FOR PARENTS

Who Teaches AT HAA?

Our instructors are working and former professional animators who have long, successful animation careers working with major studios. They have contributed to major films, television series, and game productions, managed productions and hired animation teams. They know what it takes.

More importantly, they mentor students toward professional readiness, not just course completion. Read more about our Faculty

How ARE Students Evaluated?

Students are evaluated on:

• Acting, posing, and storytelling clarity in animation - what studios look for

• Technical polish

• Professional response to critique

• Consistency and effort

Advancement reflects readiness, not time served.

Real Talk: What If My Student Isn’t Ready After Two Years?

Not every student reaches professional readiness on the same timeline.

Animation careers require sustained effort, emotional maturity, and independent work habits. Some skillsets that students want to achieve require more time and structured mentorship.

That is why we provide advanced portfolio-focused continuation options, rather than graduating students unprepared.

It is part of their professional journey.

What Parents Often Ask Next:

Will my student get a job after graduating?

No school can guarantee employment. We prepare students to compete realistically by building professional-level portfolios aligned with studio expectations. The jobs are there - we give your student the best shot at getting one. About careers and salaries in animation

Where HAA Training Can Take You

A professional animation education is a versatile credential. Our graduates are prepared to pursue a wide range of paths, including:

• Studio and production work — animation, storyboarding, game art, previs, and motion graphics for film, television, streaming, and games

• Teaching — K–12 art education, community college instruction, after-school and enrichment programs

• University and adjunct faculty positions — HAA graduates have been hired to teach animation at the university level, a testament to the depth of training the program provides

• Independent content creation — YouTube channels, short films, web series, and original animated IP

• Freelance art and design — commercial illustration, motion graphics, and advertising for local and nationwide businesses

• Explainer videos — animated content for companies, nonprofits, startups, and educational organizations

• Commercial work — branded animation, product demos, social media content, and promotional campaigns for businesses of any size

• Brand mascots and marketing — helping new and established businesses develop original characters, mascots, and visual identities that drive recognition and customer loyalty

• Caricature and portrait art — event caricature, digital portraits, editorial illustration, and commissioned character work

• Greeting cards — original illustrated and animated card designs for print publishers, Etsy, and self-published digital platforms

• Comic strips — syndicated or self-published strips for social media, newspapers, editorial outlets, and digital press

• Personal brand and merchandise — original character lines, Etsy store products, print-on-demand, and convention sales

• Comic and graphic novel work — self-published or through independent publishers

• Convention and fan economy — Artist Alley at ComicCon, fan art markets, and limited edition prints

• Indie games — concept art, character design, and animation for small studio and solo game projects

• Game asset creation — selling original characters, environments, props, and animations on Unity Asset Store, Fab, and similar marketplaces

• Unreal Engine work — virtual production, architectural visualization, real-time animation, and cinematic content for film, advertising, and live events

• App development and UI illustration — character art, icon design, and animation for mobile and web applications

• Tabletop and card game illustration — character and world design for board games, trading card games, and role-playing game publishers

• Children's book illustration and animation — a strong market for character designers with storytelling skills

• Online course creation — teaching drawing, animation, character design, and software skills on platforms like Skillshare, Udemy, and Gumroad

• AI-assisted content production — using AI tools in combination with professional craft skills to produce content faster for clients, personal projects, and licensing

• Virtual reality and augmented reality content — character animation, environment design, and interactive storytelling for emerging immersive platforms

• Licensing original characters and IP — developing original characters for merchandise, publishing, animation, and brand licensing deals

• Storyboarding for advertising and corporate video — a steady freelance market that values production-trained artists

• Medical and scientific visualization — a growing niche that values technical drawing and animation skills

The graduates who build the most sustainable careers are often the ones who pursue several of these simultaneously rather than waiting for a single opportunity to arrive.