Program Overview

Characters are at the heart of every film, video, animation or game. Your ability to create characters while nurturing your love of design will set you apart as a designer with a valued and sought-after skill set. With every step of the 3D Animation and Character Design program, you’ll see your ideas and dreams come to life as you develop your creative concepts with like-minded creative classmates.

Program Details

Program Code
ANC1
Credential:
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Duration
30 weeks
Start Dates
Locations
Availability

Full Time Offerings

2024 September
London - Downtown
Open
2025 May
London - Downtown
Open
2023 September
London - Downtown
Closed
Start Dates
Locations
Availability

Full Time Offerings

2025 May
London - Downtown
Open
2023 September
London - Downtown
Closed
2024 September
London - Downtown
Closed

Your Learning Experience

Fanshawe College's 3D Animation and Character Design program is an 8-month graduate certificate designed for students to hone previous multimedia skills into a valued and sought-after skill in the job market. 

Animate your ideas for game engines/development by life drawing and storyboarding, 3D design modelling, texture mapping and lighting, character design, video editing and audio effects creation. You will also develop your creative concepts while learning to plan and manage projects.

Graduates are prepared to work as a 3D animator, character designer, effects artist, storyboard artist and level designers for the film, video, computer animation and game industries. Graduates are also employed with companies creating television commercials, industrial and commercial videos and educational material, in addition to architecture and real estate design and promotion. 

Study in the heart of London's digital media sector, at Fanshawe's London Downtown Campus. Your ability to create characters while nurturing your love of arts and design is the first step. Taking these passions into the dynamic media technology sector will be your destiny.

This Graduate Certificate Animation program (two consecutive terms in length) will build upon the students' prior technical knowledge. Successful graduates of the program will learn every skill used in the creation of 3D animated characters for use in game engines/development including: life drawing and storyboarding, 3D modeling and animation, shaders, texture mapping and lighting, character design, video editing and audio effects. Concept development, team work, strategic planning and project management will be integral components of the program.

 

Career Information

Graduates of Fanshawe’s 3D Animation and Character Design program are qualified for a wide-variety of artistic roles within the film, video and game industries, including character designers, effects artists, 3D animators, storyboard artists and level designers. Graduates could also find themselves helping to create television commercials, industrial and commercial videos or educational material.

Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario? Check out our graduate employment rates and other key performance indicators.

Here’s a selection of employment opportunities Career Services has received for students and graduates of Fanshawe’s 3D Animation and Character Design program:  

Unity 3D Developer
Incorporate your passion for gaming with knowledge of gameplay mechanics and the artificial reality/virtual reality space.

Game Web Developer
Create your own features and ideas that promote the best user experience for our growing stable of video games, working with a team of like-minded artists to bring awesome ideas to life. 

Game Designer 

A highly creative role where you will have the opportunity to influence core parts of the games we create.

 

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Execute creative concepts and ideas through a variety and combination of techniques including hand drawn, computer generated, 2D and 3D storyboards and animatics.

2. Create sophisticated models for the entertainment, medical, and architectural industries.

3. Create 3D characters and creatures ranging from life-like and anatomically correct, to cartoon and anime styles.

4. Combine texture mapping, shaders, lighting environments, animating cameras and ‘rigs’ for 3D models and characters in animation sequences.

5. Synthesize a wide variety of digital effects in the creation of environment and creature materials and textures.

6. Apply 3D techniques that demonstrate characters with realistic motion and a full range of emotion in animated characters.

7. Incorporate 3D animated characters with composited backgrounds utilizing special effects.

8. Utilize a variety of digital applications including video and audio editing software and technologies.

9. Integrate sophisticated technologies into 3D animated films, videos and games.

 

Program Coordinator:

David Latour

 

Admission Requirements

A College Diploma, or College Advanced Diploma, or College Graduate Certificate in:
     - Multi Media Design and Production OR
     - Interactive Media Design and Production OR
     - Interactive Media Design OR
     - Visual Arts OR
     -  Broadcasting - Television OR
     -  Interactive Media Specialist OR
     -  Advanced Multimedia OR
     -  Broadcast Television - Digital Post-Production OR
     -  Advanced Filmmaking OR
     - Visual Effects and Editing for Contemporary Media OR
     - Graphic Design OR 
      - Game - Design
OR
A Degree in Fine Arts, Media or Design 
OR
An equivalent qualification from another institution as judged by the College
OR
A combination of relevant education and work experience in a related field as judged by the College to be equivalent to the above and completion of a portfolio*

Note:
*The portfolio submission is required to demonstrate creative and technical abilities (any combination of graphic design, print, traditional and digital illustration, 3D computer work, life drawing, etc.).

International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
English Language Requirements

English Language Requirements

Test Score
TOEFL iBT 88
IELTS Academic Overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands
CAEL Overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands
PTE Academic 59
Cambridge English Overall score of 176 with no language skill less than 169
ESL4/GAP5 Minimum grade of 80% in Level 9, 75% in Level 10
Duolingo Overall score of 120, with no score lower than 105

 

Learn More about English Language Requirements

Recommended Academic Preparation

Recommended Academic Preparation

  • It is highly recommended that students have previous visual arts education or training.
Applicant Selection Criteria

Applicant Selection Criteria

Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:
  1. Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
  2. Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
  3. Achievement in the Admission Requirements 
  4. Assessment of Applicant's skill set relevant to the program based on Portfolio*

Courses

Level 1
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
MMED-6010Life Drawing & Character Studies3
In this course students will be introduced to the fundamentals of life drawing and the human form. A variety of techniques will be covered in class. Emphasis will be placed on the technical side of life drawing with the goal of understanding composition, proportion and structure. Observational drawing techniques will include, gesture, contour, shape, form, perspective and colour. In addition to traditional drawing techniques, students will analyze and explore current trends in the industry with relation to digital character creation and design.
MMED-6011Modeling Foundation3
This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of 3D modeling using contemporary modeling software which will include, but not be limited to, basic modeling techniques, concepts and workflows for creating 3D character and environment models as well as an introduction to tools and functionality.
MMED-6012Animation for Characters-Intro3
In this course students will explore the basic foundational principles of animation. Topics will include stretch and squash, anticipation, timing, arcs and exaggeration. Students will utilize their drawing expertise by adding realistic motion and emotion to simple digital characters. Traditional planning for digital techniques will be explored.
MMED-6020Pre-Production2
This course will teach planning, troubleshooting and time management in order to make the student a more viable artist. There will also be assignments to build related skillsets like storyboarding and rigging which will support other courses in the program.
MMED-6014Texture, Lighting & Rendering 13
In this course student will be introduced to a variety of software, concepts, and techniques used daily by industry professionals to texture, light, and render 3D objects and environments. It will cover core principles, and their practical application; challenging students to experiment, develop and showcase their skills, while rendering characters and environments in 3D space.
View all courses

Tuition Summary

London - Downtown

Canadian Costs
$7,443.44
Total Cost of Program
International Costs
$16,635.60
Total Cost of Program

*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.

 

Contact/Questions