Our story began 30 years ago when veteran Disney animator John Ewing started training young animators in his Auckland studio, later to become Animation College New Zealand. Today, we’re New Zealand’s largest specialist animation school and we offer degree and diploma level courses in 2D and 3D character animation, game art and development, and specialisations in VFX. Jump right in to a six-month intensive or one-year diploma programme, or gain a professional qualification with a three-year degree.
We are one of only three Houdini Certified Schools in New Zealand, so our graduates who use Houdini during their studies are eligible to receive commercial version free for 6 months to a year depending on the version you choose to go with.
We are a Rookies Certified School. This means we have a formal accreditation which is designed to showcase and acknowledge the very best schools across the globe who provide the most up to date and relevant industry training and education. Check us out on the Rookies site.
Learn the fundamentals of character animation, specialist software and performance animation on your way to mastering 2D digital, and the foundations of 3D...
The ultimate training ground, our Bachelor of Animation is New Zealand’s only degree-level course specialising in 2D and 3D character animation, producing...
Using your foundation skills from first year, learn to inject emotion into your characters to bring them to life and hone your world-building, conceptualising...
From a city built out of candy to a starship drifting at the edge of a black hole, if you can see it in your mind, the Faculty of Animation and VFX can help you create it.
We’re living in a golden age of animation where fantasy and reality combine and virtually anything is possible. This means there’s a huge demand for animators and visual effects artists in the film, TV and game industries, and the demand will only grow.
“I had very little idea of what previs was when I was offered my first job at Weta Digital as it had only really been a tool in the industry for a couple of years. As soon as I started I was hooked. I got to design shots and plan out action sequences for films that a director would then film for real. What was not to like for a film nerd like me!”
Designed to be your home away from home, our seven campuses are equipped with the latest tech and equipment you need to succeed, and are welcoming student spaces where you can connect with your peers, within easy reach of vibrant city centres.