Arts & Design

Animation major, explained.

Bring characters, stories, and imagined worlds to life.

Animation explores how drawing, movement, sound, storytelling, and technology combine to create experiences over time. Students commonly study Drawing and design, Storyboarding, 2D and 3D animation, Character development, and Sound and editing. Programs vary by college, but the field generally combines foundational ideas with applied work so students can investigate meaningful questions, make informed decisions, and communicate what they discover.

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You might enjoy this if

Notice what feels familiar.

You imagine how a drawing, character, or scene could move.

You enjoy detailed creative work that improves through many revisions.

You like combining visual art, storytelling, and technology.

The study experience

What the work may feel like.

Programs differ by college. These labels describe common areas of emphasis, not a score or universal rating.

Reading Some
Writing Regular
Quantitative work Some
Labs or hands-on work Regular
Design and making Central
People and collaboration Frequent
Questions you may keep asking

What should move, and what should stay still?

How can timing and expression make a character feel believable?

Which visual choices make the story easier to follow?

Drawing and designStoryboarding2D and 3D animationCharacter developmentSound and editing

What can you do with this major?

One major. More than one direction.

These are example connections, not guaranteed outcomes. Many careers welcome more than one major, and some require additional education or licensure.

Animator

Creates movement and performance for characters, objects, interfaces, and visual stories.

Storyboard Artist

Translates scripts and concepts into visual sequences that guide a production team.

Motion Designer

Uses typography, graphics, and animation to communicate ideas across digital media.

Visual Effects Artist

Builds or combines digital imagery that would be difficult to capture in production.

Animation can support several career directions, and employers may welcome graduates from related fields. Practical experience, internships, projects, and additional credentials can matter alongside the degree.

Try it before college

Projects that make Animation more real.

Reading helps you understand a field. A Compass project helps you discover whether you enjoy doing the work.

Each project includes a step-by-step plan, custom AI prompts, reflection guidance, and a finished creation for the student’s portfolio. See how Compass works
Compass project 25–50 hours

Build a Story That Changes Minds

Create a multimedia campaign that helps people care about an issue that deserves more attention.

You will create
Multimedia Campaign & Communication Case Study
Build this with Compass
Compass project 20–45 hours

Build a Portfolio Around One Creative Style

Create a small collection of work that shows a clear visual voice.

You will create
Creative Style Portfolio
Build this with Compass
Compass project 30–56 hours

Build a Game People Want to Replay

Create a small game with one irresistible core loop instead of a giant unfinished world.

You will create
playable digital game and design case study
Build this with Compass

Keep exploring

Related majors worth comparing.

Sources and important context

Compass presents a curated collection of 100 widely studied and commonly searched undergraduate majors. The collection is not a statistical ranking. Major names and CIP connections follow common US college usage and the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs. Study patterns are editorial summaries of common program structures and vary by college. Career directions are examples, not guaranteed outcomes. Students should compare actual curricula, admission rules, accreditation, and licensing requirements at colleges they are considering.

NCES CIP codes: 50.0411

  • NCES Classification of Instructional ProgramsNational Center for Education Statistics. Official US taxonomy for fields of study and instructional programs.
  • Field of DegreeUS Bureau of Labor Statistics. Federal career exploration resources organized around broad college fields.
  • O*NET OnLineUS Department of Labor. Detailed descriptions of occupations, tasks, knowledge, skills, and work activities.
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