Tell Your Story and Build Your Future in Animation.

The most powerful tool you have is your imagination. At Temple, you’ll learn how to harness that power and wield it to tell meaningful, memorable stories.

All animation begins with a strong story on the page. From story fundamentals to advanced concepts and strategies, you’ll become a master storyteller using a voice, visual style, and creative practice that is uniquely you.

With a BFA in Animation at Temple University, you’ll develop a unique visual voice to tell powerful stories through the magic of animation. Your immersive experience combines hands-on techniques with conceptual theory through historic approaches and innovative and experimental methods that challenge the status quo.

The animation concentration focuses on developing an individual creative practice that emphasizes empathy, deepens curiosity about the world, explores diverse perspectives and bold stories, and celebrates experimentation.

Join a community of a dynamic, multidisciplinary thinkers and makers who push the boundaries of industry-leading technologies and softwares alongside renowned faculty dedicated to working closely with students. You’ll learn to solve problems creatively, communicate professionally with collaborators who’ll help bring your artistic vision to life, and develop an animation portfolio that will launch your career as an independent artist or a leader in a number of industries.

The BFA in Animation and Media Arts is part of Temple’s Film & Media Arts (FMA) Department—an internationally recognized program in independent narrative, documentary and experimental moving image forms. The program encourages a cross-disciplinary mix of theory and practice including hybrid and digital arts production and has a history of producing socially conscious filmmakers.

From character to escalating plots to stakes and conflict, Temple’s award-winning faculty help you tell your story on the page in the most affecting and engaging way, and then transform it into a powerful visual experience.

Flex your creative muscles in one of three major animation paths:

• 2D (courses include Introduction to Animation, Episodic Animation, Digital Animation, Compositing and Modeling)
• 3D (courses include 3D Modeling, 3D Animation, and Advanced 3D)
• Stop Motion/Experimental (courses include Animation Workshop, Stop Motion Workshop, and Experimental Media Workshop)

Your experience will culminate over three thesis semesters where you’ll develop your story; create the necessary visual assets; identify and work with collaborators; produce your animated project; then screen it for a live audience.

The three thesis courses include:

• Junior Animation Projects: Develop the story and initial designs
• BFA Animation and Media Projects I: Develop your assets and find collaborators
• BFA Animation and Media Projects II: Produce your thesis project

The BFA in Film and Media Arts with a Concentration in Animation requires a portfolio and/or a Letter of Interest. For those applicants who have not yet developed a portfolio of work, we will also accept a letter of interest where you can describe your passion for animation. 

Please submit your supplemental materials through SlideRoom (link here).

For more information, please email Associate Director of Admissions Josette Todaro at josettetodaro@temple.edu or call 215-204-3209.

Check out sample of recent student work

Collaborate, Innovate & Dream Big

Producing animation is a big endeavor—but you won’t have to do it alone. You’ll find everything you need to tell your stories at Temple University: a R1 research institution and 2025 Carnegie Opportunity College and University—one of just 21 U.S. higher education institutions to receive this dual recognition.

• Need a voice actor? We partner with the Theater Department to create a pipeline to talented actors who are itching to breathe life into your characters.
• Need sound design? We partner with the Boyer School of Music and Dance’s Music Technology program, which includes courses like “Scoring for Film and Digital Media” and “Scoring and Audio Design for Video Games.”
• Looking for artists to create matte paintings of environments and imagined worlds? The renowned Tyler School of Art and Architecture sits right next door.
• How about access to laser cutters or 3D printers to create props and characters for your stop motion film? The state-of-the-art Charles Library’s Makerspace has what you need.
• Love anime? Study away at Temple Japan and immerse yourself in the heart of Otaku culture and the origins of the genre. Or explore Temple Rome, or get even closer to the animation epicenter in our study away residency in Los Angeles.

And so much more. At Temple, there are no limits to what you can accomplish.

And don’t forget: Temple University is located in Philadelphia—a diverse and affordable cultural and artistic hub with easy transportation to major east coast animation hubs like New York City, D.C., Montreal and Atlanta.

Your Story Starts Here

The BFA in Animation and Media Arts at Temple is designed for artists ready to shape the future of visual storytelling. Does that sound like you?

Take the next step.