I’m a junior in a S. Cal high school at the moment and I’ve always wanted to be in the animation field as a storyboard artist, director, or concept artist. However, I don’t know what to put down for intended major because I don’t really see an option for animation. Is it under the Film/Cinematic Study major or the Art major?
Also, besides art institutes, are there any UCs or CSUs that offer a good Film/Art program? I heard USC has a good film program. I’m also looking at UCLA and UCI since I live really close. I don’t think I’ll have a portfolio ready at all because I have so many AP classes and music programs I take part in.
CSU Fullerton and SJSU have really great animation programs. You don’t need a portfolio to be accepted to the pre-major; an acceptable EI will do (based on grades and test scores). There will be a portfolio review during or after sophomore year in order to be accepted to the major specifically. You would take your general ed’s and art/design prereqs. during your first two years. USC is another fantastic animation school. Loyola Marymount and, I think, Chapman all have excellent programs and good connections with the industry. I might be incorrect but UCLA might only have an animation MFA (graduate) program - you’d have to check on that one. Some offer animation within the film school, and others within the school of art. You’ll have to check with each school to understand what they offer (easy website search).
Edit/Update: I think all the schools I mentioned w/exception of the CSU’s will require a portfolio for admission to the BFA program in freshman year.
My daughter was in the same situation as you - very little time to work on a portfolio as she was heavily involved in her academic work, performing arts and, last summer, screenwriting at Northwestern. She applied to SCAD, UCF, four CSU’s and Columbia College of Chicago precisely because they didn’t require a portfolio for admission. She will likely attend SCAD in the fall and plans to major in animation with a minor in Storyboarding.
Good luck!
One of my kids is also looking at being a concept artist, via his research into the field he’s planning on majoring in Illustration for that career path.
Re your portfolio: my daughter who’s a senior has been accepted into several art schools. She also had a very grueling junior year academically (which has resulted in some big chunks of merit aid) with not much art to show from it BUT added a lot of pieces to her portfolio sort of ‘last minute’ of her senior year since she was taking several art classes this school year (literally photographed new pieces the day before slideroom deadlines!). So it is doable. You have plenty of time now to enroll in a summer program or portfolio prep class too if that’s a possibility.
Since you are in SoCal, look at Laguna College of Art & Design’s summer program. They have exactly what you are looking for. They also have a portfolio development class. If you decide on a state university, you will want to major in Art/Drawing/Illustration.
I think the CSU system doesn’t require a portfolio at all. CSU Long Beach is also supposed to be good for film (Spielburg and one of the directors of Kung Fu Panda went here). I’ve heard CSU LA is too, because it is in LA and that’s pretty much where the film industry is. @mamelot SJSU actually does have a good animation program, but the school is very, very impacted, so getting classes would be difficult. Unless you are willing to spend 5+ years getting a BFA, this it isn’t a good idea to come here… I’ve known people that have been there for seven years because they couldn’t get the classes they wanted.
You said that you didn’t think that you would have a portfolio ready because of your schedule, but USC’s film program is like a 5% acceptance rate, and you have to have a portfolio to get in. But if you start right now and draw every day during your gaps of free time, you could still have a portfolio ready by the time you apply to schools.