Animation - 3D

The Animation - 3D program at Centennial College runs for 16 consecutive months. In that time, it will prepare you to successfully launch a career in digital animation, film, television, broadcast design and games.

Created in 1996, on top of kick-starting the careers of hundreds of talented digital artists, this School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design animation program has an intensive approach that's become internationally recognized. Animation - 3D will focus on production-style training and offer a unique project-based learning experience that is applauded within the Animation, visual effects and game industries. 

Program Highlights

• The Animation - 3D program will give you 24-hour access to computer labs and workstations.
• Among the subjects that will be covered are life drawing, acting for animation and storyboard training.
• Small class sizes will allow you to work closely with your professional industry instructors.
• Industry-leading guest speakers, participatory workshops and company studio tours will enhance training.
• You'll be assisted in producing demo reels that showcase your abilities to potential employers.
• This School of Communication, Media, Arts and Design program boasts an industry field placement. While this opportunity is unpaid, it will last eight weeks and offer valuable on-the-job training and industry contacts. As you seek a field placement, you will be provided with a list of Toronto studios accepting interns and be required to make direct contact with these animation studios.
• An active alumni network will allow you to build your list of industry contacts.
• Certified Houdini Training - Centennial College is a proud member of SideFX's Houdini Certified Schools Program, which recognizes our outstanding training in this industry-standard software.

Companies Offering Jobs

The Animation - 3D program boasts outstanding graduate hiring rates. Successful graduates have worked on films, TV shows and video games that include: Fantastic 4, Fight Club, Final Fantasy, Full Auto (Xbox 360), Happily N'Ever After, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Monster by Mistake, Monster Federation (PC), Over the Hedge, Panic Room, Pariah (PS2), Pryzm: Legend of the Dark Unicorn (PS2), Robots, Shark Tale, Strike Fighters: Project 1 (PC), Stuart Little, The Matrix, The Warriors (PS2), V for Vendetta, Wings over Vietnam (PC).

Career Outlook

• 3D character animator
• Lighter
• Modeler
• Rigger
• Texture artist
• Technical director
• Compositor
• Level designer for games
• Visual effects supervisor

Education Pathways

Graduates of the Animation 3D diploma program have the opportunity to apply learning achieved at Centennial toward further study at the degree level. Listed below are the degrees from partnering institutions that are available for this program.

Please note that each partner pathway has a minimum admission requirement in order to qualify for transferring credits, which are assessed by the receiving partner institution.

Please our website at //centennial.adv-pub.moveonca.com/outgoing-home/ for more information on articulation agreements.

For pathways to other Ontario post-secondary institutions, please view ONTransfer.

Educational Partners

Qualified graduates of Animation - 3D may be eligible to participate in pathway programs with partnering institutions. These pathway programs allow you to receive degree credit for learning obtained at Centennial College. Our partners include:

• Algoma University, Ontario
• Seneca College, Ontario
• Ontario Tech University
• University of Wilfred Laurier, Ontario

Areas of Employment

Grads are fully prepared to launch careers in animating and creating visual effects for:

• Feature films
• Television shows
• Interactive games

Academic Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
• Grade 12 English (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required), or take the Centennial English Admission Test for Admission

Additional Requirements

• English language proficiency

After applying at ontariocolleges.ca, you will receive a letter with instructions on how to book the mandatory Animation - 3D program admission session, where you will submit a portfolio of work consisting of:

• 8.5x11 photocopies only (no originals please). Work can be done in any media, traditional or digital
• 4-5 full figure life drawings in variety of poses (not drawn from photos)
• 2 drawings of hands (not drawn from photos)
• 1 portrait drawing (not drawn from photo)
• 1 still life using variety of household objects (not drawn from photo)
• 1 perspective drawing of a room in your house (not drawn from photo)
• 1 digitally created image using 2D software such as Photoshop or 3D software (Maya or similar software); your choice of subject
• 1 page of original character design (not copies of existing work), with minimum of two full body poses and two facial expressions
• 1-3 pages of additional work; can be any of the following: 3D work, photography, sculptures, animations, paintings, extra life drawings, character/environment designs or a sketchbook

Note: Work should show your curiosity about the way things look and move around them. Animation is a means of creative expression, so a portfolio should demonstrate your ability to generate ideas.

1. Apply Online

Domestic Students

If you are applying through the Better Jobs Ontario Program, please apply at the Employment Training Centre (Progress Campus). The Better Jobs Ontario Program is a funding initiative for those who have been laid-off and are in need of training. For more information go to Better Jobs Ontario Program.

If you have previously attended a full-time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.

All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $125 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in-person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.

International Students

 Apply directly to Centennial College here.

2. Submit Documents

Domestic Applicants

Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.

Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.

Domestic applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS). For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.

International Applicants

Please refer to the International Education Application Guide.

3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission

Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.

You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.

You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.

When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.

4. Pay Fees

Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.

You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.

5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)

Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.

Fall registration begins mid-July
January registration begins mid-December
May registration begins mid-April

Your web-registration will not open if:

You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.

Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.

Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters, beginning Fall 2024.

Technology Requirements

Bring IT programs will require students to own and use a mobile computing device that meets or exceeds the recommended hardware requirements.

Students with Accessibility Needs If you require accommodation for a documented disability, please consider your adaptive technology needs when you select a device for your BringIT programs. If you wish to access disability services, please make an appointment with the Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services, by calling 416-289-5000, ext. 3850, or by email at calcs@centennialcollege.ca.

Have questions? Check out Frequently Asked Questions for our Bring IT Program.

Students from this program will require to own/purchase a device and software relevant to the program:

Minimum Recommended Hardware Specifications

• OS - Windows® 7 or newer (64-bit). Windows 10 (64-bit) highly recommended.
• Dual core CPU minimum; intel Quad core i7 processor recommended
• 8GB RAM minimum; 16GB or more highly recommended
• NVIDIA® dedicated graphics card with 2GB or more GPU RAM minimum; 4GB or more recommended; NVIDIA Quadro or GeForce recommended.
• 15’ full HD or better screen.
• 512GB SSD / PCIe M.2 SSD minimum, 1TB or better recommended

The above is recommended for ease of connection to college labs

Program Vocational Learning Outcomes

Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.

1. Design, create and animate characters and objects using fundamental principles of animation.
2. Produce hand-drawn and/or computer-generated drawings using fundamental principles of art, design and composition.
3. Use a variety of tools and technologies to create, capture and animate elements.
4. Participate in the planning and implementation of animation projects.
5. Develop and execute believable animation sequences.
6. Create animation sequences that employ basic cinematography principles.
7. Use storytelling skills to create, develop and execute animation sequences.
8. Apply performance theory to the creation of animation.
9. Produce layouts and backgrounds with attention to composition ,perspective and colour.
10. Present a visual concept to a target audience.
11. Use computer skills and appropriate digital asset management techniques to function effectively within a production pipeline.
12. Develop, assemble and present a demo reel or portfolio in a manner that meets current industry expectations, and highlights one’s creativity, skills and proficiency with relevant animation software and related technologies.
13. Model and rig objects, characters and background elements.
14. Light and texture objects, characters and sets using relevant tools and techniques.