Learn from industry animation leaders in our nationally ranked character animation program.
The UCF-CREATE Pre-College Intensive Animation Summer Program is a fast-paced, hands-on experience designed for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors eager to explore the world of animation. Unlike other programs that focus solely on 2D animation, we provide a comprehensive curriculum that includes both 2D and 3D animation, modeling, texturing, and lighting—giving students a well-rounded foundation in industry-standard techniques.
Our unique two-week format is the perfect balance of intensity and engagement, allowing students to fully immerse themselves in the creative process without the long-term commitment of traditional summer programs. Students will learn directly from UCF professors with industry experience and collaborate with graduate students from UCF’s prestigious Character Animation program, gaining hands-on training in professional animation techniques and workflows to develop essential animation skills, receive personalized feedback, and produce portfolio-quality work.
In addition to animation training, students will have the opportunity to refine their artistic skills through studio drawing sessions with a live model, a fundamental practice used by professional animators to improve their understanding of movement, anatomy, and character design.
As a bonus for families, our program is located in the heart of Orlando, Florida—home to world-class theme parks, entertainment, and cultural attractions. This makes it the perfect opportunity to combine an enriching summer education with an unforgettable family vacation!
To ensure students have everything they need to succeed, we provide professional-grade art supplies as part of tuition, eliminating any extra costs for materials.
Spots are limited—enroll today and give your aspiring animator the ultimate summer experience!
& July 14-25, 2025
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
$1065 (tuition) + $35 (reg. fee) two-week session
REGISTRATION:
After clicking the registration button, you will be redirected to our landing page. Select your choice from the dropdown box on the left.
Click to RegisterTopics Covered
- 3D Modeling/Animation
- 2D Animation
- Storyboarding
- Anatomy
- Environments
- Figure Drawing
- Physics for Animators
- Drawing
- Software used: Maya, ToonBoom, After Effects, Premiere, Substance
Important Information
- Instructors include industry professionals: UCF professors, former Disney animators and UCF character animation graduate students.
- Use of industry rated computer lab and professional digital software.
- Participants should bring a lunch. Snacks and drinks provided throughout the day. Please bring a refillable water bottle if you have one.
- While we do NOT provide on-site housing, we have teamed up this year with Marriott to provide participants with special discounted rates for the Residence Inn Orlando Downtown and Marriott Orlando Downtown hotels! Reservation links will be provided to participants after application has been submitted. If you have any questions regarding the housing options please email create@ucf.edu.
Featured Instructors
JoAnne Adams
Adams worked at Walt Disney Feature Animation for 15 years and has taught at the University of Central Florida since 2008.
Michael Cabrera
Cabrera has worked as an independent Visual Effects artist for the past 15 years and has taught at the University of Central Florida since 2017.
Ron Hargrove
Ron Hargrove (MFA, University of Central Florida) is an animator/storyteller and a Research Instructor with CREATE. He’s taught 2D and 3D animation, as well as modeling and visual effects at the University of Central Florida for the past 3 years.
Elaina Buffkin
Elaina Buffkin is an artist and designer specializing in draftsmanship and the 2D animation pipeline. She crafts a unique visual language to connect with her audiences through logic-based design choices, found aesthetics, and charming, illustrative style. Away from her desk, she enjoys jiu jitsu, yoga, Terraforming Mars, and ping pong.
Cheryl Briggs
Briggs is a published author, an Autodesk Certified Professional and Instructor in Maya, and has been teaching all aspects of animation production for over 20 years. She has been teaching at UCF since 2009, and working as Motion Capture Engineer with FIEA since 2019.
Christina Christie
Christina Christie (MFA, University of Central Florida) is a lecturer and Area Coordinator for the Emerging Media: Character Animation track and an instructor for the Animation and Visual Effects M.F.A. Though her journey as a filmmaker began locally, her award-winning animated short films have screened worldwide. Between projects and productions, she has worked as a successful freelance illustrator, rigging/modeling artist, and production manager for independent clients across the nation.