Experimental Animation Requirements

BFA, MFA

The Program in Experimental Animation promotes and supports animation as a fine art. In making admissions decisions, the program’s faculty considers animation and other visual materials such as flip books, paintings, drawings, storyboards and photographs that suggest motion or animation. The faculty recommends submitting portfolios that contain examples of unique, personal, expressive art. Submit animated film or video work if at all possible. If you do not have a film or video work to present, it is especially important to submit visual artworks that indicate your creative potential. Personal creative visual work that represents your interests is preferred over class assignments.

• Do not submit static art or video art as interactive portfolio
  presentations. However, you may submit work originally designed as interactive art.
• If submitting work that was part of a collaborative project, please describe your role in the process or inception.

Mail the following written materials to The Office of Admissions using the Portfolio Mailing Label below in addition to uploading them on the online portfolio site:

• Synopsis: One or two sentence synopsis of each work submitted
• A one paragraph biography with 2-4 stills from your work to be kept on file.
• Comments on films, books, art, etc., that you feel have influenced your thoughts and work as an artist. It is important to say why and how these works have influenced you. Avoid writing plot summaries.
• Project plans. Keep in mind that such a plan is meant to give faculty an idea of the type of filmmaking that interests you, not an idea of a project you will necessarily produce at CalArts.
• A brief explanation (one page) of why you are interested specifically in the Program in Experimental Animation at CalArts.
• Send four collated, labeled copies of all written materials, including the Artist Statement that was submitted with your application.

Portfolio Submission Format:

We prefer that you use our online portfolio [1]
submission 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 [2] for technical support.

If you are unable to submit your work online, portfolios can be mailed to CalArts. Mailed portfolios should include a completed Portfolio Information Form [3] and be mailed using the Portfolio Mailing Label [3]. Only one submission method (mailing or uploading) may be used.