3D Animator Specialization
Advanced online 3D animation course to prepare you for a career in film and games
Get Industry-Ready and Take the First Step Toward Becoming a 3D Animator
Learn from seasoned professionals and gain the skills and confidence to thrive in the competitive world of 3D animation. Through expert guidance, you'll develop industry-relevant skills, master essential tools like Maya, and graduate with a standout portfolio that showcases your talent to employers.
Why study 3D animation with us:
- Master In-Demand Studio Skills: Learn techniques studios actively seek.
- Learn Studio Workflows: Gain speed, efficiency, and precision by learning advanced techniques and professional workflows used in top studios.
- Career-Focused Training: Receive additional career support and practical job-skills development.
- Personalized Learning Options: Choose between 1-on-1 mentorship or small group classes tailored to your needs.
Take your animation skills to the next level with our advanced training. You'll dive deep into complex character and creature animation, refine your techniques, and create compelling scenes that captivate your audience.
Master Your Skills. Master Your Future.
Our mission is to ensure graduates are the best trained and best prepared for a successful career in their chosen field.
Everything You Need To Know
20hrs/week
9 months
Custom video lectures
Personalised mentor feedback
Intermediate to advanced
Completion of 3D Animation Foundations or portfolio submission
Your pathway to the film and games industry
The 9-month Specialization Course is the second half of our Career Track, preparing you for your first day in the industry. Your future awaits!
Want to take your education higher?
Did you know that the subjects you complete in the career track courses can be used to apply for credit toward our accredited degrees and diplomas in the same discipline?
The skills and knowledge you build in any industry-certificate course can be transferred into academic credits through our Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer process. So, if you decide to take your studies to the next level, know that your prior learning will be recognized.
Compare your options and find out which course is right for you.
Advanced Character Acting
Learn how to get two characters interacting in a fun and realistic way. Discover how to analyze dialogue, shoot reference video and set up scenes using professional workflows. Watch your animation come alive as you apply your new knowledge of shot composition, cinematography, layering, acting beats and body mechanics to your scene.
- How to animate a two-person dialogue shot
- Use editorial tricks to develop story
- Work with timing and spacing to enhance story
- Focus on detail to polish your work
- Advanced Character Acting Overview
- Comedy Scene 01: Planning & Keys
- Comedy Scene 02: Breakdowns
- Comedy Scene 03: In-betweens
- Action Scene 01: Setup & Keying
- Action Scene 02: Breakdowns
- Action Scene 03: Polish Pass
- Multi-character Scene 01: Setup & Keying
- Multi-character Scene 02: Breakdowns
- Multi-character Scene 03: Overlap & Follow-through
- Multi-character Scene 04: Polish Pass
- Character Acting: Review & Final Pass
Creature Animation
Expand your versatility as an artist with creature animation. From quadruped walks, runs and jumps, to animating winged creatures, you’ll gain a solid understanding of creature animation, and have a great time breathing life into your creatures.
- How to animate 4-legged creatures
- Create believable movement
- Source the best reference
- Polish your portfolio piece
- Quadruped Walk - Research
- Quadruped Walk - Inbetweens and Splining
- Quadruped Walk - Polishing
- Quadruped Run - Research and Reference
- Quadruped Run - Inbetweens and Splining
- Dragon Flight Part 01: The Rig
- Dragon Flight Part 02: Keys and Breakdowns
- Dragon Flight Part 03: Polish Pass
- Creature Confrontation Part 01: Introduction and Keys
- Creature Confrontation Part 02: Keys and Breakdowns
- Creature Confrontation Part 03: Polish Pass and Conclusion
- Creature Animation: Final Thoughts
Mentored Studio: 3D Animation
This final term is dedicated to getting you job-ready! With your mentor’s guidance, you’ll polish your best pieces for your portfolio and learn how to develop your competitive edge, market yourself, and make the best possible impression in front of employers.
Students in this course receive additional 1-on-1 career support, portfolio reviews, and industry insights from CG Spectrum's Career Development Manager.
- How to polish your portfolio to impress employers
- Interview and negotiation strategies
- Effective networking and self-promotion
- Accessing the hidden job market
- Career Pathways
- Industry Overview
- Portfolio Upgrade
- Networking and Online Presence
- Resume and Cover Letter
- Job Hunting
- Freelance Work
- Interviews and Pitching
- Personal Projects and Challenges
- Working in a Studio
- Contracts and Negotiations
- Personal Roadblocks
Download the Course Guide
Your creative journey begins here! Download our comprehensive course guide and discover the exciting educational opportunities that await you.Group Class
$1,222 USD/mo4 students max class size
Students are assigned mentor
Group interaction & collaboration
Private 1:1
$1,711 USD/moPrivate dedicated mentor
Students choose their mentor
More dedicated time per week
Don't Put Your Future On Hold
Financing shouldn't stand in the way of pursuing your dream career. No matter where you are in your creative learning journey, our financing options have been designed with you in mind.Learn Directly From Film & Game Mentors
To be the best, it helps to learn from the best. All 3D modeling classes are taught by professional 3D modelers with years of experience.
Mark Pullyblank
Mark has held lead positions at Rainmaker, Sony and Weta Digital working on films like Avatar, The Adventures of Tintin, and Night at the Museum.
Known for Avatar
Spectra
Spectra has been animating for almost a decade at Playstation, Digital Domain and Ubisoft on projects such as Far Cry 6, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, and Advantageous.
Known for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Carlos Rosas
Known for Venom
Ambre Maurin
Ambre has worked as an animator in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, and Canada on projects like LEGO Avengers, Happy Feet Two, Avatar and Where the Wild Things Are.
Known for Avatar
Jon Vener
Jon is an artist, developer, and educator who has been in Animation, VFX, Games and VR for 13 years and has been a digital creative professional for 20+ years.
Known for Halo 4
Elena Miroglio
Elena is a Senior Animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks. She's worked on projects including The Darkest Minds, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, and Hotel Transylvania 3.
Known for Spider-man 3: Homecoming
Abdel Pizzaro
Hailing from Puerto Rico and residing in the US, Abdel Pizarro has experience in both 2D and 3D animation. Abdel has also worked with clients like Nickelodeon, Marvel, Big Ideas, Sesame Street and ...
Known for Planet Blue: Journey to Eco
Nick Unden
Nick's held lead positions at major game studios Relic Entertainment and Phoenix Labs. Credits include Dauntless, Dawn of War 3 and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City.
Known for Dauntless
Amita Sahgal
Amita has worked as an Animator and Animation Supervisor for two decades. She is also an experienced mentor, teaching at Mages Institute of Excellence and Supinfocom International Animation School.
Known for Ted
Enric Joanmiquel
Known for Bleeding Edge
Yuri Perrini
Yuri is a 3D Animator and Rigger who has worked across film, TV, commercials, video games, and mixed reality AR-VR, for clients such as Jim Henson, Stan Lee, Gatorade, and the 2018 World Cup.
Known for The Cleansing Hour
Get The Education Your Deserve
"I’d take the course again if I could!
I can’t praise CG Spectrum enough for the quality of teaching and dedication to their students. Mark was by far the best mentor I’ve ever had. He really took the time to help design the course around what it is that I wanted to get out of it. I’ve studied other animation courses in the past, but none even come close to the depth and speed of development as CG Spectrum."
Ned C | 3D Animation
"One of the best decisions I've ever made for my career.
I've learned and grown so much throughout this program and I loved the resources in the CG Spectrum community, such as finding new job opportunities and meeting other students and mentors. I took advantage of everything CG Spectrum had to offer and as a result, I landed my dream job at my dream company (Dreamworks). Thank you CG Spectrum!"
Tiffany L | 3D Animation
"To better understand the industry, I enrolled at CG Spectrum.
There I was able to create a demo reel and build connections with professionals that ultimately led me to my first opportunity as an animator at Sony Imageworks. I have to give a HUGE shout-out to CG Spectrum’s Career Development Manager. She was the person who guided me through the entire application process. I honestly believe I would not have gotten this opportunity without her help."
Jasmeet S | 3D Animation
"I learned more in 9 months than other students do in 2 years.
The level of education I have received is unlike any other school I've come across. What separates CG Spectrum from other schools is that the mentors are not only talented professionals in their own right, but they also care about your success as an artist both in school and after you graduate. CG Spectrum is incredible, I cannot recommend it enough."
David N | 3D Animation
"Getting access to industry mentors is huge.
There's a world of information out there, but nothing compared to talking to someone in the know. CG Spectrum was one of those places. I really liked the 1-on-1 format. It was the first time I had an experienced animator open my scene file. It was what I needed to get over some technical hurdles."
Kyle D | 3D Animation
"CG Spectrum has been an instrumental part of my growth.
CG Spectrum has helped me sharpen my skills, acquire new ones and strengthen my character animation abilities. This is an invaluable experience for anyone looking to take their skills to the next level."
Phil M | 3D Animation
"The career program was invaluable!
I knew changing careers would have included things such as resumes, applications, networking, etc. The biggest thing I needed to understand was the nuances of the animation industry, etiquette for approaching recruiters, and what type of roles there were. These sessions really helped guide me, and explained how to approach my showreel and the subsequent application processes."
James B | 3D Animation
"It's been extremely helpful for my portfolio and my confidence as an artist!
I've learned so much about not only animation, but the thought process an artist goes through when creating a piece."
Shravani K | 3D Animation
Join Our Alumni at World Class Studios
Our mission is to train highly skilled graduates ensuring they are prepared for a successful career. Take the first step towards joining our alumni at world-class studios creating work that inspires.
Questions? We Have Answers
This course requires the successful completion of the 3D Animation Foundations career track or a portfolio submission demonstrating professional experience and an accompanying reel/resume.
If submitting 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:
Students can sign up for an educational license for Maya.
Instructions for how to obtain an educational license for this software will be provided upon enrollment.
Hardware:
You will need a dedicated graphics card and a computer that meets the minimum requirements for Autodesk Maya.
This 3D Animator Specialization builds upon the skills offered in the 3D 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, study character acting more intensely, and progress further with creature 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.
On completion of the 3D 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 assist your efforts when applying for junior 3D animator jobs such as:
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 3D animator jobs, tips, and salary expectations on our careers page:
While CG Spectrum's advanced students have a high job success rate, 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 3D 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 3D animator course 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 3D 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.
Looking For Something Else?
Check out our full range of courses with study options for all skill levels, from short introductory courses, specialized industry tracks and accredited degrees and diplomas