The Gateway to a Brilliant Animation Career
Chapman University offers three specialized areas of study within its widely acclaimed animation program.
Founded in 1861, Orange, Calif.-based Chapman University specializes in offering a personalized education to each of its students. The top-ranking school offers VFX, 2D animation and CG animation tracks, which are part of the world-renowned Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, the No. 4 ranked film school in the country. As Ruth Daly, Chapman’s director of animation and VFX explains, “Technology and creativity blend seamlessly here as industry standard 3D and 2D animation software is taught alongside art, writing, pitching and filmmaking fundamentals. Our students share classes and projects with film, computer science, producing and screenwriting majors, just to name a few.” Among the many unique events and student experiences that make Chapman’s offering stand out is the fact that legendary animation directors teach on campus in small groups every week. “Oscar-winning director Brenda Chapman (Brave, The Prince of Egypt), Emmy Award winner Lauren Faust (My Little Pony, DC Super Hero Girls) and two-time Oscar nominee John Musker (Moana, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid) are current mentors in the Pankey Distinguished Artist program at Dodge, instructing senior students for a total of nine hours per week throughout the 2023-24 academic year,” Daly points out. “What really sets us apart is the opportunity for in-depth one-onone tutoring over an extended period with a legendary director who students may only have dreamed of meeting. Lauren, John and Brenda bring the highest caliber of instruction we could ever hope to offer our students.” In addition, the animation and VFX faculty includes: Chris Bailey, Academy Award-nominated animator and producer (Runaway Brain); Alireza Bidar, animator (Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto) and Houdini instructor; Graham Cunningham, veteran Blizzard lighter/compositor; Ruth Daly, program director and veteran 2D and 3D animator (The Iron Giant, Night at the Museum, The Golden Compass); David Kuhn, veteran animator (Pocahontas, Hercules, Looney Tunes: Back in Action); John Perez, storyboard artist (South Park) and USC screenwriting fellow; and Jim Schlenker, veteran layout artist, Disney TV.
Collaboration and Innovation
In 2021, Chapman University became the first university in the United States to open a virtual production facility. With classes in virtual production, VR/AR, motion capture and the integration of machine learning, students are immersed in a fast-paced, challenging and deeply collaborative setting. Seniors work in small groups on thesis films to share their specialized skills and support each other both technically and creatively, accomplishing much more than they could on solo projects, with less burnout. “Our students also collaborate on larger projects with Dodge film majors, shooting on our virtual production stage, and crafting postproduction VFX, a unique experience that not many programs offer,” says Daly. “Two such film projects were just completed, an eight-month collaboration between approximately 50 students studying cinematography, directing, animation, VFX and production design.”
Location, Location, Location
The Digital Media Arts Center (DMAC), a gorgeous, modern, award-winning building, is home to the animation and VFX program at Chapman, which is in the heart of downtown Orange. The university is adjacent to Orange County’s gaming industry, just 10 minutes away from Disneyland and an hour away from Hollywood. Studio tours, internship opportunities and world-renowned experts are all close by. In addition, Chapman provides academic credit for internships and the Dodge Career Center offers both job placement support and career advice in cooperation with animation faculty. Students are regularly chosen as interns at DreamWorks Animation; several 2023 graduates also landed jobs there. Other recent internship opportunities have included those at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Blizzard, Nickelodeon and NBC Universal. Class of 2023 graduates were also hired by The Third Floor, Nickelodeon and Titmouse. Among Chapman’s most popular recent animaton and VFX courses are:
• Caricaturing for Animation with John Musker: Create caricatures with an animation legend!
• Pitching and Showrunning with Lauren Faust: Faust coaches as our students pitch their original IPs.
• Simulations for VFX: A dedicated Houdini class where students can conjure fire and floods along with simulations of large environments, crowds, hair, cloth and more.
• Unreal Engine for Filmmakers: Game engine technology with film and animation students together on a virtual production stage.
• Writing for Animation: This class brings screenwriting and animation students together, a collaboration not offered in many animation programs.
• Summer travel courses: This year, students will travel to Paris to participate in a visual storytelling course at the renowned Gobelins, the world’s leading school for animation.