Animation (ANPG)

Step-up your animation skills: Specialize in 2D or 3D animation

Fully immerse yourself in the world of animation. During your first two years, you’ll develop your drawing and storytelling skills through the 12 principles of animation. With regular access to industry-standard software and hardware, you’ll apply traditional techniques to 2D and 3D animation and gain a basic understanding of the animation process.

In your third year, you’ll take advanced courses in life drawing, character design, and story and choose an area of concentration: 2D or 3D. The 2D stream focuses on Toon Boom Harmony rigging, layout, and 2D animation. If you choose the 3D stream, you’ll specialize in 3D rigging, modeling, and animating with Autodesk Maya. In your final semester, you’ll complete a capstone project that you can add to your portfolio. 

When you graduate, you’ll jumpstart your career as an animation artist with a professional portfolio and demo reel, ready to work in television, games, film, advertising, and more.

Program highlights

• Upskill your general animation training by specializing in 2D or 3D with third-year stream options
• Graduates of Cambrian’s two-year animation diploma program (ANIM) gain direct entry into the third year of this program
• Develop dynamic storytelling, drawing, design, and animation skills 
• Graduate with a production-ready portfolio 
• Train at Cambrian’s 13,900-square-foot animation studio 
• Toon Boom Centre of Excellence program
• Opportunity to showcase your work to industry representatives on a field trip to Toronto

Program of study for 2025-26 Academic Year 

¹

For more information regarding General Education courses, click here.

²

Electives for Semester 5

2D Stream
ANI 2550 - 2D Character Rigging I
ANI 3260 -  Layout IIII
ANI 3320 - Character Animation

3D Stream
ANI 2555 - Modelling I
ANI 3110 - Into to 3D Rigging
ANI 3310 - 3D Animation III

³

Electives for Semester 6

2D Stream
ANI 2650 - 2D Character Rigging II
ANI 3360 - Layout IV
ANI 3710 - Animation Capstone

3D Stream
ANI 2655 - Modelling II
ANI 3210 - 3D Rigging II
ANI 3720 - 3D Animation Capstone

Admission requirements

For graduates of the new curriculum (OSS): Ontario Secondary School Diploma (30 credits) or equivalent or mature student status including:

• Any grade 12 English (C) or (U)
• Submission of a portfolio (see additional admission requirements)

Additional admission requirements

Portfolio requirements

In order to be accepted for admission in Cambrian College's Animation Program, students are required to submit a portfolio.  All entries should be submitted on 8 1/2" x 11" paper (no original artwork) and should include the following elements:

Life Studies

Two (2) drawings are from life, either a human model or an animal.  The drawings should reflect an attempt to understand:

• structure and anatomy
• proportion
• perspective
• mass and volume
• visual appeal and rhythm
• balance

One (1) drawing of the artist's hand and forearm that shows and understanding of the above elements.  The drawing can be loose.

Character Study

Design a character and draw this character in a variety of poses (minimum of 5 poses).  Each pose should show a different emotion.  It is important to think about the character as an actor.  Students should pay close attention to the following:

• structure and solid 3D construction 
• perspective
• mass and volume
• appeal
• continuity of model (is it the same character in each pose?) 

Perspective Study

One (1) drawing of a room in your home.  This drawing should showcase knowledge of the following:

• perspective
• depth and 3D space
• proportion
• visual appeal

This drawing should be a clean line drawing.

Personal Work

Six (6) to ten (10) pieces that reflect your style and skill.  These can be drawings and paintings.  If you would like you can show a mix of classical and digital art.

Submission Process

Please mail your portfolio to the following address: 

James Munro
c/o Cambrian College
1400 Barrydowne Road
Sudbury, ON, Canada
P3A 3V8

Portfolios can also be submitted digitally to the following email address: james.munro@cambriancollege.ca

Remember, presentation says a lot about who you are and your work ethic.  Good luck!

Recommended:

• Grade 11 or 12 credits in visual arts and/or media arts (M) or (O)

Program delivery

2025-2026

Fall term start

SEMESTER 1:  Fall 2025
SEMESTER 2:  Winter 2026
SEMESTER 3:  Fall 2026
SEMESTER 4:  Winter 2027
SEMESTER 5:  Fall 2027
SEMESTER 6:   Winter 2028

Winter term start

SEMESTER 1:  Winter 2026
SEMESTER 2:  Spring 2026
SEMESTER 3:  Fall 2026
SEMESTER 4:  Winter 2027
SEMESTER 5:  Fall 2027
SEMESTER 6:   Winter 2028

Specific program pathways

College or university degree opportunities  

If you are a graduate of this program, you may continue your studies at a college or university and you may receive credit(s) for your prior college education. Refer to Cambrian's college and university agreement details for further information. 

Employment opportunities