Animation Diploma

Classical & Computer Animation & Production

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Get the Skills to Become a Professional Animator

Are you looking to start a rewarding career in the Animation industry, but aren’t sure where to start? Look no further than MTM’s 4-year Animation Diploma program. You’ll get the skills, hands-on training, and career support you need to begin a career as an Animator upon graduation.

You will graduate with a solid portfolio, a demo reel, the skills to write a cover letter and résumé, an online profile page, and the ability to conduct yourself professionally in a job interview.

Most of our instructors are working professionals, and we have strong contacts in the animation community. Our annual Industry Event showcases graduating students and is well attended by representatives from animation and gaming companies. Feel confident that you’ll be receiving the industry support you need to succeed in the Animation industry.

Become a Skilled Animator

In addition to a series of both classical and digital animation courses, the Animation Diploma curriculum includes in-depth drawing classes, cartooning, acting for animation, character design, background painting/design, and a sequence of visual language, storytelling and storyboarding courses.

In Year 3, as the culmination of a series of linked courses, you will produce an original short using 2D computer animation. Year 3 students are at the college for an extra month to work on their films and receive an additional 36 hours of instruction during this time.

In Year 4, in addition to advanced courses in 3D animation, you will work in a group and participate in a simulated 3D production experience directed by an industry professional. This is a longer academic year, with an additional 3 weeks added to each semester.


Is Creative Career Training Right for You?
Take the Animation, Art & Design Career Training Readiness Quiz

The fun, online quiz takes 3-minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for. Get your Creative Career Training Readiness score now!


You can view our KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) from previous years here.

  • Curriculum

    Curriculum

    In order to graduate, you must pass all of the following courses.

    Note that, due to scheduling requirements, courses will sometimes be offered in terms or years different from the schedule below. For complete course descriptions, please consult our course or contact the school.

    First Term

    Beginning Life Drawing 1
    Perspective 1
    Design & Composition
    Principles of Drawing 1
    History of Animation & Animation Production Process
    Introduction to Animation
    Colour Theory & Background Painting

    Second Term

    Beginning Life Drawing 2
    Perspective 2
    Structural Drawing 1
    Principles of Drawing 2
    Cartooning 1
    Animation Basics 1
    Digital Background Painting

  • Tuition

    Tuition

    Tuition at public universities and colleges in Ontario is subsidized by the provincial government for local students, with universities receiving almost the same amount from subsidies as they do from tuition.

    As Max the Mutt is a private career college, we do not receive any tuition assistance from the government, and our fees reflect the full cost of delivering our high-quality programs. Tuition for international students is slightly higher as it goes toward the increased cost of visa processing and marketing outside of Canada.

    At this time Max the Mutt students are not eligible for OSAP student loans. We do, however, provide financial assistance to some qualifying students.

    Max the Mutt Animation School is eligible to receive payment from RESPs and all diploma and certificate program students receive T2202A Tax Receipts for tuition paid.

    See the Scholarships & Financial Aid page for more information.

    • Year 1

      $12,500 ($18,000 International)

    • Year 2

      $12,500 ($18,000 International)

    • Year 3

      $12,500 ($18,000 International)

    • Year 4

      $12,500 ($18,000 International)

    In need of financial assistance?

    Max the Mutt offers many options for students who are unable to pay all or part of their tuition due to financial hardship. We are also able to provide contacts at financial institutions for a student line of credit.

    The following financial assistance options are provided through the school:

    Applying for Financial Aid at MTM

    The deadline to submit financial aid applications for the Fall 2016 / Winter 2017 academic year is as follows: 
    • Year 1 Application deadline: April 8th, 2016
    • Year 1 Review & notification of status: April 13th, 2016
    • Years 2-4 Application deadline: April 8th, 2016
    • Years 2-4 Review & notification of status: April 13th, 2016

    For New Students

    New students will need to submit the following items to the admissions department in order to be considered for one of our 1st-year scholarships:

    Note: if you currently reside outside the Greater Toronto Area you may submit items electronically. Please ensure all image files are in JPG or PNG format in a single zipped file.

    • Entire package from your application review (additional items can be included).
    • One additional character reference.
    • An additional essay of no more than 1 page (about 300 words) outlining why you need financial assistance, and any special considerations that are relevant to your financial situation.
    • A link to your online portfolio, if available.
    • An expected budget for the school year including your anticipated monthly costs for rent, transportation, food and living expenses.
    • Evidence of financial need: copies of the Notice of Assessment for the previous tax year both you and your parents.
    • A completed application form

    Please Note: This aid is Not Available to International Students.

    For Returning Students

    Returning Students will need to submit the following to the registrar’s office by the submission deadline:

    • An additional essay of no more than 1 page (about 300 words) outlining why you need financial assistance, and any special considerations that are relevant to your financial situation.
    • An expected budget for the school year including your anticipated monthly costs for rent, transportation, food and living expenses.
    • Portfolio of work of your choosing.
    • A link to your online portfolio, if available.
    • Life drawing sketchbook(s).
    • Two references from current instructors.
    • Evidence of financial need: copies of the Notice of Assessment for the previous tax year both you and your parents.
    • A completed application form
    Line of Credit Info Scholarships and Bursaries
  • Career Opportunities

    Career Opportunities

    Max the Mutt graduates are employed and in-demand. Industry representatives have told us they are impressed by the uniformly high level of quality in our graduate’s work. We assist employers on a regular basis by connecting them with qualified students. We also keep in touch with our graduates and regularly inform them about job openings.

      Possible Careers

    • 3D Animator
    • Character Rigger
    • Character Modeler
    • Character or Environment Modeler
    • Material Shading and Lighting
    • Character Design, Sculpting and Texturing
    • Environment Design, Modeling and Texturing
    • Storyboard Artist
    • Character Designer
    • Layout & Environment Design
    • Animator
    • Digital Background Painter
    • Colour Key Artist
    • 2D Computer Animation Artist (Harmony)
    • Locations Designer
    How to Apply
  • Application Requirements

    Application Requirements

    GENERAL

    1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
    • Completed APPLICATION FORM and PORTFOLIO REVIEW FEE : Once you book the date for your review, you will receive an email confirming this appointment that includes both a link to a page on our website, and the required password to complete and submit the application form and pay your review fee.
    • A copy of your secondary and/or post-secondary school transcripts. Please provide transcripts from any institution attended in the last five years.
    • A written character reference from a current or past instructor or employer. This should be emailed to admissions@maxthemutt.com. Please ask your reference to write “Character reference for ___________”  in the subject line.
    • A drawing of your own hand.  
    • 2 still life drawings done from observation ( not from your imagination, and not copied from a photo).  Each drawing should have at least 2 objects ( for example a bottle and an apple) set up on a surface such as a table top, and drawn in relation to each other and the surface they are on. These drawings can be line drawings (no tone required), but attention should be paid to composition and line quality.
    • An observational drawing of part of a room (interior).
    • An observational drawing of what you see outside.
    • Pages from your sketchbook

    Program Specific Requirements

    Design two characters:

    • For the first character, draw it in a line-up across the page from the following angles: profile, ¾ front, frontal, ¾ rear.  Please  include your developmental sketches along with the finished product.
    • For the first character: Create 6 studies showing facial expressions for the  character (heads only)
    • For the second character: Create a character who is physically different from the first character.  For this second character you do not have to draw the rotation or facial expressions.
    • Show the difference between the two characters by placing the two characters side-by-side in silhouette 
    • Do they “read” well?  Can  we easily  distinguish one from the other?   
    • Create a simple prop of some kind for each character, i.e. a possession such as a hat, an umbrella/parasol, or a bag of some kind .
    • Storyboard: Create a simple, 8-16 panel storyboard involving the two characters you have designed.  Involve the props you have designed for them. For example, one character has an umbrella, the other a shopping bag.  Both are waiting for a bus.  They don’t know each other.  It begins to rain heavily.  Character A offers to share his umbrella, but then has trouble when it blows inside out.  Character B opens her large plastic bag, which they then share.

    WRITTEN ESSAY

    A 2-3 page essay about yourself and why you want to attend this program. Your essay must include:

    What animated films, studios, or animators have inspired you and why?

    • What are your major interests and influences?
    • What are your favourite books?
    • Have you had any team or group experiences?
    • Why do you want to attend this program?

    For 2023 applicants all application interviews will be held online. ONCE YOU HAVE BOOKED YOUR REVIEW DATE YOU WILL RECEIVE THE LINK TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION AND PAY YOUR REVIEW FEE.  SUBMIT YOUR DOCUMENTS AND PORTFOLIO AT LEAST 2 DAYS BEFORE YOUR SCHEDULED SKYPE REVIEW BY PDF ATTACHMENTS TO EMAILS, OR BY CREATING A GOOGLE PAGE AND GIVING BOTH ADMISSIONS AND YOUR REVIEWER PERMISSION TO VIEW. 

    ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

    Before deciding to apply, please be aware:

    Upon acceptance, you will have to apply for a Study Permit. Therefore, before you begin the application process and invest your time and energy, we suggest that you take the time to be sure that you meet Canadian Immigration guidelines!

    TO QUALIFY FOR A STUDY PERMIT, YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING:

    • An IELTS Academic test overall score of 6.0 or greater
    • Proof of funds to study and support yourself while in Canada
    • A valid Passport of more than 6 months
    • Notarized Copies of transcripts

    If you feel that you meet the above criteria and you have decided to apply, please contact the Admissions Counselor at admissions@maxthemutt.com.

    INCOMPLETE PORTFOLIO REVIEW APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED. PLEASE REVIEW ALL THE REQUIREMENTS CAREFULLY. IF YOU ARE MAILING IN YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE, PLEASE SEND IT VIA COURIER, REGISTERED MAIL, OR BY EMAIL

    INCOMPLETE PORTFOLIO REVIEW APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED. PLEASE REVIEW ALL THE REQUIREMENTS CAREFULLY. IF YOU ARE MAILING IN YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE, PLEASE SEND IT VIA COURIER, REGISTERED MAIL, OR BY E-MAIL.

    How to Apply

Curriculum

In order to graduate, you must pass all of the following courses.

Note that, due to scheduling requirements, courses will sometimes be offered in terms or years different from the schedule below. For complete course descriptions, please consult our course or contact the school.

First Term

Beginning Life Drawing 1
Perspective 1
Design & Composition
Principles of Drawing 1
History of Animation & Animation Production Process
Introduction to Animation
Colour Theory & Background Painting

Second Term

Beginning Life Drawing 2
Perspective 2
Structural Drawing 1
Principles of Drawing 2
Cartooning 1
Animation Basics 1
Digital Background Painting

These are the directions that need to be closely followed because, although we are approved by RBC and Scotiabank, we aren’t an OSAP school. Without following the process they request, your local branch will not find us listed.

ROYAL CREDIT LINE FOR STUDENTS ROYAL BANK FINANCIAL GROUP QUALIFIED* applicants in Greater Toronto Area (GTA) may apply for a Royal Credit Line for students at the Royal Bank Financial Group – Dundas & Spadina Branch, 500 Dundas Street West, please call:
Customer Assistance Officer @ (416) 974-0458 for an appointment with Jennifer Yu.

For applicants from another RBC branch outside GTA, have your Bank Representative contact Jennifer Yu for further information.

SCOTIABANK STUDENT LINE OF CREDIT
Canadian students can apply for a Student Line of Credit at the Bloor St West branch of Scotiabank – 992 Bloor St West, Toronto, ON M6H1L8, please call:
Diego Goya @ (416) 538-5236 x4206

Max The Mutt College of Animation, Art & Design is listed as an approved exception to the Government provided approval list.

Applicants should bring two I.D (e.g. social insurance card, driver’s license, Canadian passport, birth certificate), a statement of income and also the Letter of Acceptance from Max the Mutt. If you have accounts with Royal Bank, bring the RBC client card.

*Applicants without sufficient credit history or a current income will require a cosigner with satisfactory credit history and income. The cosigner also has to bring two I.D. and a statement of income to the branch.

Max The Mutt College of Animation, Art & Design is listed as an approved exception to the Government provided approval list.

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Animation Diploma How to Apply

How to Apply

Program Details

Duration

4 Year Diploma Program

Tuition

Year 1 - $12,500 ($18,000 International)

Year 2 - $12,500 ($18,000 International)

Year 3 - $12,500 ($18,000 International)

Year 4 - $12,500 ($18,000 International)

Campus

2944 Danforth Ave

Toronto, Ontario M4C 1M5

Map Link

Need to Knows

This is a FOUR YEAR DIPLOMA, the first year of which now includes basic representational art skills (drawing, perspective, structural drawing, colour theory) and Cartooning 1, Storytelling & Story Development, Intro to Animation, Animation Basics 1, History of animation & Animation Production. For direct entry into year two or three, students may apply for advanced standing. To qualify for advanced standing, into any year, students must submit portfolios demonstrating skills equivalent to those developed in the year or years preceding the year they are applying for.

How to Apply

Is a Creative and Rewarding Career in Animation, Art or Design Right For You? Get More Info...
If you're interested in learning more about careers in Animation, Art or Design and exploring whether Max the Mutt is right for you, contact us today to receive more information.
For immediate questions, call 1-877-486-MUTT or 1-416-703-6877

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