation 3D program. The necessity of a machine that contains a dedicated GPU cannot be overstated.

Software Requirements

Adobe Creative Cloud: Monthly subscriptions to Adobe Creative Cloud can be purchased from the Adobe Creative Cloud website. (Approx $25.99/month) Throughout the 3 year Program, we will be using many of the Apps that Creative Cloud provides.

Autodesk Education Suite for Entertainment Creation: Create an account on the Autodesk site. Be sure to enter Educational Role – Student for 1 year free access. Download and install: Maya.

Blender Animation: Download the free version of Blender from www.blender.org (current version is 4.0)

Microsoft Office: Download at no cost through your Mohawk College account.

Hardware:

(cost will vary based on your personal budget and choices)

  • Personal External Storage:
    • Minimum capacity: 1TB
    • Technology: solid-state drive (SSD)
    • Read/Write Speeds: approximately 500MB/second or greater (USB 3.1 or better)
    • Connector: USB-A or USB-C connector as required to interface with your laptop
  • USB Flash Drive - Minimum capacity: 64GB
  • Drawing Tablet: (multiple sizes, makes and costs)
  • OR
  • Recommended: Digital display tablet (so you can see the strokes you are drawing directly under your stylus). Wacom, XP-Pen, and Huion all make these kinds of tablets. Look for one that suits your portable needs.
  • External Mouse – 3 buttons with the ability to scroll for easy navigation and manipulation within the software.
  • USB Microphone
  • Webcam (If your laptop does not have one built in)
  • Must have access to a scanner

Art Kit Material Required for Semester One

  • Can be purchased at Curry's, Walmart, Staples, Amazon etc.
  • Many of these materials will need to be replenished from semester to semester.
  • Mohawk College makes every effort to keep all our educational costs to a minimum, these costs are subject to change.
  • Additional material costs may arise.

Approximate Art Kit Material Cost is $167.00.

MaterialQuantityApproximate Cost
STA Lumograph Mars Pencil Sharpener1$2.77
Kneaded Eraser1$0.47
Selectum White Vinyl Eraser1$0.36
Pencil Colerase 20044 Blue5$0.64
Pencil Colerase 20045 Carmine Red2$0.64
Graphite Pencil 2B5$0.53
8 x 5 “ or 8 x 10 “ Bound Sketchbook1$10.00
Newsprint Pad Coverless 18" x 24" 40 Sheet - 5 pads to start
(Ongoing supply requirement)
5$1.35
China Marker Black – Berol

China Marker Red - Berol
12

2
$16.50

$1.00 ($2.00)
Black 2B Conte's sticks (Conté à Paris 50238 12 Count 2B Sketching Crayons Set, Black)1$36.82
8.5" x 11" cheap photocopy paper – 500 pack1$8.00
11" x 17" cheap photocopy paper – 500 pack1$20.00

AGPtek A4 LED Light Box (tablet) – Amazon

 

(may be optional for the first semester)

1$25.00

To Access Mohawk's Custom Online Store:

Mohawk College currently has a partnership agreement with Dell. We recommend that you shop on Mohawk's Custom Online Dell Store to receive educational discounts when purchasing your new Laptop. If you already own a laptop which meets our minimum standard necessary to run the required software, a new purchase will not be required.

  • Login to your MyMohawk account with your MohawkID and password.
  • Click on the Technology Solutions tab.
  • Navigate to the Computer Store and click “Online Dell Store.”
  • Once you arrive at the Mohawk College Discount Store webpage, select “Shop Your Standard Configuration” to see the list of laptops we recommend for this program. 

Student Animation Art

View more at the Mohawk College Student Animation website
 

Program Coordinator

Faculty

Contact us

Domestic Canadian Students

Contact Student Recruitment
Haven’t applied yet and have questions?
Contact our Student Recruitment team for information on programs, how to apply, and more.

Contact Admissions
Contact our Admissions advisors for help with your application.
Contact Admissions
Phone: 1-844-767-6871

International Students

Contact International Student Recruitment
Contact our International Student Recruitment team for information on programs, how to apply, and student life.
Contact International
Email: intl.representatives@mohawkcollege.ca
Phone: 1-905-575-2254
Toll free phone numbers:
For general questions: 1-888-Mohawk9 (1-888-664-2959)
North China: 10-800-714-2521
South China: 10-800-140-2541
Brazil: 0800-022-7408
Philippines: 180011102544

Contact International Admissions
Contact our Admissions advisors for help with your application.
Contact International Admissions
Phone: 1-905-575-2254

*Not all programs are international eligible. Please see our programs available for international students.

Accessible Learning Services

Are you a student with a confirmed or suspected disability? Visit our Accessible Learning Services website to discover how we can help you.

Program Coordinator

Canadian Domestic Students

Fennell Campus (FF)
Sep 2024
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Student Animation Art 

Discover the latest creative work from Mohawk College animation students.

Visit the Mohawk College Student Animation website

Before and after 3d sculpt by Justine

3d model of a wolf cartoon character