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Center For Animation

FAQ

Below are several frequently asked questions about BYU's Center for Animation.

Topics covered here include general admission to BYU, applying to the animation program as a student, how and when to apply, career opportunities upon graduation, scholarships, and advisement.

If you have a question that is not covered on this page, please contact us at cfanim@cs.byu.edu, call (801) 422-7323 to reach the BYU Design Department, or call (801) 422-3027 for the BYU Computer Science Department.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Admission information and applications are available here. Click here to learn about BYU's tuition. Click here to learn about Financial Aid options.
  • You do not need to be a member of The Church of Jesus of Latter Day Saints to be accepted into BYU or the BYU Animation Program. However, if you are not a member of the Church, you will still be required to live the BYU Honor Code and complete the University General Education requirements. Such requirements include various math, English, history, and religion courses.
  • At the end of your sophomore year, faculty advisors will help you select a primary and secondary area of study. Sophomore classes provide a well-rounded foundation in design and 3D generalist skills. Elective study areas include Design, Story, Technical Direction/Programming, Modeling, Shading, Lighting, Rigging, Animation, Previs, CFX, and FX. The Capstone selection offers specialized training in either Film or Game Production.
  • BYU students work in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary environment, with CS Animation Emphasis and Design Animation students sharing classes. Our artists learn to code, and our coders learn to draw. Film and Video Game Capstone projects are student-led and student-produced, giving students team experience that closely mirrors industry production.
  • Students have access to a wide variety of resources. Maya, Unreal Engine, Adobe products, Houdini, and Storyboard Pro are all available. BYU also offers an extensive variety of learning resources and databases that students can access. Additionally, we have state-of-the-art Cintique tablets and computers that operate on both Linux and Windows software.
  • How to Apply
  • The application process and how we evaluate value is as follows: 5-10 figure drawings counts (40%), Sketchbook counts (15%), Traditional animation sample counts (15%), 3D Models (2 to 5 of them) (30%). We are looking for solid drawing and animating skills. Although many students want to focus on computer animation we believe that all types of animation have their foundation in solid drawing and traditional animation. The type of figure drawing we are looking for is precise figure drawing from an illustrator’s perspective. Precise observational drawing that shows the proper shapes, proportions and use of line. We are not as concerned about tightly rendered drawings (highly shaded) as we are looking for a student who knows how to use and control line. Classic Illustration teachers such as Andrew Loomis or Bridgeman are good sources of study. Sketchbooks -We love to see students who are studying and drawing from life. Students can grow greatly by carrying a sketchbook with them and practice drawing as much and as often as they can. Drawing at the mall, in the library, at the zoo or in any location that allows you to observe life is a great way to develop your skills. Animation – a traditional animation sample that shows a firm understanding and use of some of the basic principles of animation. This can be developed and created in our VAANM 160 Intro to Animation class.
  • This can change from year to year. We average about 60-75 applicants a year and have traditionally accepted 20-25 students.
  • Students can apply twice for both the Animation BFA and CS Animation and Games Emphasis unless you receive a specific request from the faculty to re-apply. We strongly recommend that you have a backup plan in mind in the event you are not accepted. If you have questions, call the Advisement Center for the College of Fine Arts and Communications at 801-422-3777, or email them at cfacadvise@byu.edu. You may also visit them in person at 1190 WCCB or visit their website at http://cfacadvise.byu.edu.
  • You may apply for the Animation Program before serving a mission. If you choose to serve a mission after being accepted in the BYU Animation Program, you will not lose your place. More information on deferring school for missionary service can be found here.
  • Please see the CFAC Advisement Center for General Education course transfer (1190 WCCB, 801-422-3777, cfacadvise@byu.edu). Unfortunately, we cannot pre-approve any major course transfers. Transfer credits cannot be approved until a student has been accepted to the program. Once accepted, the only way to have a transfer course accepted for your major is to complete a "Transfer Equivalency for BYU Major Requirements" form available from the CFAC Advisement Center. This requires that you meet with the instructor of the equivalent course here at BYU. The instructor will ask to see a syllabus and course assignments. The instructor makes the final decision on approving transfer credit for the major. This procedure must be completed for each major course you would like to transfer. Again, we can not pre-approve course work, but we do recommend that you complete drawing courses — specifically, figure drawing courses — and any video/film classes available to you.
  • Pre-Animation BFA advisement is handled by Becca Weidner at becca_weidner@byu.edu. If you have already been accepted to the Animation BFA, you may contact Julee Braithwaite at julee_braithwaite@byu.edu. For questions about the Computer Science Animation and Games Emphasis, you may contact Lynnette Nelson at lnelson@cs.byu.edu.
  • We typically reserve what scholarship money we have for those who are already in the program, however there are instances when scholarships are given to those not yet accepted to the program. To learn more about the Talent Award and other scholarships, click here.
  • Any student is welcome to pitch a film or game idea for the senior capstone, regardless of their major status. Faculty select finalists from the student submissions, which are then presented [by the student] to all animation center students and faculty. Center students include Animation, Computer Science, Illustration and Media Arts students who have committed to participating. After the student presentations, junior students vote for their favorite idea for the group to create. The selected pitch idea belongs to BYU and cannot be used again outside of the senior capstone project.
  • We typically do not recommend software or hardware as we find that our graduates go to varying places of employment, many of which use varying software titles including oftentimes their own proprietary software. For this reason we focus on teaching fundamental drawing and animation skills. However one software title that we do recommend that students learn is Adobe Photoshop which we have found as standard software throughout the industry. However, take advantage of any opportunity to use the computer. Those who aren’t comfortable with a computer struggle in our program as well as in the animation industry.
  • As was said before, we believe that all types of animation have their foundation in solid drawing and traditional animation. We believe that a computer is a tool just as a pencil is a tool. If when you draw with a pencil you draw junk the computer will only help you to make really shiny chrome junk. We have found that even our most technical graduates find that they need to be able to draw so that they can communicate their visual ideas. A computer animated film takes as much time as a traditionally animated film to make. The computer does not make the film easier to make it merely changes the dynamics and the overall final aesthetics.
  • In Utah, our graduates average $30,000 to $45,000 a year to start. Nationally those rates vary from $30,000 to above $50,000 a year. These rates are based on talent, demand, and cost of living in that hiring location.
  • These companies hire: Theatrical Film and Animation companies, Special Effects Companies, Television Animation Studios, Gaming Companies, Advertising, and Manufacturing companies looking to create visualizations (such as the medical and automotive manufacturing fields.) Note: Many of these industries exist in varying locations. Not all graduates move to Hollywood.
  • We have students who have/had positions at gaming and feature film companies including ILM, Dreamworks, Sony Animation and Imageworks, Disney, Pixar, Digital Domain, House of Moves, Blue Sky, Third Floor, Acclaim, Disney, Toon Disney, Riot Games Blizzard, Alias, Hasbro, Nickelodeon, and Viewpoint. Local game companies include: EA Salt Lake, Disney Interactive/Avalanche Software, Chair, The Void, and Ninja Bee.
  • Due to the high demand, we do not offer tours of our facilities. We are a small group with limited resources and our time is dedicated to teaching and advising our current students. For general campus tours, visit the BYU Campus tours page on the Enrollment Services website here.
  • Start carrying a sketchbook and draw all the time if you do not already do so. Begin to study animation and illustration independently. Work hard in all of your classes. The more you know about everything, the better you will do in the industry. Learn art, history, math, physics, English…..There are so many directions one can go in the animation industry. Don’t close doors before you have a chance to go through them. Learn to use both sides of your brain. Be ready to receive criticism on your work. Parents usually think that everything their child has done is great. We on the other hand do not. We will be brutally honest, not to be rude, but to help you to improve. Taking criticism and learning and improving from it will be your key to success both in your studies and in your career. We can guarantee you that we will be much nicer in our critiques than you will receive once you are in the industry.