Programfolio

You’re browsing the public catalog

Create an account to shortlist programs, add private notes and tags, and share picks with a student.

8 programsCharacter Design

UConn Pre-College Summer (University of Connecticut)Selective

UConn Pre-College Summer: Animation Studio

A one-week immersive residential program exploring animation fundamentals, storyboard development, character design, and world-building. Students learn contemporary animation techniques and create portfolio-ready work under the guidance of a UConn art professor.

Jul · 1 wk sessionsResidentialStorrs, CT$1,500–$2,999Rolling

Entering grades10th, 11th, 12th

CategoriesPerforming & Visual Arts

SubjectsAnimation, Storyboarding, Character Design, Digital Media

Cost$1,500–$2,999 · $2,050

Websitehttps://precollege-summer.uconn.edu/courses/animation-studio/

Unverified

Ringling College of Art and Design

Ringling College: Teen Studios

A three-week summer program offering studio and digital arts classes for teens ages 13–18, including character design, animation, illustration, glass blowing, VR game design, and more. Students may enroll in single classes or multiple courses with flexible morning/afternoon scheduling.

Jun · 1–3 wk sessionsCommuterSarasota, FL<$500

Entering grades7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

CategoriesPerforming & Visual Arts, STEM

SubjectsCharacter Design, Creature Design, Animation, Illustration, Digital Painting, Glass Blowing, Drawing, Storyboarding, Virtual Reality, Game Design, Concept Art, Sequential Art

Cost<$500 · $300

Websitehttps://www.ringling.edu/about/community-programs/continuing-and-professional-studies/teen-studios/

Unverified

Elite Animation Academy

Elite Animation Academy: Summer Camps

Hands-on animation and digital art summer camps for grades 5–12, taught by former Disney animators. Students choose from 13 course tracks including 2D/3D animation, character design, storyboarding, and video editing, with each student leaving with a professional portfolio piece.

Jun–Aug · 1 wk sessionsCommuterCollege Park, FL$500–$1,499Rolling

Entering grades6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

CategoriesPerforming & Visual Arts

SubjectsAnimation, Character Design, 2D Animation, 3D Animation, Storyboarding, Digital Painting, Video Editing, Visual Effects, Comics, Anime-Manga, Drawing

Cost$500–$1,499 · $500

Websitehttps://eliteanimationacademy.com/summer-camps/

Unverified

Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)

MassArt: Summer Intensives in Art & Design

Two-week intensive summer art and design program for high school students offering courses in animation, architecture, character design, drawing, fashion, graphic design, illustration, jewelry, photography, printmaking, and visual storytelling. Classes are held on MassArt's Boston campus with both in-person and online options available.

Jul · 2 wk sessionsCommuter / OnlineBoston, MA$500–$1,499

Entering grades10th, 11th, 12th

CategoriesAcademic, Performing & Visual Arts

SubjectsAnimation Toolkit, Architecture & Design, Character Design, Drawing Fundamentals, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Painting from Observation, Photography, Printmaking, Visual Storytelling, Mixed Media, Digital Photo & Photoshop Studio

Cost$500–$1,499 · $895

Websitehttps://massart.edu/summer-intensives

Unverified

Loyola Marymount University

LMU Pre-College Programs: Exploring Animation

A two-week intensive residential program covering traditional and digital animation principles, frame-by-frame animation, storytelling, character design, and digital animation using Toon Boom Harmony. Students develop an animated sequence from concept to final export.

Jul · 2 wk sessionsResidentialLos Angeles, CA$3,000–$6,9995 days left

Entering grades10th, 11th, 12th

CategoriesPerforming & Visual Arts

SubjectsAnimation, Character Design, Digital Media, 2D Animation

Cost$3,000–$6,999 · $6,500

Websitehttps://summer.lmu.edu/animation

Unverified

CIEE (Council on International Education Exchange)

CIEE High School Summer in Kyoto, Japan: Manga Drawing & Culture

A 3-week summer program in Kyoto, Japan combining manga drawing and character design instruction with Japanese cultural immersion, including excursions to Tokyo, Takarazuka, and cultural landmarks.

Jun–Jul · 3 wk sessionsResidentialKyoto, Japan$3,000–$6,99971 days

Entering grades9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

CategoriesPerforming & Visual Arts, Travel/Cultural Immersion

SubjectsManga Drawing, Character Design, Japanese Visual Storytelling, Sketching and Storyboarding, Portfolio Development

Cost$3,000–$6,999 · $6,800

Websitehttps://www.ciee.org/go-abroad/high-school-study-abroad/summer/programs/japan/kyoto/manga-drawing-culture

Unverified

Champlain College

Champlain Pre-College Summer Programs: Animation Academy

A two-week residential summer program for high school students (grades 10–12 and recent graduates) focusing on animation and digital media. Students learn industry-standard tools including 2D animation, 3D animation, character design, graphic design, visual effects, and stop-motion techniques to create portfolio-ready work.

Jul · 2 wk sessionsResidentialBurlington, VT$3,000–$6,999186 days

Entering grades10th, 11th, 12th, PG

CategoriesPerforming & Visual Arts, Career Exploration, STEM, Performing & Visual Arts, Career Exploration, STEM

SubjectsAnimation, Digital Media, Character Design, Visual Effects

Cost$3,000–$6,999 · $4,600

Websitehttps://summer.champlain.edu/programs/animation-academy/

Unverified

University of Pennsylvania

Engineering Summer Academy at Penn: Computer Graphics

A project-based course in 3D character modeling for games and animation, covering character pipeline, anatomy, and design using professional graphics software such as Maya.

Jul · 3 wk sessionsResidentialPhiladelphia, PA$7,000+110 days

Entering grades10th, 11th, 12th

CategoriesSTEM

SubjectsComputer Graphics, 3D Modeling, Character Design, Animation

Cost$7,000+ · $9,250

Websitehttps://esap.seas.upenn.edu/courses/computer-graphics/

Unverified