<p>There’s definitely no need to be scared. As far as I understand it, animation isn’t one of those fields that there are a few clear feeder schools and the rest are at a disadvantage. I don’t think that either LSU or UL will be better than the other for a career in Hollywood animation (Pixar is in the Bay Area, though). While one may offer more courses and such than the other, most of your skills and knowledge in animation will be self-taught, regardless of whether you attend LSU, USC’s film school, or Harvard. When I started college, I was also interested in animation (esp. the mathematical side of it), and discovered that most of the skills for animation that companies care about are gained by simply getting your hands dirty and gaining experience.</p>
<p>Most of the curricula that UL has in animation is available online, and if it isn’t, there’s plenty of other schools that do have their curricula online. You can follow those. What will end up mattering far more than which school you attended is your demonstrated abilities in animation. During your undergrad years, you’ll build a portfolio, and it’s that portfolio that will get you a job at Pixar or in Hollywood or anywhere else. </p>
<p>So in short, yes, you will still learn what’s needed to become an animator with a Digital Arts major, which by the way isn’t vague. If I were recruiting for an animation studio (this is just my guess, so take it with a grain of salt), your previous work would get the most emphasis, but seeing a Digital Arts major on your diploma would reinforce the belief that you’re prepared for animation.</p>
<p>I’ve known (or known of) 3 people who went on to Pixar. One was a super-mathematical type and developed software for simulating various physical phenomena; the other two were just passionate about animation and did a lot of work on their own.</p>