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Career Tracks

Progress from beginner to advanced with our industry-focused courses

Student work by Tommy Graven

Overview

Hone your craft with training from professional film and game artists

Build your confidence as a creative by mastering the tools, techniques, and software needed to pursue a fulfilling career in concept art, VFX, game development, real-time 3D, animation, or 3D visualization.

How Career Tracks Work:

  1. Start with the essentials: Learn core methods of your chosen discipline and how to navigate relevant software.
  2. Build on your essential knowledge and develop strong foundational skills by tackling more complex creative and technical tasks.
  3. Take your skills to the next level by completing a specialization course and work on your professional portfolio.

Our comprehensive courses are crafted to provide hands-on training from industry professional artists with years of experience.

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Courses

Explore Our Career Tracks

Animation & VFX

3D Animation Foundations

3D Animation Foundations

9 months - Beginner to Intermediate

Forge foundational 3D animation skills taught by industry experts. Learn to make your 3D characters walk, talk, and interact with their environment as you build your understanding of body mechanics.
3D Animator Specialization

3D Animator Specialization

9 months - Advanced

Master complex character animation techniques to create impressive 3D scenes. You’ll also focus on portfolio preparation and career development with your industry mentor to help you get job-ready.
3D Modeling Foundations

3D Modeling Foundations

9 months - Beginner to Intermediate

Learn 3D modeling, digital sculpting, and texturing from industry pros. Go from beginner to proficient in creating 3D characters and environments from scratch using industry-standard techniques.
3D Modeler Specialization

3D Modeler Specialization

9 months - Advanced

Speed up your 3D modeling workflows and hone your environment and character design skills by sculpting more detailed, fully rendered assets. Spend time building your portfolio and essential job skills.
FX Foundations

FX Foundations

9 months - Beginner to Intermediate

Harness the power of procedural node-based workflow techniques to create destruction and explosions. Guided by an FX pro, you'll also master simulations for water, cloth, hair, and creature FX.
<br>(COMING SOON)</br>FX Artist Specialization


(COMING SOON)
FX Artist Specialization

9 months - Advanced

Build on your foundations by learning advanced FX skills that will set up you for a career in the industry. Polish your portfolio and learn essential job skills with support from your industry mentor.
Digital Compositing Foundations

Digital Compositing Foundations

12 months - Beginner to Intermediate

This course prepares you creatively and technically for a career as a compositor. Learn advanced techniques from digital painting, color theory, keying, scripting and lighting techniques used by top VFX artists.
3D Visualization Foundations

3D Visualization Foundations

12 months - Beginner to Intermediate

This comprehensive 3D visualization course will equip you with the skills to plan, build, and render stunning realistic 3D scenes from scratch with support at every step from your mentor

Digital Art

2D Animation Foundations

2D Animation Foundations

9 months - Beginner to Intermediate

Build your 2D animation foundations using both modern and traditional animation workflows to create animations from scratch. Receive guidance from industry pros who’ve worked on iconic cartoons.
2D Animator Specialization

2D Animator Specialization

9 months - Advanced

Study advanced aspects of 2D animation and create compelling characters, expressive acting and FX animation. Increase your technical skills and build a polished portfolio with mentor support.
Concept Art Foundations

Concept Art Foundations

9 months - Beginner to Intermediate

Build concept art foundations, from art theory to the latest techniques. Using core art principles, you'll learn how to turn ideas into captivating characters, creatures, props, and environments.
Concept Artist Specialization

Concept Artist Specialization

9 months - Advanced

Sharpen your skills in our advanced course covering complex environment and character design using industry techniques like 3D sculpting, paint-over and lighting. Graduate with a quality portfolio.
Digital Illustrator Specialization

Digital Illustrator Specialization

9 months - Advanced

Learn advanced illustration techniques and workflows to create narrative artworks that tell rich stories. Build industry job skills including how to work to a client brief, and refine your portfolio.

Game Development

Game Design Foundations

Game Design Foundations

9 months - Beginner to Intermediate

Go from beginner to intermediate as you learn to deconstruct games, tackle design problems, create great user experiences, write design documents, and develop a game pitch. Finish with a playable game!
<br>(COMING SOON)</br>Game Designer Specialization


(COMING SOON)
Game Designer Specialization

9 months - Advanced

Build on your foundations by learning advanced tools and techniques to level up your game design skills technically and creatively. With mentor guidance, you’ll polish your best work for your professional portfolio.
Game Programming Foundations

Game Programming Foundations

9 months - Beginner to Intermediate

Develop excellent game programming foundations in this comprehensive course. Using C++, learn to build fun 2D and 3D levels with fully interactive animated characters. Finish with a playable game.
<br>(COMING SOON)</br>Game Programmer Specialization


(COMING SOON)
Game Programmer Specialization

9 months - Advanced

Build on your foundations by learning advanced programming skills that will set you up for a career in the industry. Polish your portfolio and learn essential job skills with support from your industry mentor.

Virtual Production

Real-time 3D Foundations

Real-time 3D Foundations

9 months - Beginner to Intermediate

Train to become a real-time 3D technical artist. Go from beginner to intermediate as you learn storytelling, world building, lighting and camera essentials to create film quality shots for virtual production.
Real-time 3D Specialization

Real-time 3D Specialization

9 months - Intermediate

Gain advanced real-time 3D skills. Learn digital storytelling and hone your world-building, lighting, and camera skills to create film-quality cinematics. Graduate with a job-ready portfolio.
Benefits

Why study with us

Get a more hands-on education with mentorship from top film and game experts, an industry-approved curriculum, and a thriving creative community cheering you on.

By giving you access to the most talented artists in the industry, we help you to become well-connected, trained, and prepared for life beyond your studies.

What you get when you study with us:

  • Gain access to job-focused training and career services
  • Learn directly from film and game artists and academics
  • Receive personalized feedback from your industry mentor
  • Join a supportive active community of peers, alumni, and mentors
  • Study with more flexibility (100% online)

As an online training center with students and mentors in 90+ countries, we're proud to bring the industry to you – wherever you are in the world!

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Mentors

Study a job-focused curriculum with a professional artist as your guide

Our experienced mentors have the skills, knowledge, and industry insights to prepare you for your creative career.

Bryan Bentley's Work
Bryan Bentley

Bryan Bentley

Bryan's award winning experience includes lead positions at ILM and Rhythm & Hues working films like The Golden Compass, Rango, Pacific Rim, and Transformers 2 and 3.

Curriculum Manager of 3D Modeling

Known for Pacific Rim

Rajbir Dhalla's Work
Rajbir Dhalla

Rajbir Dhalla

Australian based 3D artist Rajbir has worked at D-Neg, ILM, Digital Domain and Rising Sun on features like Spider-Man: Far from Home, Thor: Ragnarok, Alien: Covenant, Logan, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Godzilla.

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for Alien: Covenant

Matt Clapperton's Work
Matt Clapperton

Matt Clapperton

Before becoming the senior environment artist on Apex Legends, Matt worked at EA, Digital Domain, ILM, MPC, Method and Cinesite on films like Aquaman, Ratchet & Clank and triple-A game FIFA 2017.

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for Aquaman

Angela Mikrut's Work
Angela Mikrut

Angela Mikrut

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for The King's Man

Dylan Ekren's Work
Dylan Ekren

Dylan Ekren

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for Ralph Breaks the Internet

Pierre Debras's Work
Pierre Debras

Pierre Debras

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for Arcane

Hamza Javed's Work
Hamza Javed

Hamza Javed

ILM Modeler and Digital Artist, Hamza's worked on blockbusters like Ford v Ferrari, Spider-Man: Far from Home, Captain Marvel, Tomb Raider, Thor: Ragnarok and Logan.

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for Captain Marvel

David Cunningham's Work
David Cunningham

David Cunningham

David is a Lead Hard Surface Modeler and Career Coach at DNEG and has worked on projects including Snowpiercer, Enola Holmes, and Moonfall.

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for Enola Holmes

Ehsan Ebrahimzadeh's Work
Ehsan Ebrahimzadeh

Ehsan Ebrahimzadeh

Ehsan has worked as an environment artist for video games since 2009 and is currently a Senior Environment Artist at Arkane Studios, working on Redfall.

Dept. Head of 3D Modeling

Known for Redfall

Tamer Eldib's Work
Tamer Eldib

Tamer Eldib

Working across film, TV, and games, Tamer has held multiple roles as a modeler and generalist. Currently working as a CG Supervisor, recent projects include Marvel's What If…? and The Expanse.

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for The Mandalorian

Anton Tenitsky's Work
Anton Tenitsky

Anton Tenitsky

First a texture artist at Nickelodeon, then a 3D character artist at Gameloft, Anton is ahead of the curve when using emerging software for real-time graphics and film production.

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for Penguins of Madagascar

Nick Barone's Work
Nick Barone

Nick Barone

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for World of Tanks

Hamish Beachman's Work
Hamish Beachman

Hamish Beachman

A professional 3D artist since 2003, Hamish currently works as a Lead Environment Modeler at WetaFX in New Zealand, joining back in 2009 to work on the very first Avatar. In his spare time, he does photogrammetry and real-time rendering.

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for Jungle Cruise

Justin Mohlman's Work
Justin Mohlman

Justin Mohlman

Justin has brought dozens of games to life in his 2-decade career. Credits include Tony Hawk, Mortal Kombat, and other AAA titles like Singularity and Stranglehold.

Mentor of Foundations

Known for Mortal Kombat Franchise

Anna Beganskaya's Work
Anna Beganskaya

Anna Beganskaya

Since 2015, Anna has worked as a 3D character artist at Riot Games, Sirship Syndicate, and Blizzard, on titles including League of Legends (merch), Darksiders Genesis, Heroes of the Storm, and Ruined King.

Known for Heroes of the Storm

Irene Matar's Work
Irene Matar

Irene Matar

Both a digital and traditional sculptor, Irene has worked on 2D, 3D, and stop-motion feature films, video games, and toys. Most recently, they’ve worked at Riot Games and Disney feature.

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for Wreck-It Ralph 2

Shaun Stephenson's Work
Shaun Stephenson

Shaun Stephenson

Shaun’s 20+ year 3D career includes roles as a lead artist, technical artist, 3D modeler, and environment artist. He’s worked at EA, ILM, Lucasfilm, Ubisoft, 2K, and Digital Domain. He also has real-time 3D experience.

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Matteo Sala's Work
Matteo Sala

Matteo Sala

Matteo is a Senior Character and Creature Modeler at Framestore, London. With a background in traditional sculpture and creature design, he can bring a character from the concept stage to a final, production-ready asset.

Mentor of 3D Modeling

Known for The Batman
Student Showcase

See what you could be creating

See some of the impressive work our students have created while studying at CG Spectrum.

Paul-Griffin-3d-modeling-01

If you want to get into animation, VFX, or the video game industry, I will always tell you to take classes at CG Spectrum.

The classes are easy to understand and the mentors are all friendly and really want to help you understand and get better at your respective craft. My mentor, Kasy, helped me with all of my questions and also helped me get ready for my first industry job. I will always sing praises for CG Spectrum, their courses, and the help they give to their students.

Sayge K
Sayge K
Nuke Compositing

I can't speak highly enough about the school.

When I came to CG Spectrum I had 20 years of live entertainment experience, and they seamlessly transferred me from physical to virtual production. 

Chris F
Chris F
Real-Time 3D & Virtual Production

I have never experienced such an explosive evolution in my art since attending CG Spectrum.

I have learnt an incredible amount, not only from my amazing mentor Eric Wilkerson but from the entire CGS community. Being part of such an amazing program has opened my eyes to techniques that have streamlined my process and increased my confidence tenfold. I highly recommend the Advanced Illustration Course. Buckle up, and knuckle down – this could be the course that changes everything for you.

Oliver H
Oliver H
Digital Illustration

It is a complete package with the goal of helping us to conquer our dream job!

I didn't expect to find a C++ programming course aimed at the gaming industry and of such quality. Since the first contact, the school staff have been very friendly and professional. There is a genuine interest in helping us achieve our goals. The big difference is that we have the guidance of a very high-level professional who works in the industry. In addition, we have access to career development sessions guided by CG Spectrum's career coach. These are classes where we receive guidance and discuss essential career topics. An amazing journey!

Raphael H
Raphael H
Game Programming

If you want to get into this industry, consider CG Spectrum.

This program will help you 100% to understand industry standards/expectations as well as necessary pipeline techniques, but you must put in the effort. I don't want this review to be taken as "CG Spectrum did it for me!"—it still requires a lot of self-determination, practice, and creativity. If you put those pieces together, this program will help you so much more, and the sense of satisfaction you'll have with your work and portfolio will be that much greater.

James W
James W
3D Modeling

CG Spectrum's training got me hired in the industry.

CG Spectrum helped me build the skills and connections that directly resulted in getting hired as a Gameplay Programmer at New World Interactive.

Jeff Giron
Jeff Giron
Game Programming