2D Animator Specialization

This course requires the successful completion of the 2D Animation Foundations career track or portfolio submission demonstrating professional experience and an accompanying reel/resume.

If you submit a portfolio, it should include:

1) A demonstrated understanding of the 12 Principles of Animation.  3-5 pieces that showcase work that provides evidence of an understanding of the basic animation 'rules.'  

2) A demonstrated understanding of general aesthetics and design. Evidence you have an understanding of how to compose images and present actions clearly and in an artistically pleasing way.

3) Examples of completion of basic animation exercises covered in beginner courses.  Show proof of abilities to create a basic bouncing ball, flour sack, walk/run cycle, weight and timing, make basic acting choices and be able to turn key poses into fully-realized, fluid animation work. 

4) The ability to show some sense of entertainment value in your work. More than just a basic understanding, your work should showcase some flair and a sense of confidence in your general understanding of timing, motion and performance in basic animation exercises. 

5) A body of work (1-3 pieces at least) that show a range of skills you currently possess.  There should be enough examples in your body of work for us to make an assessment of where you are currently at and where you might be going.  

If you are unsure if your skills are sufficient, send us your portfolio when you apply, and we'll arrange for the department head to review it and, depending on the circumstances, a student interview.

Age Minimum
The general minimum age to be able to enroll in our industry certificate courses is 16. We require parent or guardian consent during the enrollment process for applicants under 18.

Students under 16 will require a further assessment before they can officially enrol. This may include an interview with a course advisor and the creation of a study plan to ensure they have considered how they will manage a college-level workload.

English Proficiency
We expect our students to have a good understanding of written and spoken English. There’s no specific ’level'; however, you must be able to understand video tutorials in English (no subtitles) and speak with your mentor in English during your live Q&A session.

Computer Literacy
To be successful in this program, you will need basic computer skills and a computer that meets the minimum specifications (see next question).

Software:

Toon Boom Harmony Premium.  Student discounts are provided.

Instructions for how to obtain your student discount for this software will be provided upon enrollment.

Hardware:

You will need a computer that meets the minimum system requirements for Toon Boom, and a graphics tablet (see 2D animation software and equipment).

On completion of the 2D Animator Specialization course, you will have greater confidence in your technical and creative abilities and a polished portfolio to show prospective employers.

You will also have access to our career coach and personalized career services (including interview preparation, CV/resume assistance, and portfolio reviews), which can help when applying for junior 2D animator jobs such as:

• 2D animator
• Storyboard artist
• Clean up artist

The CG Spectrum community is another great resource. Through graduates and mentors already working in the industry, you can network and learn about relevant job vacancies. 

Discover more about these 2D animation jobs, tips, salary expectations and tips to meet the minimum job requirements for this industry on our careers page:

This 2D Animator Specialization builds upon the skills offered in the 2D Animation Foundations course and completes our career track offering. Students who are serious about pursuing a career in animation have an opportunity to explore the world of animation art more deeply and progress further with cut-out animation.

The Specialization course also offers an entire term dedicated to getting students career-ready. This includes building necessary job skills while working on your professional portfolio, with support and feedback from your mentor every step of the way.

While CG Spectrum's advanced students have a high job success rate (83%), we cannot offer guaranteed employment as the film and game industry is competitive, and there is no way of knowing what the market will demand when it comes to animation.

The students who experience the greatest success are those who take responsibility for their careers, put in the hard work to raise their skills to industry standards, leverage their mentor's invaluable expertise, and take advantage of every opportunity to excel.

Taking an advanced 2D animation class not only keeps students focused while they grow as artists and build their portfolios, but it also increases their social scope as they make more contacts with more time and work, a key component in securing a job. 

To help students find employment, we have a range of career services and a dedicated career coach who regularly hosts exclusive career-focused webinars, Q&As, artist interviews, and workshops for CG Spectrum students and graduates and is available to answer career-related questions.

The Specialization course also dedicates a full term to career and industry preparation. With your mentor's guidance, you'll refine your professional portfolio, build essential job skills, and learn how to market yourself.

If you have any questions about our career services as they relate to your personal career goals, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

As with any venture, it will be what you make of it! The best animators are constantly growing, evolving, and learning new skill sets. 

A specialized 2D animator class is an excellent way to sharpen one’s skills, open doors to exciting new methods and practices, refine your showreel, and continue to grow and network as an artist and member of the animation community.

The benefit of doing the 2D Animator Specialization at CG Spectrum is receiving mentorship from an industry professional who can share their workflows and techniques with you. If you choose the 1-on-1 private mentorship option, there is also some flexibility to customize the program to meet your particular needs and career goals.

You can also get additional support from our career coach if you are looking to take the next step in your career, whether that be a promotion or switching your specialization.