Bring your drawing skills to life through acting and storytelling.

  • Consistently ranked as one of the best Animation schools in Canada
  • Certified Toon Boom Centre of Excellence means students will be working with industry leading software
  • Finish the program with a portfolio that showcases all your best work

Program Availability and Schedule

Availability

Open

Closed

Waitlisted

Start Term

Availability

International
Availability

Competitive?

Fall 2026

No

Winter 2027

No

Schedule

Coming soon - a schedule that will show when each Level of the program will be delivered. See the Courses tab for further details on the Levels within this program.

Program Summary

Credential

Ontario College Advanced Diploma (3 Years)

Program Delivery

Program Code

Area of Interest

Arts and Design

School

School of Media and Design

Campus

Ottawa
No

The three-year Animation Ontario College Advanced Diploma program provides you with the skills needed to meet the standards of the demanding international animation industry. As a student attending one of the best animation programs in Canada (as ranked by Animation Career Review, 2019), you learn industry-standard technologies, drawing and animation skills....(read more)

Overview

Bring your drawing skills to life through acting and storytelling.

The three-year Animation Ontario College Advanced Diploma program provides you with the skills needed to meet the standards of the demanding international animation industry. As a student attending one of the best animation programs in Canada (as ranked by Animation Career Review, 2019), you learn industry-standard technologies, drawing and animation skills.

This program focuses on acting and body mechanics and where you learn traditional, 3D, tradigital (using Toon Boom's Harmony) and video game animation techniques. Our faculty members are industry professionals who have worked for studios such as:

  • Disney
  • Sony Image Works
  • Mercury Filmworks
  • Jam Filled Entertainment
  • Atomic Cartoons
  • Warner Bros. Animation
  • Corus
  • Pip
  • Kratts
  • Ubisoft

Gain the ability to communicate your ideas through drawing, and to present them visually. Learn to see images in motion -a skill necessary for an animator, and ensure your animated creations are realistic and meet industry standards.

Focus is on layout, location and character design, gesture drawing and anatomy studies of the NUDE model, all culminating in performance-based character animation.

By the end of the program, you have a portfolio and demo reel that showcases your work. This highlights your creativity, skills and proficiency with relevant animation software and technologies, demonstrating that you are ready to enter the field.

Graduates of this program may find work as a(n):

  • animator at a professional animation or game studio
  • layout artist
  • location or character designer
  • 3D animator, rigger or modeler
  • background artist
  • tradigital rigger
  • storyboard artist

Other employment opportunities might include working on feature films, animated TV series or commercials, or creating short independent films for festivals.

The Algonquin College animation program is recognized as a Toon Boom Centre of Excellence.

Courses

Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.

Careers & Pathways

Careers

Graduates may find employment in the animation industry in local (Ottawa) studios, or Canadian animation centres like Toronto, Halifax, Montreal, Vancouver or with studios around the world. Third year students might also have the opportunity to work in a studio during part of the school year. There are also opportunities for advanced learning to earn a degree through our articulation partners.

Pathways

Please note: There may be more pathways available for this program than are listed here. Please use our Pathways search tool to see every option.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  1. Design, create and animate objects and characters with naturalistic and expressive movements and poses.
  2. Design and create hand-drawn and/or computer-generated drawings using principles of art, design and composition.
  3. Select and use appropriate tools and technologies for the development of animation projects.
  4. Contribute to the planning, implementation and evaluation of animation projects.
  5. Plan, develop and execute a series of effective and believable animation sequences.
  6. Create and enhance the production of animation sequences and projects using a variety of principles and techniques related to cinematography and art direction.
  7. Use storytelling skills to create and enhance the development and execution of animation sequences.
  8. Use performance theory and skills to create and enhance animation.
  9. Design and produce layouts using perspective, composition and colour theory to enhance visual presentation and mood.
  10. Present and defend a visual concept to a target audience.
  11. Use computer skills and appropriate digital asset management techniques to function effectively within a production pipeline.
  12. Develop, assemble and present a demo reel or portfolio in a manner that meets current industry expectations, and highlights one's creativity, skills and proficiency with relevant animation software and related technologies.
  13. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Tuition & Fees

Get an idea of how much each semester will cost with our Tuition and Fee Estimator.

2025/2026 Academic Year

Tuition and related ancillary fees for this program can be viewed by using the Tuition and Fees Estimator tool at www.algonquincollege.com/fee-estimator.

Further information on fees can be found by visiting the Registrar's Office website at www.algonquincollege.com/ro.

Fees are subject to change.

Additional program related expenses include:

  • Books and supplies cost approximately $1,700 in the first year and $2,000 in the second and third year.
  • We recommend that the first year students purchase one portable external hard drive with a capacity of at least 1TB.
  • Before beginning the program, students are required to purchase either a MacOS or Windows laptop with these minimum specs (cost: $1700 to $3000).
    • Intel Core i7 processor
    • 16GB RAM
    • 500GB SSD internal storage
    • 15 or larger screen
    • Dedicated (Discrete) video card with 4GB RAM
  • If a Windows laptop is purchased, students must have a valid iCloud account plus the laptop must be configured to run Toon Boon Harmony Premium and Autodesk Maya Software. Below are the specs for both softwares.
  • Accessories: Purchase a three-button mouse of your choice. Purchase a mouse pad of your choice. It is recommended that students buy the three-year Apple Care warranty, if purchasing the Mac. Students may wish to purchase a portable drafting table, chair and shelving system.
  • Third year students are required to purchase a Cintiq pen.

Admissions Requirements

All applicants must satisfy both College Eligibility and Program Eligibility requirements.

College Eligibility

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent; OR
  • Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and without a high school diploma at the start of the program). Eligibility may be determined by academic achievement testing, for which a fee will be charged.

Program Eligibility

  • English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent).
  • Submit a portfolio of 10-15 samples illustrating artistic ability. The portfolio must include samples of formal life drawing, perspective drawing, and fantasy or cartoon drawing. Details of an additional home drawing test will be sent upon receipt of your application. Samples of work to be submitted for assessment must be 8-1/2 x 11. Portfolio submission details can be found on the Algonquin College Additional Admission Requirements website: www.algonquincollege.com/admissionspackages.
  • NOTE: Interested applicants are welcome to address any portfolio-related inquiries to: design@algonquincollege.com.
  • Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
  • IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT) Overall 80, with a minimum of 20 in each component: Reading 20; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 20; OR Duolingo English Test (DET) Overall 110, minimum of 110 in Literacy and no score below 95.
  • Should the number of qualified applicants exceed the number of available places, applicants will be selected on the basis of their score on their portfolio.

Application Information

ANIMATION
Program Code 1288X01FWO

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should notify their Guidance Office prior to their online application at www.ontariocolleges.ca  

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants please visit this link for application process information: https://algonquincollege.my.site.com/myac360/s/self-registration-page.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar's Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro  

Additional Information

Program Resources

Please note: All life drawing courses involve nudity.

Contact

Tom Crook

Program Coordinator

crookt@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5816

View Bio

Tom Crook

Program Coordinator

crookt@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5816

Tom earned a BA from the University of Western Ontario and he graduated with honours from the Algonquin College Animation Program. Tom has worked over 12 years in the animation industry for a variety of animation studios including Mercury Filmworks, Funbag, Amberwood, Atomic and Dynomight Cartoons here in Ottawa. He is an experienced layout supervisor with credits such as Timothy Tweedle and Franklin’s Magic Christmas and as a layout artist on TV series’ such as Redwall, Recue Heroes, Anne of Green Gables, Franklin, Robo Roach, Undergrads and many others including the feature film Heavy Metal 2000. Tom has also designed locations for several TV series, commercials, Christmas specials and has been a layout and posing supervisor for Dynomight Cartoons.

Neil Hunter

Program Coordinator

huntern@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5821

View Bio

Neil Hunter

Program Coordinator

huntern@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5821

Neil has over 25 years experience in the animation industry. He has been involved in every aspect of the field from running his own small commercial studio to working on feature films and has held positions including senior animator, storyboard artist, story editor, designer, director, head creative and associate producer. Neil has worked for studios such as Disney, Universal Cartoons, Film Roman, Nelvana and Cinar as well as on award winning projects such as The Raccoons, Beeteljuice, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, X-Men Evolution, Undergrads, RoboRoach, Jacob Two Two, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas, Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? and many others. During his nearly 10 years at the college Neil has written curriculum for the current 3 year advanced diploma program as well as the college’s international partners in India and South Africa where he travelled and taught. Neil has twice been nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation and is currently on the Ottawa International Animation Festival’s advisory board.

Paul West

Program Coordinator

westp@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5504

View Bio

Paul West

Program Coordinator

westp@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5504

Paul West has been involved in the animation industry for over 20 years. He has worked on many feature film productions for major studios including Disney, Warner Brothers and Don Bluth. These films have included The Goofy Movie, Space Jam, and Thumbelina. Paul has also worked on other feature films such as Ferngully: The Last Rainforest and All Dogs Go to Heaven 2. Some of Paul’s television credits include the award winning and locally produced Raccoons as well as Pink Panther, Fish Police, Monster Force, Flash Gordon, Ned’s Newt and Jacob Two Two. Paul has recently completed work at Mercury Filmworks Studio in Ottawa on the ever popular Disneyshow Jimmy Two Shoes. Paul has worked in the industry as a inbetweener, a key cleanup artist, an animator, a character designer, storyboard revision artist and as a posing and animation supervisor. Paul has been a full time professor at the college for 16 years. He was responsible for writing the curriculum for the 3 year advanced diploma program as well as writing curriculum for the college’s international partners in India, South Africa and China. In 1998 Paul won the Students’ Association with Excellence in Teaching Award and in 2005 Paul was nominated and was a finalist for the Capital Educators Award. Having been trained in classical animation and self-taught in digital 2D animation Paul brings a wide range of experience to the program.

Joel Shemrock

Program Coordinator - Winter Intake

Jeff Amey

Professor

Keith Archibald

Professor

Stephen Young

Professor

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