Austin Media Arts & Animation School

I want to create my ain hereafter.

All kinds of industries—across just entertainment and media—need creative minds to bring ideas to life. Animators. 3D animators. Multimedia artists. Special Effects artists. Forth with others, they put their skills and imaginations to work everywhere from moving-picture show and TV to medicine and police force. If yous have the talent, passion, and tenacity to follow that career path, the Media Arts & Blitheness degree programs at The Art Constitute of Austin, A branch of the Fine art Constitute of Houston tin can prepare you for a life of doing what you love. In our creative and supportive environs, y'all'll use industry-specific hardware and software in an environment that's as challenging and competitive as the real globe. Y'all'll exist surrounded and inspired by other talented, creatively driven students. And you'll be pushed, challenged, and, above all else, supported by experienced kinesthesia*. Information technology won't be easy. Only nothing truly worthwhile ever is.

*Credentials and experience levels vary by faculty and instructors.

Degrees Offered

Run into our Alumni

  • The Art Institute of Austin, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston alumni Hunter Lawson

    Hunter Lawson

    Game Art & Design , 2014

    "There is nothing that I value more than [my instructors'] guidance, wisdom, and friendships. They always raised the bar and so helped me to reach it."

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    Hunter Lawson

    Software Developer at Terrific Studios

    Hunter Lawson is a software developer at Terrific Studios, a company that assists clients to create and successfully implement games. Based in Houston, he'southward responsible for programming the foundational systems for the diverse projects at the studio. Hunter enjoys the challenges of his career and says that the best function of his job is having the power to bring an experience to life and put it into the easily of someone else. "It's about equally magical equally it can get."

    Hunter believes that creative people can modify tomorrow'south world. And he adds that there'southward "nothing on this planet that I would want to do more what I am doing correct now." Looking to the hereafter of his industry, Hunter states that virtual and augmented reality will become more and more integrated into daily life. "That, mixed with our increasingly powerful phones, is definitely going to change the fashion nosotros live."

    Hunter, who in 2014 earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Fine art & Blueprint from The Art Institute of Austin, says that his instructors provided existent-world experience that helped him to transition into his current job. "In that location is nothing that I value more than than their guidance, wisdom, and friendships. They always raised the bar and then helped me to reach information technology. I hope to ane day be able to carry that on to students of my own."

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  • The Art Institute of Austin, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston alumni Jarren Moore

    Jarren Moore

    Full general Education , 2014

    "[My education] taught me everything nigh a creative infinite that I demand to know in society to strike out and experiment with my craft."

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    Jarren Moore

    Web Developer for Arts & Labor

    Jarren Moore is a web developer for Arts & Labor in Austin, Texas. He'southward responsible for designing and developing websites, IT and network support, and deject resources management. Jarren is excited to be in a profession that blends both right-brained and left-brained thinking. "I relish beingness artistic and technical at the same fourth dimension," he says.

    Jarren adds that he has a mentor at Arts & Labor who pushes him to learn new coding languages. "[My artistic heroes] push button me to be better and succeed. [They encourage] me to try new approaches to challenges I face." Looking to the time to come in his industry, Jarren believes that responsive development will continue to be an important office of website design. He also believes that websites are moving toward a more than story-based experience—non merely presenting information.

    Jarren, who in 2014 earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Spider web Design & Interactive Media from The Art Institute of Austin, says that his didactics provided a stiff foundation for teamwork and trouble solving. "It helped me to realized that I can reach out to colleagues and mentors to work as a team. In reality, you ever work in a team environment and performance well [in a team] is key to a project'south success."

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  • The Art Institute of Austin, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston alumni Kyla Harrington

    Kyla Michelle Harrington

    General Pedagogy , 2015

    "With instructors and advisors from the manufacture, I was able to get easily on learning with practical, useful data."

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    Kyla Michelle Harrington

    Junior Digital Artist at Mighty Kokosnoot

    Kyla Michelle Harrington is a inferior digital artist at Mighty Kokosnoot, an animation and visual effects studio specializing in original and branded content, in Austin, Texas. She's responsible for rotoscoping, painting, and compositing. "I bask the ability to hone in on specific skills still while learning and practicing new and hardly used skills. The industry offers so much for me to impact and explore," she says.

    Kyla'due south creative inspiration comes from working alongside other artists. "We actually do thrive off of each other." She adds that her profession is constantly evolving—there'south always something new and challenging to learn. "Whether it is a new technique or a new programme to achieve the unachievable, [I] am constantly in awe."

    Kyla, who in 2015 earned a Available of Science in Visual Effects & Motion Graphics from The Fine art Institute of Austin, says that her education touched on many different courses and skillsets that made her a versatile artist. She as well credits the professional instructors with bringing real world experience* into the classroom. "With instructors and advisors from the industry, I was able to get easily on learning with practical, useful data."

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  • The Art Institute of Austin, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston alumni Leah Gerard

    Leah Gerard

    Media Arts & Animation , 2014

    "[The path to my career] wasn't always fun or like shooting fish in a barrel. It's hard work."

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    Leah Gerard

    Associate Project Managing director at Kabam, Inc.

    Leah Gerard is an associate project director at Kabam, Inc., a San Francisco company that creates free-to-play games. She'south responsible for product management. "I savour the civilisation and freedom that the video game industry give me. My choices make a difference," she says.

    Leah finds creative inspiration in the globe effectually her and says that her heroes are people who never give up. She recommends that current students understand that the industry is demanding, telling them that "trends come and go. Keep learning."

    Leah, who in 2014 earned a Available of Fine Arts in Media Arts & Animation from The Art Institute of Austin, says that her educational activity taught her how to communicate in a professional environment. She also cites the professional feel* and leadership of her instructors. "The teachers pushed me to be meliorate."

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What Will I Study?

Austin Student Working on an Assignment

I'grand set to kickoff telling stories.

Our Media Arts & Animation curriculum will truly put you lot to the test. Because it was designed by industry experts to assistance put you lot in a position to succeed in a field where the only limit is your imagination. You lot'll study:

  • Digital Imaging
  • Life Drawing for Animation
  • Character and Object Design for Animation
  • Cinematic Storytelling
  • Digital Editing
  • Reckoner 3D Modeling and Blitheness
  • Principles of Animation
  • Acting / Movement
  • 2D Animation
  • Storyboard Rendering for Blitheness
  • Camera and Lighting Techniques
  • Artistic and Collaborative Projection Direction
  • 3D Modeling
  • 3D Character Blitheness
  • 3D Textures
  • Web Animation

I'thousand looking for my proving ground.

At The Art Institute of Austin, A branch of the Art Institute of Houston, creativity is our core, our calling, our civilisation. Media Arts & Blitheness degree programs are built on that creative foundation. It's also built on our noesis that a creative career is not for the faint of heart. Considering information technology'southward tough out there, it's tough in here. Only we temper the tough with the support yous demand to make your creativity marketable. We provide the mentoring and real-world experience you demand to prevail, with faculty* who've worked in the field and internship possibilities at successful businesses. Here, you'll be encouraged and expected to exist assuming. To take risks. To push yourself and the people around yous. Then if your centre is telling you that you vest in a creative field, you vest here. It's the hardest affair yous'll ever dear.

*Credentials and experience levels vary by kinesthesia and instructors.

Meet our Faculty

  • "In fields like sound design, electronic music, and audio post, the only constant is change."

    Adam Fangsrud

    Sound Production

    "In fields like sound design, electronic music, and sound mail, the only constant is change."

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    Adam Fangsrud

    Was at that place a defining moment when you knew you lot were destined to get a creative professional?

    When I wrote and directed my get-go short motion picture, the most satisfying parts of the procedure were working on the audio design and composing the music score. That'southward when I turned my focus to sound—and I haven't looked dorsum since.

    How do you weave your professional person background into the classroom experience?

    In fields like sound blueprint, electronic music and sound postal service, the only constant is alter. I'm as enthusiastic about learning as I am about didactics. And because I go on to work on real-world projects and keep electric current on all the technological developments, I'm able to make certain my students are ready to produce quality mixes to the latest specs.

    How do you inspire students to push themselves beyond their perceived limits?

    I e'er encourage my students to break out of their comfort zones, whether that means mixing a genre of music they're unfamiliar with, or working in an audio discipline they didn't even know existed. Pushing themselves to broaden their interests and perspectives helps beginner students evolve into well-rounded graduates.

    How does collaboration contribute to students' success—particularly when students from diverse programs work together?

    Collaboration is disquisitional to audio post-product and sound blueprint. When Audio Production students piece of work with Digital Video & Moving-picture show Production students on a film project, for case, the results are unremarkably head and shoulders above the quality of projects that don't involve that kind of teamwork.

    What'southward the most important matter y'all impart to students to aid them succeed in class and the real world?

    Information technology's non plenty to just have passion, and information technology's not enough to simply have drive. Students who excel are both passionate about their art and driven to take the concrete steps to realize their aspirations.

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  • "The way to launch your career is by showing your work to anyone in the business who

    Million Mulloy

    Digital Photography

    "The way to launch your career is past showing your piece of work to anyone in the business concern who'll accept the time to look."

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    Meg Mulloy

    Was there a defining moment when you knew you were destined to go a artistic professional?

    I studied in Spain for a semester, and I think being abroad at that point in my life inspired my passion for capturing places, people, moments, and light.

    How do y'all weave your professional background into the classroom experience?

    Every freelance photography assignment I consummate adds depth to my noesis and experience, because each 1 presents new challenges and interactions. I always share stories virtually projects—and the tips and techniques I've picked upwards—because students need to see how problem-solving and thinking on your feet are constants in the life of a working lensman. It helps connect what they learn in the classroom to what they can await after graduation.

    What class assignment exemplifies your approach to didactics and mentoring, and how do y'all inspire students to button themselves across their perceived limits?

    In my acme-level Image Manipulation class, students work together to create an ad campaign. They come with a concept together, program their pre-production—choosing locations, casting models, sourcing wardrobe and props—so produce the images as a squad. What I dear about the assignment is that they go a glimpse into a commercial shoot and see all the roles other people, beyond the photographer, play in bringing even a single image together. I let them take the lead, and I make suggestions on how to strengthen the thought or the photo, either on set or during post-production.

    How does collaboration contribute to students' success—particularly when students from various programs work together?

    Working together across programs deepens students' appreciation for the diverse skills and know-how it takes to create compelling work. When Photography students work with Culinary students, they see what goes into making food that doesn't just taste succulent, but looks appetizing in a photo. Working with Graphic Design students, they see how much deep blueprint cognition goes into a seemingly simple logo or brand identity. And teaming up with Fashion students, they tin can grasp what a difference it makes on a shoot to accept someone with a trained eye working equally a wardrobe stylist.

    What's the most important thing you impart to students to assistance them succeed in class and the real world?

    I can't emphasize plenty the importance of networking. Finding work depends so much on discussion-of-oral fissure.

    What's the most critical communication you would offer any student embarking on a creative career?

    Doing good work and continuing to build the skills that strengthen that piece of work are important. Only the fashion to launch your career is past showing your piece of work to anyone in the business organisation who'll take the time to expect.

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  • Chase Quarterman

    Hunt Quarterman

    Graphic & Web Design

    "The bar has been raised. You need to constantly get meliorate."

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    Hunt Quarterman

    Was in that location a defining moment when you knew you lot were destined to become a artistic professional?

    I knew from an early on age that I wanted to do something artistic. In unproblematic school, I was always cartoon characters from my favorite cartoons. In loftier school, I drew comic strips for the school newspaper and helped teach art classes to younger kids. In higher, I discovered my love of design and oil painting, which grew during a semester in London. The act of making something is truly fulfilling.

    How practise you weave your professional background into the classroom experience?

    My classroom is basically a client/creative setting. I am the "client," and I requite creative briefs to the designers. I pull direct from my personal client experience—both good and bad—so we can discuss it grade. I let them know that the profession is more than than just creativity, it'south also about developing business, networking, and advice skills.

    What class assignment exemplifies your approach to didactics and mentoring, and how practice y'all inspire students to push button themselves beyond their perceived limits?

    Ane of the most hard assignments for students is the personal branding project in Portfolio i. It'south their adventure to "brand" themselves. They blueprint a logo—symbol and typography—for their website, portfolio, business bill of fare, and collateral. It requires some soul-searching about who the educatee really...they have to encapsulate their unabridged cocky into i simple mark. It seems impossible at first. But eventually, they find something to latch on to. It'southward a tough challenge for them, but it's truly gratifying for me when a educatee finds what they're looking for.

    How does collaboration contribute to students' success—particularly when students from various programs work together?

    No designer is an isle. The reality of the manufacture is that designers piece of work with art directors, copywriters, creative directors, in-house bosses and clients of all kinds...the creative pro has to be a diplomat. I remind students that well-nigh stone bands interruption upwards because of creative differences—and the same tin can be true in our industry. The primal is to build bridges, encourage one another, share differences of stance, and respect the other person. Information technology's all about establishing camaraderie—and creating amazing work.

    What'southward the well-nigh of import thing you impart to students to help them succeed in grade and the real world?

    Take a large, visual appetite. Be inspired by film, blitheness, books, typography, magazines, apps, billboards, websites, nature, packaging, signage, textures, industrial pattern, compages, posters,everything.

    What's the most critical advice you would offer any student embarking on a creative career?

    I believe that when students know what's out at that place, and they go a petty intimidated by the astonishing piece of work existence produced by their "competition," they work hard to become improve. The bar has been raised. You demand to constantly go amend.

    Anything else you'd like to share?

    I find that the sense of community in the classroom isn't merely important for the students' creative life, merely my own. The discussions, the energy, the critiques are all catalysts for exploration...and I use them when I'thou dealing with clients. I promise this artistic "community" extends beyond each educatee'due south time in my classrooms.

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The Art Institute of San Antonio, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston alumni Sommer Bostick Working on game based training for the military has exposed me to things I never thought I would be doing when I started at The Fine art Establish of San Antonio. Sommer Bostick
Media Arts & Animation, The Fine art Institute of San Antonio, a branch of The Fine art Institute of Houston, 2014

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