Master of Fine Arts Animation

The Animation MFA is the premiere degree of the DePaul graduate Animation program. It’s designed for serious students who are interested in creating original animated films and artwork as their main vocation, and is the terminal degree in the animation field. The degree is intended for those with undergraduate degrees in Animation, Film, Art, Graphic Design, Illustration and other visual arts areas.

The DePaul Animation MFA program is centered around a fall-through-spring single project model, in which students are closely mentored by faculty. During the first year students spend the majority of their time working on a film they complete under the tutelage of one of the two Animation MFA Co-Chairs, internationally recognized artists/animators Amy Lockhart and Jacob Ciocci. They also choose MFA Faculty Mentors from our large full-time Animation faculty, who regularly consult with them on their projects. Students are helped to develop a personal vision and push the limits of their abilities and the potential of animation as an expressive medium.

During their second year, students begin work with one of the MFA Co-Chairs on their MFA Thesis Project, and assemble their MFA Thesis Committee for regular feedback. The program uses the cohort model, so students will work alongside their peers throughout their degree. Animation MFA students also receive rigorous training in the history, critical artistic issues, and fundamental principles that are necessary for animation artists.

Animation MFA students have an opportunity to explore our wide and deep range of animation courses in traditional animation (hand-drawn, stop motion, and hybrid), 3D animation and modeling, character design, storyboarding, game art, motion graphics, VFX animation, as well as advanced graduate film and TV courses in screenwriting, editing, sound, and directing. Students will have access to the latest in animation software, tools, and technologies including professional-level animation and effects software, Cintiq labs, 3D printing, stop motion stages and fabrication studios, 3D motion capture, motion control, and sophisticated sound studios. MFA students often collaborate on their film projects with talented voice actors and musicians in DePaul’s nationally-ranked Theatre School and School of Music.

For international students: this is a STEM-designated program.

 

Project Bluelight

Project Bluelight is a professional, educational, and community outreach program where students receive hands-on experience in motion picture production. The award-winning stop-motion/live actor project Speed Dating was recently created as part of this program.

 

Animation Lodge

Animation Lodge is a student organization for both animation majors and enthusiasts. The Lodge provides a space for members to discuss animation trends and techniques, network with one another and professionals, and help build each other’s portfolios through critiques and group projects. Animation Lodge hosts Mayday, a weekend-long animation marathon where students, alumni, and faculty create films based around a designate theme, annually.

 

The Latest Technology

We are constantly researching and testing the latest industry technology for use in our classes, and add new software and equipment annually. In the past year, we’ve built two new stop-motion studios and have become the only animation program in the US with a pro-level Volo Motion Control Crane (used by Laika and Disney) Dragonframe system. We also have two green screen stages and a VR studio, fully equipped animation teaching and student labs, and sound recording studio, to name just a few of our state-of-the-art facility and equipment offerings.