Make the things you love to watch and play For your career!
The Animation Industry's best training program
HAA was founded by Kansas City native Gavin Dell. He has worked at nearly every major studio in Hollywood in his 30 years an animator and director. Kansas City is where Walt Disney started, and it seems poetic that the first specialty school for animation also started here.
Our groundbreaking certificate program gives the advantage of daily in-person training from experienced Hollywood Directors and Animators using studio programs. We are a state certified private school in the state of Missouri and offer a 2-Year certificate and our Master's Program 3-year certificate.
The Hollywood Animation Academy difference-
HAA is the only specialty school for animation in the US and prides itself on having the most cutting-edge curriculum in education.
Our program was designed by the most experienced staff of animators and directors ever assembled for a fulltime school. The insight in real world practical training we give stands far above other college programs because of our deep experience working at major Hollywood studios.
We take great pride in nurturing our students with small classrooms of no more than 12 students and giving them the best advantages training can provide.
If you are a beginner or a graduate with a bachelor's degree in animation that wants to get the training and portfolio you need to break into the industry, you've come to the right place!
-Founder
Gavin Dell
THERE IS NO DEGREE NEEDED to work in the animation industry. It is all about your portfolio, and because we are directors from the industry, that is our specialty!
Our Program
Get the inside advantage from industry professionals
TRAINING
Learn 2D and 3D Animation, Storyboard, Design, and Filmmaking to empower yourself as a content creator!
CREATE
Unlock your creative potential to become a versatile artistic storyteller who can make content for major studios or for your own youtube channel
GROW
Grow your network with connections to major studio artists and directors
BUILD
As part of our 2D and 3D animation programs in Kansas City, we’ll help you craft an exceptional portfolio and demo reel that opens doors for you
Take your first step toward
your dream job!
See our admissions page for rates and requirements. https://www.hollywoodanimationacademy.com/admissions/
You will receive our catalog and courses information
Questions about our online introductory classes or full program?
Tell us about you below!
Gavin Dell
Gavin Dell is a Director, Animator, Storyboard Artist and Character Designer. He is originally from Kansas City and after graduating Shawnee Mission South High School moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in animation. Since then, he has worked on over 30 films, games, and television series at nearly every major Hollywood Studio. Director of Family Guy, Scooby Doo, Bordertown, and Central Park, Animator for Warner Bros and Chuck Jones, Tim Burton and Steven Spielberg and credits on The Simpsons, PInk Panther, Hercules, Pirates of the Caribbean, XMEN, Silent Hill, Gears of War 2, Tomb Raider and more. A complete list of his credits can be seen at IMDB.com click the imdb icon and check him out.
7 reasons to choose Hollywood Animation Academy for your animation training.
1. Experience matters! Hollywood Animation Academy has developed the best animation program in the country for animation industry jobs. We are the only 100% animation school dedicated to film, games, and television training. Our staff has more industry experience than any other college animation program in the country. Our connections and insight will give you a huge advantage for today's competitive market.
2. We use the latest industry software. Studios value potential employees that have experience on their programs.
3. We train students to a professional level. Our 100% animation program has far more depth than any other colleges teaching animation today. Not only do we train for traditional animation and 3D animation. We train for film and Unreal engine.
4. Great portfolios get the job! Our instructors are experienced directors who have reviewed portfolios for major studios. We know exactly what you need to succeed. We help you build your reel, your website, and give you inside information on how and where to apply when you are ready. We even have recruiters and directors review your work and give you valuable feedback that can help you be ready for the workforce.
5. KC rocks! 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. This is the city where Walt Disney started so why can't you?
6. Why pay for years of school you don't need? HAA gets you ready to work in half the time and for less than half of the cost of most colleges. We know you don't want to pay for a huge campus and wasted non career relavent courses. Giant labs don't make better animators. We do!
7. Personal instruction! We only allow 12 students per classroom so our students get the quality of attention they deserve!
Contact us today to get your career in animation started!
Did you know when you are watching animation 30 frames go by per second? Did you know the voice actors act out the script into recordings for storyboard artists to then be the first to visualize the script? They say animators are actors, only with a pencil, well now they use a lot of different tools. This course will introduce you to the basic fundamentals that make animation work, and where animators fit into the process of making films, games, and television shows. We will discuss the history of animation and see where it is going. It is an eye opening introduction to the magic, the art, and the craft. Great for younger students as well ages 14 up with strong basic computer skills. On the final day of class, you will learn to animate the Iron Giant or Lego Batman!
3D Animation fundamentals will teach you how to use Autodesk Maya to create animation using character rigs. It’s like puppeting your character without drawing! You will learn the basics of weight, posing, timing and movement to create some awesome pieces for your portfolio using characters like the Iron Giant, Homer Simpson, Woody and Buzz and even Spongebob!