Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts)

2D/3D Character Animation

Studying animation at VanArts places your focus specifically on character animation through body mechanics and performance, and strong foundation training in modeling, lighting, character building and story/visual language. Our program is ranked at #2 across Canada and worldwide by Animation Career Review. Choose your stream: 2D (using ToonBoom’s HARMONY) or 3D (using MAYA). Both softwares are the industry standard for work in animated feature films and TV series. If you want to be a professional CHARACTER ANIMATOR, this is where you belong.

Game Art & Design

Here you get to focus your craft in creating concept art and 3D character & environment assets for the film, game and television industries, with an equal emphasis on art development for mobile gaming and 3D console games and creating fully play-able video game levels in Unreal Engine. Through individual assignments and group projects, you are taken through the entire pipeline for video game production. Your final demo reel can focus on character modeling, environment modeling, concept art, or specialized tasks such as rigging, level design, or VR game development.

Visual Effects

VanArts is recognized by SideFX Software as a certified Houdini Training Partner. Focused on the visual effects pipeline, you train in Houdini, Maya, and Nuke, all industry-standard for feature films, TV and video games. Skills learned include digital matte painting, compositing, layout/matchmoving, rotoscoping, shading, texturing, green-screen film production, and simulations for CG cloth, smoke, fire, explosions, etc. As a certified Houdini training program, all Visual Effects students receive a free commercial license of Houdini from SideFX Software ($2,000 value) upon graduation.