School of Film and Animation
School of
Film and Animation
Overview
The School of Film and Animation is where the timeless art of filmmaking meets cutting-edge technology. It’s a creative community that allows students to explore their talents in the art of filmmaking or the science and technologies used in the motion picture industry. Students discover their unique potential, experiment with ideas, and express them to the world. Guided by award-winning faculty who exhibit their work around the world, students are prepared to pursue successful careers across a wide spectrum of industries upon graduation: motion picture, television, and non-broadcast. Alumni have gone on to hold research engineering roles at places like Sony and Dolby and have positions in filmmaking and animation at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Lucasfilm, and myriad other reputable companies.
960
The school’s equipment cage has 960 video- and audio-related items available for students to check out in support of projects and other coursework.
77K
Combined, the School of Film and Animation and MAGIC Spell Studios — which expands the capacity of the school while supporting research and entrepreneurial activities in the area — provides 77,000 square feet of facility space.
100s
Alumni have earned hundreds of screen credits for their work on major motion pictures and popular TV shows — from Frozen to Rogue One to The Simpsons and much more.
Latest News
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September 10, 2021
![side-by-side images of the Veiled Virgin statue, with the right side color-coding what looks like the veil and what looks like the face.]()
Unveiling the Illusion
Scientific American references Flip Phillips, professor in the School of Film and Animation, and his work studying how sculptors create the effects of multiple materials, and how viewers can mentally separate the layers.
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September 7, 2021
![An aerial view of the Kodak Quad on RIT's campus.]()
New leadership roles, faculty hires highlight changes in College of Art and Design
RIT's Schools of Art, American Crafts, Film and Animation, and Photographic Arts and Sciences are all under new leadership.
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August 23, 2021
![filmmaker Shanti Thakur posing with a camera.]()
School of Film and Animation’s incoming director relishes new role
Shanti Thakur—who began her new role as director of RIT’s School of Film and Animation in the College of Art and Design earlier this month—is an award-winning fiction and documentary filmmaker who has taught for nearly two decades.
Featured Work
2D Animation
TingYu Chang
"The dragon starts his delivery journey to complete his important mission. I used Clip Studio Paint for this 2D animation. During pre-production I drew some concept art, character designs,...
Video Game Development
“That Damn Goat!” is a party game where chaos reigns, frustrations mount and everything you think you know about your situation is instantly thrown out of whack by a head-butting goat with magical...
The Future of Filmmaking
RIT Motion Picture Science students drive engineering through their artistry, and expand their creativity through engineering. This unique program utilizes research, critical thinking,...
Featured Profiles
Building a Virtual Production Curriculum
Supported by a $275,000 MegaGrant from Epic Games, MAGIC Spell Studios has brought groundbreaking research and filmmaking techniques to RIT.
Alumnus' Film Receives High Acclaim
Ali Vatansever '08 MFA is an accomplished Turkish director whose film, "Saf," was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Virtual Reality Film
In making a virtual reality film for their thesis, Emily Haldeman and Tim Stringer — 2019 alumni of the Animation option in the Film and Animation BFA — used...
Undergraduate Programs
The film and animation (BFA) degree offers options in animation and film production, with the curriculum supplying an experience unlike any other that spans the entire creative spectrum. The unique motion picture science (BS) program produces graduates who may not be artists directly involved in the motion picture industry but support the field with the science- and engineering-based education they receive. In the program, students learn how to address complex motion imaging workflow issues.
Graduate Programs
The film and animation (MFA) program is designed to educate complete filmmakers. With four options within the program — 2D animation, 3D animation, production, and screenwriting — students obtain the advanced training required to create remarkable live-action production, scripts, and animations that facilitate career success.
Student Resources
For internal College of Art and Design resources such as academic information, forms, FAQs and more, visit inside.cad.rit.edu. For information about academic advising, visit here.
The 2020-21 School of Film and Animation faculty/staff directory can be found here.