certificate PROGRAMS
Foundations to Studio-Ready Mastery
Hollywood Animation Academy’s structured pathway is designed to meet students where they are and intentionally take them to the skill level that studios hire. Each year builds strategically on the last, with increasing expectations, complexity, and portfolio polish. While students may exit after any year’s curriculum with meaningful results, the greatest career outcomes are achieved through continued progression into the second year curriculum and the third year Mastercraft Program.
Beyond animation skills, we teach our students how to market themselves, how to conduct themselves as professionals, how to apply for jobs and interview, and how to negotiate their salaries. We have had Pixar recruiters and directors from major studios review our students’ portfolios for consideration and feedback. In every part of our program, we deliver real-world learning that gives our students a significant advantage over traditional college programs.
Graduates of the One Year Certificate Program may pursue junior-level roles, internships, or continued specialized training. However, competitive studio hiring and major production roles generally require the advanced portfolio refinement achieved through HAA’s Two Year and Mastercraft programs. The One Year Certificate serves as a powerful foundation, building momentum, clarity, and a professional edge for students committed to advancing further.
One Year Certificate:
Animation Foundations
The HAA One Year Certificate delivers intensive, career-driven foundational training designed to prepare students for entry-level animation opportunities while establishing a strong pathway into advanced professional study. The program is engineered around modern studio pipelines, current portfolio trends, and a level of specialization rarely found at the foundational level.
Students train directly under industry masters - working artists and directors from major film, game, and television studios - who bring insider knowledge of what studios are actively looking for in portfolios today. This real-world perspective provides a significant advantage over traditional programs that rely on generalized or outdated curricula. At HAA, projects are intentionally designed to meet real hiring expectations, not just academic benchmarks.
Unlike most foundational programs, first-year projects at HAA are crafted to look industry-ready. Students complete multiple intermediate-level animated portfolio pieces supported by professional critique and revision cycles. Training includes Unreal Engine for 3D animation and real-time filmmaking, as well as storyboard and design instruction taught by major studio veterans, often elevating first-year results beyond the level typically seen in many two year programs.
As a 100% animation-focused school, HAA eliminates unrelated coursework common in non-specialty colleges. This singular focus allows students to progress faster and, in many cases, outperform peers at traditional four year institutions where animation is only one component of a broader degree. Every class, assignment, and critique is dedicated to portfolio development and professional readiness.
By the end of the Two Year Certificate program, students demonstrate a clear artistic direction, stronger technical confidence, and a portfolio suitable for competitive studio review. This stage often represents the transition from foundational readiness to genuine industry viability.
Two Year Certificate:
Professional Animation Training
The HAA Two Year Certificate is designed for students ready to move beyond fundamentals and into serious professional portfolio development. Building on the foundation established in year one, this program pushes students toward higher levels of polish, performance, storytelling, and specialization.
Students create multiple advanced portfolio pieces aligned with film, game, and television pipelines, guided by industry professionals who provide detailed production notes and mentorship rooted in real studio experience. Emphasis is placed on clarity of intent, strong execution, and professional consistency - traits studios expect when evaluating candidates.
Graduates of the Mastercraft program leave with a focused, studio-ready portfolio, insider understanding of professional expectations, and the confidence to pursue roles at top-tier studios in film, games, and television.
Three Year Certificate:
Mastercraft + Studio Readiness
The HAA Three Year Mastercraft Certificate represents the highest level of training at Hollywood Animation Academy and is designed for students pursuing careers at major studios. This year focuses on refinement, specialization, and undeniable quality - the level required to stand out in a competitive hiring environment.
Students develop high-end, show-stopping portfolio pieces under close mentorship from industry masters. Projects are strategically tailored to current studio hiring needs, emphasizing polish, direction-following, emotional clarity, and professional maturity. This final year bridges the gap between strong student work and true studio-level animation.