RISD vs SVA vs Ringling animation??

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1

Hello there :smiley: I got my acceptance email from RISD today. I still cannot believe I got in.
Anyway! I want to major in animation and I am trying to decide from those three schools.

Some relevant details…

  • I unfortunately did not get into Calarts D:
  • Being an international student, I got no scholarships anywhere. No money issues to consider.
  • I can’t do college visits :confused: (I don’t live with my parents to take me)

I know Ringling has a great computer animation program, but I’m more into 2D than 3D. I like 3D. I just like 2D a lot more.
I’m not sure if RISD, despite it being a great school, will have an animation program good enough for me to choose RISD over the other choices.
I read on some other thread that SVA focuses more on the story, and RISD more on the art of animation. I focus more on the overall story and characters. Is this true? In my case, would Ringling be a good school for me still?

My parents reeaaally want me to go to RISD. They were happier to hear I got in than me. I,on the other hand, am not so sure. I want to go to a school that will most efficiently teach me the art of animation (especially the character and story development part), and I want to be able to get a job. These two are my main concerns. I just started actively researching today, and I thought it’ll be extremely helpful if you guys could give me any opinions/tell me what you know about those three schools regarding their animation programs :slight_smile:

Thanks in advance!

2

The deadlines for computer animation application at Ringling are past for this year. The class for next fall is filled. Computer animation at Ringling is not on rolling admission. You could apply for 2016 class.

3

@gouf78‌
Oh, I already got into Ringling for fall 2015 :slight_smile: I got into all three schools: SVA, RISD, and Ringling.

4

Congrats!
So go to Ringling. You’re in. Why wouldn’t you do the top school for animation?
Although getting in is easier than the work required to get out! :smiley:

5

@gouf78‌
Thanks! And well, like I said I’m not TOO interested in Computer Animation, which is what Ringling is known for XP I looked at their curriculum but it looks like they really focus on the technique itself, when I am more interested in storytelling. I think I will decide between RISD and SVA. And haha that is very true. I will suffer for the next 4~6 years to graduate but it’ll be worth every minute!

6

I’m curious as to why you think the top animation school wouldn’t focus on story and character? What do you think they are animating? Good reels are about story, character and the technical expertise. You won’t get to the animating part without the first two.

7

If you search out the various lists/rankings available, you will find all three on the list. Congrats on getting all three! (A nice position to be in! I visited all three with my D a few years ago & I think you can’t go wrong with any of them. (Except that after this past winter, Sarasota is particularly attractive!) Ringling is strong in computer animation. SVA has both computer & traditional, but makes you choose between the two very early. RISD takes the broadest approach, teaching you film, computer, traditional & stop motion. And at RISD, you can take courses at Brown University (just up the hill from RISD) at no additional charge. SVA is in the heart of a city that never sleeps, Providence is a much smaller city (but large enough to have everything you would need) & Sarasota has some of the best beaches in the world. You have a tough decision to make; good luck!

8

I am somewhat familiar with SVA’s program. Here is my take:

SVA has two strong concentrations: 2d animation and Computer Art,which is essentially 3d animation, although you can focus on web and motion. They both provide very strong training as evidenced by the number of thesis projects that get accepted to festivals and the number of projects that win festivals. I believe that you can take some 3d courses even though you are a 2d animation major and vice versa, but the problem is that there won’t be that many free slots available.

At least for grad students, you can audit a course each semester. I believe this may be true for undergrads too.

When we looked at the RISD program for my daughter, it was very 2d oriented. I don’t know if that has changed at all.

Also. if you do well and learn your skills well, SVA is well known in the animation/game design field. Most of my child’s classmates have jobs in the industry. My child was offered jobs in one of the top movie studios in the US and in one of the top game development studios in the US. Thus, the grads go get contacts. Even better, living in Manhattan is probably the best place for students.It is a wonderful place to make connections for internships.

Honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with either school,but I personally like SVA better due to its strong offerings in BOTH 3d and 2d animation.

Also, don’t let these forums mislead you. All schools with animation programs train in the full range of the animation pipeline such as lighting, rigging, character animation, environmental design, story boarding , UV mapping, and concept development. The differences are usually cultural. Some focus on 2d, while other focus on 3d with a few programs, such as SVA, having both concentrations. Some are more game oriented, such as Digipen and some are more movie and/or commercial focused while some are more “fine art” focused such as Pratt. Some allow for independent study, which allow for training in areas that normally won’t be available. I know for sure that SVA has this option. Thus, if you want to develop a subspecialty in explosives, atmospheric effects, crowd development etc, you can do this. Thus, you really need to dig a bit deeper into the culture of each school.