Key Takeaways
- VFS’s School of Animation trains students in real production environments, using industry-standard tools and workflows from day one.
- Each animation program – 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Animation Concept Art, and Classical Animation – culminates in collaborative, portfolio-ready projects that showcase professional-level skills.
- Students gain unmatched industry exposure through mentorship, studio partnerships, and guest lectures from animation leaders at Disney, Pixar, Netflix, and beyond.
For our next blog series, we’re focusing on hands-on production – the ‘secret sauce’ of VFS’s industry programs that truly sets us apart from other creative schools. At Vancouver Film School, our students learn by DOING. They train in a real production environment from day one, creating powerful content for their portfolios with the same technology, equipment, and procedures used by the industry across animation & VFX, entertainment, games, and beyond!
Today, we’ll explore how this applies to the three programs in VFS’s School of Animation & Visual Effects: 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Animation Concept Art, and Classical Animation.
3D ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTS PROGRAM
As a Houdini-certified school, VFS 3D Animation & Visual Effects students have the power of one of the industry’s most widely used tools at their fingertips as they build their professional reels, which feature everything from modeling samples to character animation, VFX simulations and much more. Houdini is taught to students over three courses, with industry mentorship rounding out their training.
Collaboration is a cornerstone of the program, with students building their skill sets alongside one another across all terms. In the last half of the program, students form production teams, crafting a variety of projects that align with the specific skills and program specializations (i.e., Modeling, 3D Animation, and Visual Effects) of each team member.
Final Projects are generally team-based films. Students work though the pre-production phase gathering team members that fit specialties including modelling, animation, compositing, lighting, VFX simulation, and rigging. This final project becomes the centerpiece of their portfolio, which they will use to demonstrate to studios that they possess the technical and creative competencies to work adeptly within a production pipeline.
Future 3D Animation students at VFS can also look forward to a new elective course: Motion Capture – developed in association with Beyond Capture Studios – a 64,000 cubic ft. motion capture volume and VFS industry partner located right on our campus.
ANIMATION CONCEPT ART PROGRAM
As with 3D Animation, students in VFS’s Animation Concept Art program collaborate throughout their one year of training, most notably working together in the last half of the program to create and produce an original final pitch package, formed from an idea authored by each student. The package can include key art, character designs, environment and prop designs, turnarounds, expressions sheets, general visual development, and pose sheets.
This leads to students producing a high-powered concept for TV, film, games, comics, or illustration and are supported through one-on-one mentorship spanning production management, story, and artistic & technical processes.
Starting in 2026, Animation Concept Art students will have access to brand-new courses in Webtoons and Clip Studio Paint to help build their expertise in the creation of digital comics and general 2D animation.
CLASSICAL ANIMATION PROGRAM
Students in VFS’s Classical Animation program acquire the same skill sets that have been used by animators since the dawn of traditional 2D animation. Students create storyboards, an “anijam” group film, take part in dialogue and character mechanics animation exercises, and are trained in digital tools, & creating 2D rigged characters, backgrounds, and layouts. All of this leads to the final project, where students produce a short, 1-minute animated film. As with all VFS Animation programs, students are mentored throughout the process, ensuring they emerge with the most polished portfolio possible.
Future Classical Animation students will receive enhanced training in rigged 3D animation, ToonBoom Harmony (another industry standard tool), and Storyboard pro, ensuring our graduates are fully trained to meet the demands of the ever-evolving industry.
INDUSTRY EMBEDDED IN THE VFS STUDENT EXPERIENCE
A comprehensive industry animation training means learning from the very best in the industry! VFS’s School of Animation features veteran talent, including Head of Department Colin Giles (Sausage Party, Dan Vs.), Disney Animator Mark Pudleiner (Hercules, Mulan, Tarzan), Francois Van Eeden (Bucketheads), Alex Leung (LEGO Star Wars), Daniella Selmi (Spy Kids: Mission Critical), and many more.
Additionally, VFS students across all three Animation programs are empowered by the opportunity to put their skills to the test with real, MAJOR organizations. A prime example of this is VFS’s collaboration with General Motors (GM Global Design), where Animation students were able to support and lead production of an excitement revel ad at all levels of the production pipeline.
Another, more recent, collaboration happened just this year when VFS Animation teamed up with Invictus Games to produce an incredible video that showcased the driving spirit of the Games’ athletes through the power of motion capture, 3D, & 2D animation.
Finally, School of Animation & Visual Effects students receive regular guest lectures from the industry’s best, supplementing VFS’s hands-on training with invaluable insights from industry pros that are working behind the scenes on some of cinema’s most unforgettable animated films & series. Recent guest speakers include James Baxter (Head of Animation at Netflix), Mike Makarewicz (Pixar, Skydance), reps from Bardel Studios, and an exclusive showcase with Walt Disney Animation Studios.
READY TO BECOME A FULLY TRAINED ANIMATOR?
VFS’s Admissions Advisors are ready to assist you with the application process every step of the way. Book an appointment at your convenience to take the first step in your hands-on animation training at the #1 globally-ranked animation school!
VFS’S THREE-PART SERIES ON PORTFOLIOS
You are reading part one in VFS’s series of editorial features on hands-on production. Continue on with part two to discover how this is accomplished in VFS’s School of Games & Creative Design and part three for our School of Film & Television.