Drawing Foundations for Animation and Illustration
Strengthen your creative skills as you define your path forward on your artistic journey.
- Students can explore a range of design-related disciplines in order to discover where your strengths and interests lie.
- Create a diverse portfolio that represents your drawing ability and artistic strengths that can be used to apply for further programs of study.
- Laddering opportunities for other Diploma and Advanced Diploma programs such as Animation and Illustration and Concept Art
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
Program Delivery
Program Code
Area of Interest
School
Campus
Eligible for Post-Graduation
Work Permit?
This one-year Drawing Foundations for Animation and Illustration Ontario College Certificate helps you to develop the strong drawing skills that are necessary for your evolution as an artist to further your education in various creative visual art programs.
Expand your potential, using a wide variety of digital and traditional mediums to build creative works, while discovering your strengths and preferences along the way. Immersed in a studio environment, you explore life drawing, sculpting, and character, environment and creature design. You also create appealing environments that encompass a sense of character and a lived-in feel using proper perspective, texture and detail. Sculpting and painting with digital tools and software solidifies your understanding of the properties of light, value and colour and their influence in a 3D environment....(read more)
Overview
Strengthen your creative skills as you define your path forward on your artistic journey.
This one-year Drawing Foundations for Animation and Illustration Ontario College Certificate helps you to develop the strong drawing skills that are necessary for your evolution as an artist to further your education in various creative visual art programs.
Expand your potential, using a wide variety of digital and traditional mediums to build creative works, while discovering your strengths and preferences along the way. Immersed in a studio environment, you explore life drawing, sculpting, and character, environment and creature design. You also create appealing environments that encompass a sense of character and a lived-in feel using proper perspective, texture and detail. Sculpting and painting with digital tools and software solidifies your understanding of the properties of light, value and colour and their influence in a 3D environment.
You have the opportunity to research and explore your abilities and interests in:
- animation
- comic books
- book illustration
- concept art
- graphic novels
- gaming
- anime
Throughout the program, you create a diverse portfolio that represents your drawing ability and artistic strengths that can be used to apply for further programs of study. An annual showcase provides an opportunity to exhibit your best works and interact with industry professionals, peers, family and friends. This foundational training provides you with an introduction to more advanced drawing-related programs including, but not limited to:
- Animation Ontario College Advanced Diploma
- Illustration and Concept Art Ontario College Diploma
As a graduate, you will qualify to receive transfer credits in related programs for some courses taken in this program. Contact the Program Coordinator to explore specific transfer credit opportunities.
Note: As part of the curriculum of Drawing Foundations for Animation and Illustration, students study and draw human anatomy and nude figures.
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.
Code:
ANI2100
Course Name:
Life Drawing 1
Course Description:
Drawing from observation of the human form is essential to developing strong drawing skills for the animation and illustration industry. Stu... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ANI2101
Course Name:
Character Design 1
Course Description:
Character development is a crucial part of the fictional worlds produced for the entertainment industry. Students apply design principals us... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ANI2102
Course Name:
Layout and Environmental Design 1
Course Description:
Strong design skills are required for solid layout design in animation and illustration. Students gain an understanding of perspective, stag... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ANI2103
Course Name:
Digital Painting and Sculpting
Course Description:
Using digital software to compose, sculpt, paint and render environments and character designs enhances the ability to visualize and display... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ANI2104
Course Name:
Drawing Career Pathways
Course Description:
To obtain and maintain a career in a fast-paced, high caliber creative industry requires the ability to balance personal and professional li... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
ENL2029M
Course Name:
Foundations of Communication
Course Description:
Students develop language and communication skills necessary to promote success in education pathways and careers. With effective workplace ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ANI2200
Course Name:
Life Drawing 2
Course Description:
The ability to recreate realistic human form is essential to developing the strong drawing skills required for the animation and illustratio... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ANI2201
Course Name:
Character Design 2
Course Description:
Designing characters with appeal, originality and emotion is a critical skill of a good character designer. By enhancing different character... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ANI2202
Course Name:
Layout and Environmental Design 2
Course Description:
Achieving a sense of personality within a space is a key factor that gives appeal to the backgrounds and environments that we see in the ent... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ANI2203
Course Name:
Portfolio Preparation
Course Description:
A first impression often makes all the difference when applying for further studies or building your professional network. Through self-refl... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
ENL1813M
Course Name:
Communications 1
Course Description:
Communication remains an essential skill sought by employers, regardless of discipline or field of study. Using a practical, vocation-orient... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED1457
Course Name:
General Education Elective
Course Description:
Students choose one course, from a group of general education electives, which meets one of the following five theme requirements: Arts in S... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Careers & Pathways
Pathways
Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Create two- and three-dimensional art and design works using art elements, principles of design, and a wide range of materials, processes and techniques.
- Effectively use critique and reflection for personal and peer projects to solve design problems and to enhance the development of creative works.
- Develop and present a portfolio that showcases personal artistic style using a range of media appropriate for a variety of artistic disciplines.
- Communicate in an art and design environment using appropriate language, strategies and techniques in order to develop and maintain interpersonal relationships and to support artistic goals.
- Explore and select from a variety of tools and techniques to develop and manage a personal visual and digital presence.
- Explore the professional requirements and opportunities in various creative visual art fields to inform academic and professional goals.
- Use tools and techniques of the animation and illustration professions to enhance the essence, believability and visual storytelling of figure-based forms and their environments.
- 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:
Approximately $100 to $200 for books and consumable supplies.
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).
- 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 proficiency in English.
Application Information
DRAWING FOUNDATIONS FOR ANIMATION AND ILLUSTRATION
Program Code 1452X01FWO
Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:
ontariocolleges.ca60 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