Academy of Art University - School of Animation & Visual Effects

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Laika is coming today at 11am! Login to campus for zoom link. See you there!
10/13/2026

Laika is coming today at 11am!

Login to campus for zoom link. See you there!

✨ WHO’S GOING TO LIGHTBOX EXPO?! ✨We’re excited to celebrate Academy of Art University alumna Alyce Tzue, who will be at...
10/10/2026

✨ WHO’S GOING TO LIGHTBOX EXPO?! ✨
We’re excited to celebrate Academy of Art University alumna Alyce Tzue, who will be at LightBox Expo! 🎬🌟
Alyce is the award-winning director of SOAR, the animated short film she created while a student at Academy of Art University. 🏆 Her work is an incredible example of the talent, creativity, and storytelling that grow out of our community.
She’s also directing the upcoming Netflix animated musical Steps! 🎶
👏 Congratulations, Alyce! We’re proud to see our alumni making their mark in the animation industry.
Will you be at LightBox Expo? Come say hello to Alyce!

We're excited to see Academy of Art University's Animation & VFX program featured by Boris FX! 🙌The article highlights i...
10/09/2026

We're excited to see Academy of Art University's Animation & VFX program featured by Boris FX! 🙌
The article highlights instructor and MFA alumnus Michael Raphaelovich and his approach to teaching matchmoving with industry tools like SynthEyes.
At Academy of Art, students go beyond learning software. They develop the technical knowledge, creative problem-solving skills, and production experience needed to bring their ideas to life.
✨ Learn industry-relevant tools. 🎥 Build practical VFX skills. 🚀 Prepare for the next step in your creative career.
🔗 Read the feature at the link in our bio!
SynthEyes StudioX VFXArtist FutureArtists AnimationStudent

Three industry connections. Three opportunities for our students. One incredible week coming up in Animation & VFX.We we...
10/08/2026

Three industry connections. Three opportunities for our students. One incredible week coming up in Animation & VFX.

We welcome Laika for a recruiter visit, opening the doors to Inside Studio X for a special event featuring a 2x Academy Award-winning filmmaker and Academy of Art University instructor, then we'll wrap up the week with a visit from a Visual Concepts recruiter.

Our students have the opportunity to meet industry professionals, ask questions, learn about careers, and make connections that can extend far beyond the classroom.

This is what we mean when we talk about connecting education with the industry.

This is going to be fun. Can't wait!

Alumni, if you'd like to join, contact us: [email protected]

Check this out:Blizzard Entertainment is now accepting submissions for the 16th Annual World of Warcraft Student Art Con...
10/07/2026

Check this out:

Blizzard Entertainment is now accepting submissions for the 16th Annual World of Warcraft Student Art Contest!
This is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their creativity.
Students can submit work in four categories:
✨ Animation
🎨 Character Art
🏰 Environment Art
💥 FX

The deadline to enter is December 13, 2026.

bit.ly/BlizzArtContest

Congratulations to our talented student, Jaipetch "Bell".We’re thrilled to celebrate Jai’s incredible achievement! Her w...
09/14/2026

Congratulations to our talented student, Jaipetch "Bell".

We’re thrilled to celebrate Jai’s incredible achievement! Her work was selected for the Draft Selection and received a Rank A in Concept Art in the Rookies of the Year competition. 🎨🏆

This recognition is a wonderful reflection of her creativity, dedication, and talent. We’re so proud to see our students creating work that stands out on an international stage!

Congratulations, Bell! 👏💞 We can’t wait to see where your artistic journey takes you next!

StudentAchievement

🎬✨ OMG! LAIKA is coming to visit… virtually! 🎉YAY! We’re so excited to welcome LAIKA for a special virtual event! 🐙🎥Come...
09/09/2026

🎬✨ OMG! LAIKA is coming to visit… virtually! 🎉
YAY! We’re so excited to welcome LAIKA for a special virtual event! 🐙🎥
Come chat with LAIKA recruiters and find out what it really takes to work at one of the most creative stop-motion animation studios in the industry. Learn about opportunities, portfolios, hiring, and what they’re looking for in future artists and storytellers.
🎤 Teatime Animation Club will be emceeing the event!
Thank you, LAIKA! We can’t wait! 💛
📌 Students: Check the details at the top of your screen when you log into campus.
⚠️ Sorry, this event is for students only.
AnimationIndustry TeatimeAnimationClub

Congratulations to our incredible alumna, Shivani, on landing a Production Assistant role at Skydance Animation! We're s...
07/30/2026

Congratulations to our incredible alumna, Shivani, on landing a Production Assistant role at Skydance Animation!

We're so proud to see your hard work, talent, and dedication leading to this exciting milestone. Wishing you all the best as you begin this new chapter. We can't wait to see all you'll accomplish!

Please join us in congratulating Shivani! 👏💙

  # AlumniSuccess

Shannon Thomas has joined our Advisory Board! Shannon Thomas is an Academy of Art University alumnus who initially set ...
07/30/2026

Shannon Thomas has joined our Advisory Board!

Shannon Thomas is an Academy of Art University alumnus who initially set out toward veterinary science before a deeper passion for film pulled him into visual effects. Over a 20+ year career, that pivot has carried him through industry powerhouses including Rhythm & Hues, DreamWorks, Weta FX, Blizzard Entertainment, and Industrial Light & Magic. His portfolio spans iconic franchises including Avatar, The Hobbit, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and How to Train Your Dragon, alongside cinematic universes for World of Warcraft, Diablo, Hearthstone, and Overwatch.

Shannon currently collaborates with ILM’s Realtime and StageCraft teams, contributing to Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Superman, and The Mandalorian & Grogu. He also served as VAD Supervisor for NBCUniversal’s Emmy Award–winning coverage of the 2024 Paris and 2026 Milan Olympic Games.

Passionate about shaping the next generation of creators, Shannon is known for spotting talent early. He has spent two decades hiring and mentoring artists, partnering with Rise Up Animation and Women in Animation along the way. A member of the Visual Effects Society, he has been a featured speaker at SIGGRAPH, GTC, and BlizzCon. Outside the studio, he is an award-winning indie filmmaker with shorts recognized at the Austin Comedy Film Festival and LA 48HFP. He is currently exploring the intersection of traditional filmmaking, AI, and real-time workflows

Congratulations to Colin Smith, who is spending the summer as an Intern at Framestore! We're so excited to see Colin gai...
07/29/2026

Congratulations to Colin Smith, who is spending the summer as an Intern at Framestore! We're so excited to see Colin gaining hands-on experience at one of the world's leading creative studios, learning from industry professionals, and taking another exciting step in his journey.

Can't wait to see what's next!

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San Francisco, CA

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415.274.2200

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