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Ministry-approved title: Animation – Digital Production
Turn a passion for animation into a creative career in film, television, gaming, visual effects and digital media with the Animation – Digital Production program.
Focused on both 3D and 2D digital animation, the program guides students from foundational skills through to advanced production techniques over six semesters. Students develop creative, artistic and technical abilities while learning to bring characters, environments and stories to life using industry-standard tools and workflows.
Throughout the program, students:
Graduates pursue careers as 2D and 3D animators, modellers and riggers, with additional opportunities in lighting, compositing, layout, production and related creative industries.
To apply to the animation program, you will need the following:
To be considered for admission, you will also need to submit a portfolio of your artwork. The purpose of the portfolio is to allow students to demonstrate their drawing and creative abilities, which are key components of success in film animation and other types of 2D and 3D digital animation.
For more information on submitting a portfolio, you are welcome to attend one of our Portfolio Information Sessions.
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Each animation course in your first semester helps build the foundation for the rest of your studies. Consisting of both 3D animation courses and a 2D animation course, your first semester curriculum will introduce you to the core techniques central to the animation industry. You will learn to produce and manipulate digital models, revisit the basics of human anatomy, explore the world of visual storytelling, and learn to convey your film animation ideas to others.
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There are numerous opportunities for individuals with training in animation.
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The Animation – Digital Production program equips students with the creative, artistic and technical skills required for careers in animation, gaming and visual effects. Developed with input from industry professionals, the program reflects current production practices and evolving industry expectations.
Students develop skills in:
Throughout the program, students gain experience using industry-leading software and production workflows while learning from faculty with professional experience in animation, games and visual effects.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or Math. Domestic applicants who are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s), i.e. Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 Math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
In person
Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
Completing the Digital Animation program will prepare you for many exciting roles in a variety of industries. Animated content is in demand, and the demand is expected to grow.
School is an investment in your future, and financial support is available to help you succeed.
DC's Financial Aid and Awards is here to help you access funding and opportunities that make pursuing your education easier and more achievable:
Visit Financial Aid and Awards to explore all the options to help finance your education.
Students in this program have access to Durham College’s Mixed-reality Capture Studio, a cutting-edge immersive production environment that supports experimentation with virtual production, real-time rendering, and digital storytelling workflows. Through hands-on projects, students have an opportunity to engage with industry-relevant tools and collaborative production processes that reflect current and emerging practices in media, design, and interactive content creation.
If you want to continue your education after your advanced diploma in animation, Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with several Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
There are no tech requirements for the Animation - Digital Production program, it is a lab-based program. Students may choose to buy a computer to complete assignments at home, but we suggest waiting until they experience classes to decide what they will need. Software for home computers is not supplied by the College, though some are free from software vendors.
Take a 3D tour of the lab at our Oshawa campus, where some of your animation coursework will be done! You can also book an in-person tour using the link below.
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