| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City Art Institute | Kansas City |
| 2 | Webster University | St. Louis |
| 3 | Hollywood Animation Academy | Kansas City |
| 4 | Missouri State University | Springfield |
| 5 | Missouri Western State University | St. Joseph |
Our 2026 ranking -our fourteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Missouri. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) campus is a garden-like setting located just steps away from Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The school also houses the KCAI gallery—a contemporary art museum which hosts public screenings, exhibitions, readings, and lectures; a state-of-the-art production studio outfitted with the latest tools and equipment; the KCAI media center; 3,000 square feet auxiliary woodworking studio; and several other studios and resources for students and the school’s 75 faculty members.
Kansas City Art Institute also houses an Animation BFA program; the Animation/Art History BFA; and Animation/Creative Writing BFA. Double majors require 135 credits. The Animation BFA requires 120 credits, and all programs begin with the school’s First Year Foundation (FYF).
This immersive experience takes place in a 20,000 square feet space featuring, workshops, seminars, classes, faculty meets, presentations by international speakers, and intensive studios. Students may customize workshops to support their interests. At the end of the First Year Foundation, students will have a completed project to display alongside other FYF works.
In the second year of the KCAI Animation BFA program, students will take courses such as History of Animation: Origins; Sophomore Studio; Principles of Animation; Digital Methods; Contemporary Animation History; Visual Communication; and Sophomore Studio: Animators Toolbox.
In year three, students will take courses such as History of Animation Since 1960; Junior: Ideas in Motion; and Junior Studio: Explorations in Animation.
The program also requires 39 credit hours of liberal arts requirements and 15 credit hours of electives. Examples include Intro to Toon Boom Harmony; The Art of Stop Motion Puppetry; Motion Graphics: History and Practice; Narrative Storytelling: Documentary; Real-Time Animation; Live Action for Animation; Writing for Animation; Action for Animators; and Animation as Political Protest.
In the final year of the KCAI Animation BFA program, students will complete the Professional Practice course and Senior Studio: Graduation Animation 1 and 2. The Professional Practice course allows students to interact and network with visiting artists and industry professionals. The two six-credit Senior Studios provide the opportunity to produce an animated work. In the last year of the program, students will also have the chance to complete an internship at a local studio.
Double major students will complete all required animation courses and the final animated project. Animation/Art History students will also take courses such as Contemporary Art; Global/Comparative Art; Modern Art; Art History Seminar; Renaissance Art; Baroque Art; Medieval Art; Ancient Art; and Art Historical Studies I-II.
Animation/Creative Writing BFA students will complete additional courses such as Writing Seminar; Critical Studies; Creative Writing Workshop; Literature; Philosophy; and Art Historical Studies I-II.
Graduates of the Kansas City Art Institute Animation BFA and double major programs are prepared to pursue creative roles in areas such as animation, film, television, game design, advertising, and publishing. Program alumni have been hired at major networks and studios such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Digital Domain, Warner Bros., Netflix, Titmouse, and Hallmark.
Some KCAI BFA graduates also go on to pursue advanced degrees at major Universities and art schools such as California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), School of Visual Art New York (SVA NY), and University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC).
Kansas City Art Institute was established in 1885 as a Sketch Club. Today, this private four-year art and design school serves approximately 700 students enrolled in 13 majors leading to a BFA. KCAI is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD). The school is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The School of Communications (SOC) at Webster University (Webster) is home to the Media Arts Department, which houses a STEM-designated Animation BA program and an Animation Production minor. Students in both programs benefit from small classes; hands-on experience through experiential learning activities; and collaborative projects across SOC disciplines and the university.
Housed in a 66,000 square feet state-of-the-art media production and education facility known as the Sverdrup Complex, the SOC is a designated Toon Boom Centre of Excellence that provides access to state-of-the-art animation, game design, and video post-production labs. The complex also houses the Media Center; audio and video production suites; workshops and teaching spaces; the Kooyumjian Gallery; sound stages; a photography studio; recording suites; Winnifred Moore Auditorium; and The Webster University Film Series.
Established in 1979, the Film Series hosts more than 100 film screenings, over 20 visiting performers and speakers annually, filmmaking workshops, outside sponsors, and more than 6,800 viewers.
The 18 credit hour Animation Production minor at Webster University explores the theory, principles, and practice of animation. Courses include Animation I-II and Writing Screenplays for Film. For the remaining credits, students will complete nine hours of animation electives. Examples include Photorealistic 3D Animation; Cartooning; 3D Animated Short Film; Visual Storytelling; Special Topics in Animation; Character Design; Experimental Animation; and Storyboarding. The minor culminates with a final project.
The Animation BA program at Webster University focuses on storytelling, drawing, production, performance, and digital and traditional animation. The major consists of 57 credit hours, including required courses such as Animation I-II; Voicing Your Creation; History of Animation; Character Design; Advanced Animation; 3D Modeling; Storyboarding; Graphics and Effects; Writing the Short Script; and Professional Development for Media Careers.
Students can develop skills in additional areas of interest within animation and the creative arts through a pre-selected list of electives. Examples include Game Art; Film and Television Appreciation; Writing Screenplays for Film; Video Game Production; 3D Animated Short Film; Cartooning; Experimental Animation; Visual Effects; 3D Character Sculpting; and Comic Book Creation.
Students in all Webster SOC programs may add the Entrepreneurship certificate to enhance the degree. Housed in the George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology’s Management Department, the Entrepreneurship certificate is an 18 credit hour program that explores financial management for animation, film, and television; video production; media arts; graphic design; and music. The program also focuses on marketing and small business management.
Careers Week provides additional opportunities to enhance the Animation BA. This department-focused event features information panels led by industry professionals; interactive career videos; and the annual Internship Expo where students meet with a variety of professionals to secure an internship. SOC students have interned at companies and studios such as Titmouse, ESPN, Plymptoons, MTV, Bad Dog Pictures, Genius Games, and Vidzu Media.
The Animation BA program at Webster University culminates with the capstone project and presentation. Graduates are prepared to pursue positions in areas such as animation, game art and design, filmmaking, visual effects, television production, advertising, multimedia, and graphic design.
Program alumni have been hired at major studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Disney, Sony Pictures Imageworks, DreamWorks, and Digital Domain. Just a few alumni credits include Lord of the Rings, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and King Kong.
Webster University was founded in 1915 by the Sisters of Loretto. When it opened as Loretto College, the school became the first senior Catholic college for women in Missouri, and one of the first Catholic women’s colleges west of the Mississippi River.
Today, Webster University serves approximately 13,450 students enrolled in more than 160 programs across five colleges and schools. The university also has overseas campuses in Greece, China, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Georgia, Uzbekistan, and Austria. Webster University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Hollywood Animation Academy (HAA) is one of the few freestanding 100% animation colleges in the U.S., with programs taught by veteran animators from major Hollywood studios. Courses and programs at Hollywood Animation Academy take place in an entirely on-ground environment housed in the Centriq Training Building. HAA students have access to a state-of-the-art computer lab and high-tech classrooms that encourage collaboration.
Hollywood Animation Academy provides accelerated, career-focused programs including a two-year Animation certificate, a Masters in Animation certificate, and introductory courses that are delivered 100% live online. Examples include Introduction to 2D Animation; Introduction to 3D Animation; and Introduction to Filmmaking in Unreal Engine. Introductory courses are eight-week courses that take place at night during the week, typically on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The two-year Animation certificate program consists of 19 courses. Examples include 2D Animation Fundamentals; Character Design; 3D Animation 1-3; Previsualization; Storyboard 1-4; Unreal Engine Film Making; and 3D Game Animation. Throughout the program, students will complete a number of works to be included in a portfolio-ready reel. Students will also complete the Website Creation course where they will design, build, and customize their personal portfolio website.
The Masters certificate program is open to graduates of the HAA two-year Animation certificate program or artists with advanced skills and an Animation Bachelor’s degree or higher. The program is delivered in person and via live classes online. Students in the program will begin working on industry-ready projects from day one.
In the final semester, students will produce their own films in Maya and Unreal Engine, while following real-world production schedules. Students will also receive direct feedback from professional directors. Upon completion of the program, students will have a professional portfolio of their best work.
Hollywood Animation Academy graduates are prepared to pursue positions with major studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Disney, Cartoon Network, Blizzard Entertainment, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros. Animation, Insomniac Games, and Rough Draft Studios.
Hollywood Animation Academy was founded in 2022 by Hollywood Director and Animator, Gavin Dell. The school provides Animation certificate programs and single courses to students from across the state. The school's certificate programs are limited to 12 students and certified by the state of Missouri.
The Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities at Missouri State University (MSU) houses the School of the Art and the School of Communication. The School of Art is home to the Art and Design Department, which provides an Art BFA with a Computer Animation track. The School of Communication houses and Electronic Arts BS with a Computer Animation Studies track.
The Art BFA/Computer Animation program explores 2D and 3D animation techniques. Course examples include 2D Design; Computer Animation I-V; Creative Coding; Three-Dimensional Design; Color Theory; Contemporary Art; Individual Instruction; and Professional Practices in Computer Animation.
Students may also complete three to six credit hours in any studio area and an art internship to enhance the degree. The culminating experience for the program is the Public Affairs Capstone (Senior Exhibition).
Students in the Electronic Arts/Computer Animation Studies BS program will take many of the same required courses for the Art BFA/Computer Animation program. Other course examples include Fundamentals of Collaboration in Electronic Arts; Introduction to New Media; Digital Film and Media Production; Principles of Cinematography; Editing for Film and Animation; and Introduction to Audio Techniques.
Students in the BS program will complete the Junior Portfolio Review and the Public Affairs Capstone (Senior Project in Electronic Arts) to graduate.
Graduates of the Missouri State University Animation programs are prepared to pursue titles such as Animator, Computer Animator, Filmmaker, Visual Effects (VFX) Artist, Game Artist, Television Production Artist, Advertising Animator, and Animation Professor.
Missouri State University was founded in 1905 as the Fourth District Normal School. When it opened, the school’s primary goal was to train teachers to enter the public school systems in Southwest Missouri. Today, Missouri State is a public university system that serves approximately 24,225 students enrolled in more than 260 different undergraduate majors and graduate programs across four campuses and eight colleges. Campuses include Springfield, West Plains, and Mountain Grove, Missouri, and Dalian, China. Missouri State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Missouri Western State University (MWSU) is home to the School of Fine Arts, which houses the Art, Cinema, and Music programs. Within the Art program is a Digital Animation BFA that requires 120 credit hours of study. A Digital Animation minor is also available. Consisting of 21 credit hours, the minor requires courses such as Animation Fundamentals; Motion Graphics; Digital Animation; Design Software Applications; and Introduction to Game Design. The program culminates with a final project.
The Digital Animation BFA at MWSU highlights 75 credit hours in the major, which explores traditional hand-drawn animation, 3D animation, illustration, graphics, and more. Examples of major requirements include Digital Animation; Motion Graphics; Character Animation; Illustration I; Topics in Modern/Contemporary Art; Animation Fundamentals; Digital 3D Lighting; 2D Design; Survey of Art History I-II; and 3D Design.
To create a specialization area, MWSU Digital Animation BFA students can select 12 credit hours of advanced study courses such as Advanced Motion Graphics; Digital Animation Production; and Advanced Digital Sculpting. Guided elective courses also allow students to specialize in an area of interest. Guided elective examples include CGI Integration; Greenscreen and Rotoscoping; Introduction to Computer Programming; Graphic Design I; Audio Production; and Internship in Art.
The Digital Animation BFA program at Missouri Western State University culminates with the Digital Animation Portfolio. This can be a demo reel or interactive medium. In addition to the portfolio, students will finalize their resumes and design promotional materials such as business cards.
Graduates of the Digital Animation BFA program at Missouri Western State University are prepared to pursue titles such as Animator, Visual Effects (VFX) Artist, Level Designer, Character Animator, Medical Animator, Motion Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Game Artist, Scientific Visualization Animator, Background Painter, Environment Artist, Creative Director, Lighting Artist, and Product Designer.
Missouri Western State University was founded in 1915 as St. Joseph Junior College. Today, this four-year university is a full member of the Missouri State University System. The school serves approximately 4,395 students enrolled in more than 100 degree, minor, and certificate programs across seven colleges and schools. Missouri Western State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
