California Institute of the Arts was recently named in The Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural Top Animation Schools list for 2025.

With programs in Character Animation (BFA) and Experimental Animation (BFA, MFA), both housed in the School of Film/Video, CalArts was selected based on survey responses from animation organizations including ASIFA-Hollywood, the Animation Guild, Black N Animated and LatinX in Animation. The responses were weighted using Department of Education key data, including graduation and retention rates, cost, and other metrics.

The Hollywood Reporter issue published on June 6 listed the following information about CalArts:

“Founded by Roy and Walt Disney in 1961, the highly selective school boasts a prestigious alumni network including Glen Keane (The Little Mermaid) and Genndy Tartakovsky (Primal), and an annual opportunity to produce a student short. Alongside a summer animation residency, the BFA and MFA in experimental animation focus on developing personal aesthetics, while the BFA in character animation focuses on artistic and technical training in traditional and CGI animation, including sound effects. The annual Producers’ Show garners attendance from major studios.”

Joining CalArts on the list are, in alphabetical order:

ArtCenter College of Design; Pasadena, California

Brigham Young University; Provo, Utah

Cal State University; Long Beach, California

DePaul University; Chicago

Gnomon; Los Angeles

New York University; New York

Rhode Island School of Design; Providence, Rhode Island

Ringling College of Art and Design; Sarasota, Florida

San José State University; San Jose, California

Savannah College of Art and Design; Savannah, Georgia

School of Visual Arts; New York

University of Southern California; Los Angeles

The Hollywood Reporter noted that animation is at an “inflection point” as it faces the ongoing impact of economic forces as well as the rapid-growth of AI. But it also pointed out that schools and animation organizations are already addressing these challenges through individual and multiyear courses as well as industry events.

To view the entire list as well as the five programs to watch, read America’s Top Animation Schools.