Kansas City’s Specialty School
for Animation Careers
Launch your animation career with a studio ready portfolio
WHY HAA EXISTS
Our founder, Gavin Dell, is a Kansas City native who spent decades working in professional animation — and built Hollywood Animation Academy to bring serious, studio-style training back to the Midwest.
Through our focused 1-Year and 2-Year certificate programs, students develop the skills and portfolio strength studios actually evaluate. Because animation is all we teach, every class is built around professional standards and real production expectations.
Our instructors have worked on major films, games, and television productions — and now train students to build studio-ready animation portfolios aligned with real hiring standards.
Unlike traditional colleges where animation is just one subject, Hollywood Animation Academy focuses exclusively on professional animation training. Our programs are designed by directors and senior artists who have reviewed demo reels, supervised productions, and mentored developing talent.
Students are evaluated the way studios evaluate artists: by the strength of their work. Portfolio quality determines readiness.
WHAT MAKES HAA DIFFERENT
Animation is not a department here — it is the entire curriculum.
Instruction is led by artists with real production experience.
Students complete portfolio‑ready projects, not hypothetical exercises.
Feedback reflects studio notes, deadlines, and expectations.
This is not about prestige. It is about preparedness.
Is ANIMATION YOUR CALLING?
try it and find out
ENROLL BY MARCH 6 FOR OUR SPRING ONLINE COURSES!
Thinking about a career in animation—or just want to see if it’s the right path for you? Discover the thrill of bringing characters to life in our Introduction to Animation courses, available for 2D Animation and 3D Animation.
Meet live online one night a week for 8 weeks, with hands-on access to industry software, learning directly from Hollywood pros, and see your skills grow fast. It’s the perfect starting point for students, creatives, and career-changers alike. Our next online courses begin in early March.
Mentored BY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS
Our experience working at major Hollywood studios helps us give real world practical training.
OUR APPROACH
We believe talent develops through:
Clear standards
Repetition and revision
Honest feedback
Personal accountability
Students don’t just learn—they create studio-quality films, game cinematics, and industry-ready portfolios under the guidance of working pros from top studios. Students who thrive here are not the ones chasing shortcuts. They are the ones willing to put in the work.
PROGRAM PATHS:
Introductory Online Classes
Creative Edge Intermediate Online Program
Two ‑Year Certificate Program (In person)
Mastercraft Completion (Advanced / Industry Prep)
Each program is designed to meet students where they are, and challenge them to move forward.
Explore Your Path →
We are proud to show the work our students produced this past year
These are student projects developed under professional- level guidance and studio-style critique.
When students are being taught by instructors who evaluate portfolios for major studios, it gives them direct insight into current industry standards and expectations
LEARN MORE ABOUT:
REGISTER by march 6TH for our online introductory courses, starting in early MARCH.
7 REASONS TO CHOOSE HOLLYWOOD ANIMATION ACADEMY FOR YOUR ANIMATION TRAINING:
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Our staff has more industry experience than any other college animation program in the country. Students need a real professional's experience to gelp them reach professional levels. Our connections and insight will give you a huge advantage for today's competitive market. Learn about our Faculty
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Studios value potential employees that have experience on their animation and design software.
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Our certificate programs are focused 100% on professional animation skills, and has far more depth than any other college teaching animation today. Check out our programs
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Because our directors were the ones who reviewed portfolios for their teams, they know exactly what you need to succeed.
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Kansas City is one of the nicest and most affordable cities to live in the US. You will be taught by instructors who have taught at top schools in California and New York for a fraction of the cost. Learn more about Kansas City
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HAA gets you ready to work in half the time and for less than half of the cost of most colleges.
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We only allow 12 students per classroom so our students get the quality of attention they deserve.
Congratulations: Our student Savannah Sallee, was recently hired as a storyboard artist at Loud Cloud Animation Studios in Oklahoma City. Go Savannah!