Seattle has a steadily growing animation and gaming industries. In line with this, a number of learning institutions keep up with the demand for the city’s needs for animators, gaming experts, graphic and special effects artists, computer and mobile phone programmers, and other information technology (IT) experts. From special courses to certificate and diploma programs, animation and game design schools in the Seattle area aim to hone the skills of artists and technical people in the fields of filmmaking and gaming.
The Art Institute of Seattle 2323 Elliott Avenue Ave. Seattle, WA 98121; 800-275-2471
The Art Institute of Seattle offers the Animation Art and Design and the Media Arts and Animation programs for students who intend to work in the animation and design industries. These programs help young artists further develop their skills in both the creative and technical aspects of animation and filmmaking. The courses include subjects focusing on 2D and 3D animation, digital storytelling, building websites, designing backgrounds and characters for animated works, incorporating animated videos in live action productions, and creating animation projects for mobile phone applications.
The International Academy of Design and Technology – Seattle 645 Andover Park West Seattle, WA 98188; 206-575-1865, 888-424-8111
The International Academy of Design and Technology offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Game Production. Here, students benefit from innovative post-secondary education in the creative and applied arts, with focus on game production.
Students learn computer art technology to hone their skills in becoming well-rounded animation and gaming professionals. As artists and technical experts, they learn about story writing, character development, modeling, and animation through innovative game design trainings, lectures from industry professionals, hands-on workshops, and participation in a wide array of animation and gaming exhibitions, conventions, conferences, and competitions.
Seattle Central Community College Room 1109, Broadway Edison Building, 1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122; 206-587-5448
The Seattle Central Community College has a Community Education Program that provides a variety of computer courses to cater to the increasing demand for computer experts and animation and gaming professionals. Two of their most popular programs are the 3D Animation and Design and Gaming courses. Among the variety of computer courses offered in the school’s Community Education Program, those who intend to pursue careers in animation and gaming can take advantage of the focused and comprehensive hands-on training in 3D animation, design, and gaming at reasonable costs. As a non-profit andself-supporting institution, the program also allows students to maximize their time on learning the craft, since the lectures are specifically geared only to what the field has to offer.
Majority of the teaching force in the program are industry experts within the community. Most of them work in top animation and gaming companies in Seattle. This allows the students to also gain experiences in the field through exposure on the actual work done within the industry. The program also builds mutually beneficial networks, partnerships, linkages, and connections for the school, the students, the instructors, and the animation and gaming companies in the city and all over the country.
