Art & Animation
Bachelor
of Fine Arts
in
Production
Animation
E d u c at i o n
F u n da m e n ta l s
DigiPen’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production
Animation (BFA) program is designed to prepare
students to enter into various sectors of the digi-
tal media industries as production artists and/or
animators. The focus of the BFA curriculum is on
developing a solid foundation in fine art and ani-
mation techniques. At the beginning of the
program, students will focus on their foundation-
al fine art skills, studying figure drawing, sculpt-
ing, and painting. Additionally, students will take
courses in human and animal anatomy. 2D and
3D concept and design work will follow and
includes environment art, storyboarding, and
character design. Furthermore, students in the
BFA program will be offered elective courses in
film and cinema, sociology, English composition
and storytelling, physics for animators, and act-
ing for animators.
Applied
T e c h n i c a l S k i l ls
BFA students directly apply the foundational and
technical skills they learn throughout the program
by forming teams to create animated films and/
or games in both 2D and 3D. Students are not
restricted to any particular software package;
therefore, they can easily apply and adapt their
skills to a broad range of technologies and devel-
opment environments. Throughout the program
students will have exposure to the following
software packages:
• 3D Studio Max
• Autodesk Maya
• Photoshop
• Blender
• Mudbox
• Z-Brush
• After Effects
I n d u s t r y f u s e d w i t h Ac a d e m i a
The art faculty at DigiPen come from a wide range of
backgrounds and includes individuals with professional
experience in games, film, and the fine arts. Recent
faculty publications include Animation from Pencils to
Pixels: Classical Techniques for the Digital Animator by
Tony White and Achieving Invisibility: The Art of Archi-
tectural Visualization and Rendering by Adam Crespi.
Finally, DigiPen’s BFA program is reviewed annually
by a Program Advisory Committee (PAC) made up of
representatives from industry leading companies in
order to ensure that the program curriculum meets the
standards of rigor and relevance for a life-long career With a degree in Production
in the field. Animation from DigiPen you
could be a...

Concept Artist
Storyboard Artist
Character Artist
Character Animator
Environment Artist
3D Modeler
Animator
Technical Artist

Places B.F.A. Graduates have worked...

Sony Online Entertainment Bungie

Airtight Games ArenaNet
Fishbeat Junction Point
Turn 10 (a part of Disney Interactive Studios)
Rhythm & Hues Monolith
Hidden Path Games PopCap
Cartoon Network Bend Game Studio (Sony)
R e c o m m e n d e d C o u r s e S e q u e n c e C h ar t

Course Course Title Core Credits

ANI 101 Introduction to Animation - Theories and Techniques I X 3
ART 101 The Language of Drawing X 3
Semester 1

ART 115 Art and Technology 4

BIO 100 Visual Perception X 3
ENG 116 Storytelling X 4
FLM 115 History of Film and Animation 3
Semester Total 20
ANI 125 Acting for Animation X 3
ANI 151 Advanced Animation - Theories and Techniques II X 3
Semester 2

ART 125 Tone, Color, and Composition X 3

ART 151 Basic Life Drawing X 3
BIO 150 Human Muscular, Skeletal, and Kinetic Anatomy X 3
FLM 151 Visual Language and Film Analysis X 3
Semester Total 18
ART 201 Advanced Life Drawing X 3
BIO 200 Animal Muscular, Skeletal, and Kinetic Anatomy X 3
Semester 3

CG 201 Two-Dimensional Raster Graphics and Animation X 3

CG 225 Introduction to 3D Animation X 3
PRJ 201 Two-Dimensional Animation Production X 5
Semester Total 17
ART 225 Three-Dimensional Design and Sculpture X 3
ART 251 Character Design X 3
Semester 4

CG 251 Two-Dimensional Vector Graphics and Animation X 3

CG 275 Three-Dimensional Character Animation X 3
PRJ 251 Two-Dimensional Vector Animation Production X 5
Semester Total 17
ANI 300 Acting through an Interface X 3
ART 300 Perspective, Backgrounds, and Layouts X 3
Semester 5

CG 300 Three-Dimensional Environment and Level Design X 3

ENG 315 Story through Dialogue X 4
ART 350 Storyboards X 3
PRJ 300 Limited-Scope 3D Production X 5
Semester Total 21
ANI 350 Voice Acting for Animation X 3
PHY 115 Introduction to Applied Math and Physics 3
Semester 6

CG 350 Graphics for Gaming 3

FLM 201 Cinematography X 3
PRJ 350 Three-Dimensional Animation Production X 5
Semester Total 17
ART 401 Conceptual Illustration and Visual Development 3
FLM 250 Digital Post-Production X 3
Semester 7

FLM 275 Fundamentals of Music & Sound Design 3

ART 450 Portfolio X 3
PRJ 400 Capstone Project I X 5
Semester Total 17
ANI 400 Cinematic Animation X 3
SOS 115 Media and Ethics: A Social Science Perspective X 3
Semester 8

CS 115 Introduction to Scripting and Programming X 3

LAW 115 Introduction to Intellectual Property and Contracts 3
PRJ 450 Capstone Project II X 5
Semester Total 17
Degree Total 144 min.

Note: Please see the Course Catalog for an explanation of core courses and course descriptions.
 Admissions Requirements

In order to be considered for admission to DigiPen Institute of Technology Europe - Bilbao, all BFA
applicants MUST meet the following minimum requirements:
1. Have completed Bachillerato and Selectividad
2. Have achieved at least an advanced level in the English language
3. In addition, BFA applicants are encouraged to take mathematics coursework at least through
trigonometry prior to applying, but this is not a requirement.

All BFA applicants must submit the following application materials:

†† Application for Admission (paper or online)
†† 200€ Application fee
†† Official high school transcripts
†† Official university transcripts (if applicable)
†† Official scores for the Selectividad - No minimum score requirement
†† Two letters of recommendation (optional)
†† Personal statement - Please see the website (www.digipen.es) or the Undergraduate Admissions
factsheet for the required personal statement topics.
†† Art Portfolio: Please see information on the Art Portfolio for specific requirements
†† Proof of English language proficiency. Proof can be demonstrated in one of the following ways:
a) A minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language, such as TOEFL
b) Completion of four years of high school in the United States at an English-speaking school
c) Completion of a bachelor’s degree at an English-speaking institution
d) Other English proficiency exam scores, Cambridge English Level Certificates or similar

Please note
Admission to the B.F.A. program at DigiPen is competitive. Applicants who exceed the minimum
requirements by demonstrating strong academic backgrounds and dedication to their artwork are more
likely to be accepted to the program.

DigiPen Institute of Technology Europe - Bilbao Teléf. 94-4706400 or 94-4706500

Alameda Rekalde 50 Fax. 94-4706401
48008 Bilbao, Bizkaia admissions.es@digipen.es
Spain www.digipen.es