Character Animation is a highly competitive track in the Emerging Media BFA degree program. The Character Animation track allows students to integrate multiple domains of art, storytelling and technology into their body of work. A successful portfolio review is required for admission into the program.
The program is designed to:
- Provide a solid foundation in techniques and theory
- Provide a broad understanding of related disciplines including arts, humanities, and technology
- Provide extended experience in working in multidisciplinary teams on realistic problems
The Character Animation track is a two-year, full-time series of consecutive semesters designed to prepare a cohort of students for careers such as animators, story artists, visual development artists, lighting artists, technical artists, effects artists, modelers, riggers, or texture artists in the animation industry by emulating the professional production studio. Students learn all aspects of the production process, from story creation to film completion, while working as part of a team. Students learn the tools and industry practices for computer-generated animated filmmaking as well as the ins and outs of teamwork with opportunities for leadership amongst their peers and mentorship from the faculty.
Animation & Visualization and Graphic Design are other portfolio based tracks in the Emerging Media BFA program.
As part of the program, some courses study the form and proportion of the human figure. Nude models are used as reference.
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Careers
Use this tool to find real-time job and salary information. Start with the sample keywords below, or explore other careers and industries that match your interests. Data is updated regularly to help you discover current opportunities, salary ranges, and employment trends.
Sample keywords: artist, web and digital interface developer, graphic design, art director, special effects artist, animator, producer, director, media programming director, motion graphics artist, film and video editor, museum technician, conservator, video game designer, media technical directors/manager
For more resources on careers in the arts and humanities, visit cah.ucf.edu/careers
Notes
- APPLY and be accepted to UCF.
- COMPLETE prerequisite courses. (Interested students are recommended to contact your academic advisor (cahsa@ucf.edu) as early as possible to ensure that they are progressing through the prerequisite courses in a timely manner and to keep documented and detailed records of all information received.)
- PASS mandatory portfolio review. (Character Animation is a highly competitive, limited access program and students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in all program coursework. Students are encouraged to simultaneously apply for studio art and/or graphic design portfolio. Students intending to pursue Character Animation (as well as Experimental Animation or Graphic Design) will be enrolled in the Emerging Media Pending BFA program until they have successfully completed the portfolio review.)
FAQ
I am a direct connect student. Do I automatically get in?
No. You are only guaranteed admission to UCF. You are not guaranteed admission into the Emerging Media Character Animation track.
Do the pre-requisite courses listed on the UCF site need to all be completed before applying to the program?
No, BUT you must have completed, or be enrolled in, all prerequisites when submitting your portfolio in February or your portfolio will not be reviewed. First-Time-In-College (FTIC) students must submit a portfolio no later than the spring semester of the second year. Transfer students must submit a portfolio no later than the spring semester of their first year. Students apply for Character Animation Portfolio in the Spring semester, and the cohort program starts in the Fall.
How many students pass the portfolio review and advance into the Character Animation program each year?
Character Animation is a highly competitive restricted access program. Acceptance is limited to 30 students each cohort. Students are encouraged to simultaneously apply for Studio Art Portfolio, Animation & Visualization Portfolio, and/or Graphic Design Portfolio for additional options. Speak with your Academic Success Coach early to discuss alternate program options.
Is there a limit to the number of times a student can apply for the program?
Yes, portfolio submission occurs annually in the spring semester for fall admission, and students may only submit their portfolio to each track once. If applying for multiple Emerging Media tracks, portfolios must be submitted in the same semester.
In the event a student is not accepted into the program, what kind of feedback is provided as to why the student was not selected?
Just as in any type of application, whether it be for entry into a program, exhibition, film festival, job, etc. there will always be competitors. Unfortunately, we have only space for 30. A committee of 4 faculty evaluate all of the applications.
If a student is not selected it means that their application did not rank with the top 30 of that year’s applicants. This means that 30 other applicants submitted a stronger combination of their academics, writing skills, and portfolios. This does not necessarily mean that the application or your portfolio did not suit the program. However, we have only space for 30.
Can I start in Spring or Summer semester?
No, portfolio submission occurs annually in the spring semester only for fall admission.
What is a cohort?
This is a cohort program, meaning you take specific courses with your accepted cohort (class of students) throughout every Fall and Spring semester following a specific course sequencing. There is only one cohort per year. All of the students will have the same schedule.
What is the duration of the program?
This track is part of a four-year BFA degree. The first two years of the degree are spent as an Emerging Media Pending major, taking Gen Ed and Prerequisites courses. First-Time-In-College (FTIC) students must submit a portfolio no later than the spring semester of the second year. Transfer students must submit a portfolio no later than the spring semester of their first year. Students apply for Character Animation Portfolio in the Spring semester, and the cohort program starts in the Fall.
Once accepted, the Character Animation track in the Emerging Media BFA program is a full-time two-year program (four full-time semesters excluding summers) and students must progress through the program by taking required classes in the prescribed semesters.
More information about prerequisites and course sequencing can be found in the catalog here:
Other program information can be found here:
How do I apply?
Prerequisite courses must be completed or in progress at the time of portfolio submission. First-Time-In-College (FTIC) students must submit a portfolio no later than the spring semester of the second year. Transfer students must submit a portfolio no later than the spring semester of their first year.
Portfolio submissions open in January - February check Character Animation Portfolio - UCF School of Visual Arts and Design for updated dates.
Portfolio submissions are reviewed and students are offered admission into the track for a Fall start.
Students must earn a GPA of 3.0 in the prerequisite courses to be admitted into the track.
Students must be admitted to UCF to start the track courses in the Fall semester they were offered admission into. Apply | UCF Undergraduate Admissions. SVAD is not involved in the UCF admissions decision process.
UCF students should meet with their assigned Academic Success Coach (ASC) early and regularly to develop and review their academic plan to ensure they are making progress toward meeting portfolio eligibility requirements and submitting your portfolio on time.
Is it acceptable to submit older pieces of art? For example, I have a painting I did in 2016?
We suggest you submit your best work. If you created an excellent piece a few years ago, then we encourage you to include it. However, please remember your portfolio is only as strong as the weakest piece. Curate your submission carefully.
Should the pieces submitted for the Character Animation portfolio review come from exclusively class work or can use personal work?
The portfolio pieces can come from both classwork and from personal work.
How important is the art portfolio to getting into the program?
The application is evaluated with 30% of the total score going to writing skills, 20% towards academics and 50% towards the Portfolio: Student portfolios are submitted and evaluated as part of the review to enter the Character Animation track in the Emerging Media BFA. The review committee looks for professionalism, artistic skills, creativity, and presentation. We are especially interested in seeing life drawings, perspective drawings of environments, and observational drawings. A strong portfolio includes foundation and graphic skills, effective use of 2-D & 3-D form and composition, and additive and subtractive color theory. In addition, portfolios should demonstrate an aesthetic awareness and effective use of chosen mediums and tools.
What technology (hardware/software) is available to students in the computer labs?
All courses are located in Research Park.
Junior Computer Lab (OTC 500 111): Ultrawide HD Monitors, Alienware PC’s powered by Windows 11 and NVIDIA 4090 graphics cards, Cintiq 16 HD, Two Smart-Touch Displays
Senior Computer Lab (OTC 500 134): 30 PC workstations with NVIDIA GTX4090 cards, dual monitor/22" Cintiq, dual 70" Cleartouch Monitors
Motion Capture Space: Rococo Motion Capture suits, Motion Builder Studio
Software: Adobe CC, Maya, Nuke, Houdini, Substance 3D, Mari, Modo, ZBrush, Toon Boom Harmony, Redshift, Renderman
Can you tell me what type of jobs this program can set me up for? Specifically the animation track?
There is no data available for 10% of our graduates. The below numbers are for the remaining 90% of our character animation program alumni.
30% are employed in the animation industry within 6 months from graduation
85% are employed in the animation industry within 3 years from graduation
15% pursued a graduate degree after graduation
Which animation studios have a relationship with UCF for internships and job placement?
We have ongoing relationships with all Disney studios (Feature, PIXAR) and Dreamworks, as well as any studio where our alumni work. This track is for students specifically interested in a fast-paced and competitive career in Computer Animation. Specifically, they must be willing to work as a member of a team in an intense production-oriented environment and be able to communicate their ideas and thoughts clearly. They must be willing to work nights and weekends outside of class. They must be problem solvers who are self-motivated and love to learn. Please note that coursework is never enough for a reel and portfolio. They must always work on additional projects in order to fully flesh out their reel and portfolio. Many class pieces are exercises and assignments. Studios want to see how they apply that work to their own work. We recommend weekends, summers, and breaks to keep working towards those pieces.
How does UCF maintain ties to the animation industry when it is 2,500 miles away from Burbank?
Our alumni, students, and faculty form the Character Animation family here at UCF. Not only is our alumni network expansive, but the industry is extremely tight-knit; as we see more virtual and remote production in the industry, location is no longer a limiting factor. Additionally, we have a strong SIGGRAPH chapter that regularly helps our students participate in the world’s most cutting-edge VFX & animation conference.
What percent of animation graduates find jobs in the industry within a year of graduation?
There is no data available for 10% of our graduates. The below numbers are for the remaining 90% of our program alumni:
30% are employed in the animation industry within 6 months from graduation.
85% are employed in the animation industry within 3 years from graduation.
15% pursue a graduate degree after graduation
Internships
While there are no formal internship programs or requirements, Character Animation’s senior year is structured to mimic a studio environment. Under the mentorship of faculty, students engage in self-guided creative reviews, design and collaborate on complex tasks, and work towards creating a stunning capstone film that allows them to network at film-festivals nationwide.
However, students are encouraged to apply to external internships. Faculty are available to mentor students through the application process, including writing cover letters, curating their portfolios, and developing personal branding/websites. If a student secures an internship while enrolled in the Character Animation program, faculty work with students to ensure they can get the most out of their internships while successfully navigating their coursework.
Students have interned at various studios including DreamWorks Animation, Laika, Universal Creative, DISTI, Lockheed Martin, Limbitless Solutions, and Rockwell Collins to name a few.