- Degree Level
- Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
- Department
- Visual and Performing Arts
- school/college
- College of Arts and Sciences
Take the first step toward earning your Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a concentration in 2D Animation, a program built for visual storytellers and creative problem-solvers. Powered by CG Spectrum, this innovative program combines hands-on studio art with immersive, industry-led animation training—preparing students for careers in animation, film, games, and digital media.
Through coursework that blends drawing, design, and professional animation practices, students gain the tools to succeed in the expanding fields of animation, gaming, and digital media. With Arcadia’s partnership with industry-leading CG Spectrum, students benefit from both hands-on studio experience and access to global industry expertise, positioning them for strong career opportunities after graduation.
This program develops both artistic excellence and professional readiness. Students graduate with the ability to:
- Apply core principles of 2D animation to create compelling motion and performances
- Design believable characters grounded in anatomy, movement, and personality
- Animate acting, dialogue, and emotional storytelling
- Create polished shots using camera techniques, effects, and timing
- Work within professional animation pipelines and production processes
- Build a cohesive, portfolio-ready body of work for animation careers or graduate study
Why Study 2D Animation at Arcadia?
Built on Studio Art + Drawing
Because this is housed inside the BFA in Art, your animation skills are grounded in the fundamentals that studios value: drawing, design, composition, and visual storytelling.
Learn from Industry Pros (CG Spectrum)
CG Spectrum—ranked among the Top 25 International Animation Training Programs—brings professional animation training into your concentration coursework.
Hybrid Learning + Real Campus Community
You’ll complete some animation concentration courses online while still fully participating in the residential Arcadia experience: studios, critiques, exhibitions, student support, and campus life.
Federal Financial Aid Eligible
Arcadia students remain eligible for U.S. federal financial aid, expanding access to high-level animation training.
Career Pathways
Graduates are prepared for creative roles such as:
- 2D Animator
- Character Animator
- Storyboard Artist
- Motion Designer
- Game Animation Artist
- Visual Development Artist
Please note, the degree is currently under review for approval by NASAD.
Featured Courses
Studio Art Foundations I
Required Course
Students explore themes such as identity, environment, and language through hands-on projects in both 2D and 3D media. Working with materials like paint, plaster, wood, and found objects, they develop creative foundations through studio practice, critiques, and collaborative lectures. Open to majors and non-majors alike, this course encourages exploration and artistic growth.
Drawing I
Required Course
Students build core drawing skills through studies of space, light, and form, with a strong emphasis on line. The course develops both technical ability and expressive approaches, grounding students in the conceptual and formal foundations of drawing through intensive studio practice and independent work.
