Character Animation Requirements

BFA only

The Character Animation program supports animation that focuses on character development and narrative storytelling. The faculty admissions committee seeks portfolios that show evidence of strong, creative life drawing skills, artistic originality, and the potential to tell stories and develop characters using sequential imagery. The faculty welcomes a range of creative work, including drawings and other traditional artwork, 2D digital art, and 3D computer graphics (CG).

The committee values artwork that reveals a voice that is both unique and imaginative, showcasing the applicant’s artistic interests and conceptual abilities. 

The Program in Character Animation requires the physical sketchbook be submitted by mail. Observational drawings and other work should be submitted using our online portfolio submission system. Both the mailed sketchbook and the online submissions are due by the application deadline. Please view the Submission Format section below.

Students are accepted into this program at the BFA1 level (first-year undergraduate) because of the highly sequential nature of the studies. Students will be expected to be in residence the full four years.

Application portfolio requirements:

Part I: Observational Drawings (minimum 15 drawings):

Examples:

• Drawings of people and animals from life that explore elements like shape, form, contour, and contrast. These drawings should range from one-minute gestures to longer poses. Indicate hands, feet, and faces.
• Drawings of interior environments and exterior landscapes that showcase depth, ambiance, and mood. Do not erase your construction lines ––they are especially helpful to the faculty in understanding your approach to observational drawing.
• Do not submit traced pictures or copies of work by others.

Part II: Sketchbook / Visual Diary (filled or completed sketchbook):

Examples:

• Sketches from your everyday life.
• Drawings that illustrate film ideas and story concepts.
• Thumbnails of scenes that you plan to animate one day.
• Random jottings that interest you.
• Character designs.
• Studies of images from films or other sources you like.

Part III: Other Work:

Include any combination of the following:

• Sequential image storytelling: Work that showcases your ability to tell a story and develop a character. For example: storyboards, graphic novels, comics, flipbooks, or short stories with thumbnails.
• Digital creative work (still or animated): Creative work that you produce, or manipulate, in one or more computer programs. This might take the form of 2D digital art, and/or 3D computer graphics (CG).
• Photographs
• Paintings
• Sculptures
• Installations
• Murals
• Character designs
• Cartoons
• Caricatures

Submission Format:

• Sketchbooks: Mail to the Office of Admissions at
  CalArts. Mailed sketchbooks should include a completed Portfolio Information Form and be mailed using the Portfolio Mailing Label. Do not send your portfolio directly to the School of Film/Video. Doing so will cause a delay in the review of your work.
• Observational drawings and other work (photographs, paintings, large drawings, sculptures, installations, murals, etc.) should be digitally reproduced and uploaded to our online portfolio submissions system. The online system accepts MP3's, documents, images and video. Once your portfolio is uploaded, it can be viewed and rearranged until the final submission is made. No changes can be made following the final submission of your portfolio. There is a $10 fee for each portfolio submission you make through the online system. Be sure to submit your portfolio to the correct degree level and program. If you experience technical difficulties while uploading your portfolio, you may send an e-mail to support@slideroom.com for technical support.