BFA

Animation

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Animation is the art of bringing entirely new worlds and characters to life.

As a top-ranked animation program in the Midwest, CCS ensures you’ll master the production pipeline for feature and television animation, games, and advertising. In this program, you’ll explore both the theoretical and technical sides of character performance, design, story, and world-building in a mixed visual medium. Through hands-on studio courses, you’ll receive direct mentorship from working animation professionals – your faculty! Get ready to dive deep into character performance, concept design, and world-building to create a professional animation portfolio.

78%

Entertainment Arts
Placement Rate
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STEM-Designated
Program

Toon Boom
Center of Excellence

Unreal Authorized

CCS Animation gives you the flexibility to customize your curriculum. You can focus your studies on specialized industry tracks.

Gael Borges

Scene of a person sitting at a desk in front of a window with a birght sun. — Tayrn Porter

A character made of lined paper in the fashion of a wrestler — Bastian Keller

Digial drawing of a person in a bathtub — Violet Twomey

City street with some garbage in the front corner — Jordan Guevara

Lael Levy

Experiential Learning

Hands-on opportunities that help bring
your imagination to life.

We partner with the creative industry to ensure you gain professional, real-world experience long before graduation.

A student smiling standing in front of their board at Animation's Industry Day

Your Future, In Motion

With our extensive industry connections spanning over a century, we ensure that the active learning our students engage in aligns with industry needs, preparing them for careers.

Learn More about Experiential Learning at CCS

An interior view of a busy animation studio classroom. In the foreground and midground, multiple students wearing headphones are seated at long rows of angled drafting tables. Each table features an illuminated circular light box used for traditional 2D animation sketching. The students, including one in a bright pink jacket and another in a plaid shirt, are intently focused on drawing. In the background, rows of desktop computers and digital drawing tablets line the wall of the well-lit room.

Cutting-Edge Spaces for Creative Minds

Enjoy unlimited access to industry-standard facilities
that prepare you for real-world production.

Take a Virtual Tour of Animation Schedule a Campus Tour

Internationally, nationally and right here in Detroit, Animation graduates pursue multiple avenues upon graduation

*Note: This information was gathered using Lightcast Labor Market Analytics and includes the median salary for the lifetime of a career in these specific professions. CCS alumni outcomes may vary.

Possible Career Choices

3D Artist

3D Character Artist

3D Modeler

3D Production Artist

3D Visualization Artist

Animator

Armature Builder

CG Artist

Character Animator

Cinematographer

Cinematics Director

Colorist

Compositor

Concept Artist

Creative Visualization Designer

Digital Designer

Digital Media Creator

Digital Product Designer

Director

Editor

Environment Artist

Flash Artist

FX Artist

Game Artist/Designer/Developer

Hair and Cloth Artist

Interactive Imaging

Layout Artist

Level Artist

Lighting Artist

Look Development Artist

Maquette Builder

Matchmover

Matte Painter

Mocap Artist

Motion Graphics Artist

Multimedia Specialist

Rigger

Stop Motion Animator

Storyboard Artist

Texture Painter

VFX Artist

VFX Supervisor

Videographer

Video Game Specialist

Video Producer

Weapon Artist

Web Artist

Angela McBride ’12

Lighter, Walt Disney Animation Studios
Dillan Murrillo ’21

CG Animator, Wildbrain
Marisa Livingston ’14

Character Design Supervisor, Titmouse

News & Events

Hear more about CCS’s community of artists, designers, and creative thinkers.

Through collaborative projects, industry partnerships, and citywide exhibitions, students push boundaries, forge connections, and draw on Detroit’s energy to shape bold ideas and future creative leaders.

Explore CCS News Events