WHICH ANIMATION SCHOOL PREPARES YOU BETTER FOR A CAREER IN ANIMATION?
A comparison of traditional college animation programs to our studio-ready animation training program
Selecting an animation school is a big decision - and one to be evaluated on several levels:
What is the best value for my dollars?
What will help me reach my career goals most quickly?
What will provide me with what I most need to move into the industry role I’m hoping for?
We hope this comparison will help you more quickly see the differences - and understand why the Hollywood Animation Academy will win on every dimension as your best choice for a career in animation.
| Decision Point | Hollywood Animation Academy (HAA) | CalArts (Character Animation Program) | SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Advantage | Career-focused, fast-track program built for direct entry into professional animation pipelines. Students train with active industry animators and graduate ready to work in production roles — at a fraction of the cost of major art schools. | Highly artistic but more conceptual and academic. Focuses on long-term film projects rather than job-readiness. | Well-rounded creative education, but less concentrated on the specific animation workflow used in studios. |
| Length of Program | 2 year certificate with optional 3rd year Mastercraft professional level year to prove your skills to be studio ready. Fast completion means earlier career entry. | 4 years — long degree path before entering the job market. | 4 years (BFA) or 2 years (MFA) — slower transition to paid work. |
| Cost of Program | Approx. 72k for 2 years, significantly lower than degree programs. | Approx. $250K total over 4 years. | Approx. $160K–$180K total over 4 years. |
| Instructor Access & Expertise | All instructors are working studio professionals 8 hours a day immediate access in classroom with industry pro (many remote from top studios such as DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, and Sony Animation). Students receive mentorship from active industry talent without relocating to California. | Professors are experienced artists but often more focused on film or independent projects than production realities. shorter class times, students work on their own but have access to instructors during classes. | Mix of academic faculty and professionals; classroom style can feel more traditional. shorter class times, students work on their own but have access to instructors during classes. |
| Curriculum Approach | Hands-on, project-based learning replicating real studio workflows; emphasis on Classical 2D animation foundation and storyboarding, 3D character acting and game animation, Unreal Engine Filmmaking and PreVis. | Emphasizes drawing, storytelling, and film art; less emphasis on technical pipeline skills. | Includes broad digital arts training; may spread focus across many creative fields. |
| Portfolio Results | Professional-level demo reel focused on employable animation shots aligned with studio standards — built for hiring managers. Given inside information on job searching, recruiter interviewing, salary negotiation, personal showcase website built with finished reel. | Short film and concept art portfolio showing storytelling skill, but not always pipeline-ready for production roles. students complete reels and websites without class support when they are ready. | Versatile creative portfolio, but may lack specialization in animation for film/TV studios. students complete reels and websites without class support when they are ready. |
| Industry Connections | Strong partnerships with remote and in-person animation professionals; mentorship and internship opportunities through virtual industry channels. | Historic connection to Disney/Pixar, but competitive and selective; less direct studio training. | Active recruiter events, though located outside main animation hubs. |
| Location Advantage | Kansas City, Missouri — affordable and growing creative hub with a developing animation and design community, plus national industry access through online partnerships. | Valencia, CA — close to LA studios but in a contained, high-cost area. | Savannah, GA & Atlanta, GA — creative hubs with growing entertainment industries. |
| Facilities & Workflow | Modeled after production environments; students work on studio-grade equipment with collaborative digital pipelines. | Traditional animation spaces designed for artistic exploration rather than production simulation. | Excellent digital labs but shared across multiple disciplines, not animation-specific. |
| Cost of Living | Low–Moderate: Kansas City averages $1,200–$1,800/month for housing and living — much more affordable than LA or major coastal cities. | High: $2,000–$3,000/month typical in Valencia area. | Low–Moderate: Savannah ~$1,200–$1,800/month; Atlanta ~$1,800–$2,200/month. |
| Career Readiness | Graduates are ready to step directly into studio production roles — with portfolio and reel focused on hire-ready animation shots. | Graduates often pursue internships or further development before landing studio jobs. | Graduates may enter broader creative industries before specializing in animation. |
| Best Fit For | Students seeking fast, affordable, and practical animation training with active mentorship and real production workflow experience. | Artists seeking a deep artistic foundation and storytelling mastery for high-end studio paths. | Students looking for creative flexibility and interdisciplinary exploration. |
Summary: Hollywood Animation Academy (Kansas City, MO) offers a direct, industry-driven path for aspiring animators who want to gain practical studio skills without the heavy cost of major art schools. Its fast-track structure, working-professional instructors, and affordable Midwestern location make it an ideal choice for students focused on employability, mentorship, and real-world animation training — not long academic detours.
HAA is also one of the only schools in the world teaching PreVisualization and Unreal Engine for filmmaking, both taught by industry directors. These are top career paths currently in demand for a wide range of needs. These tools also give students the ability to make finished films of their own that look far superior to average student films.
Cal Arts and SCAD’s approach focus more on artistic self expression than HAA, which can be artistically fulfilling but may not lead to job readiness. Both schools have a long history with student films being the way to prove your skills instead of targeted studio-focused projects.
HAA is adding a Film Premiere Year in 2026, allowing students the opportunity to focus their skills on a 2D or 3D film that will be submitted to 20 plus worldwide festivals for students looking for this additional level of artist expression.
How can you feel confident in your choice of HAA and animation as a career choice? Discover the thrill of bringing characters to life in our Introduction to Animation courses—available in 2D and 3D. Meet one night a week for 8 weeks, learn directly from Hollywood pros, and see your skills grow fast. It’s the perfect starting point for students, creatives, and career-changers alike.
