The BFA program in art with a concentration in animation offers students a comprehensive education that preserves tradition while fostering independent innovation. The curriculum embraces new visualization methodologies and tools with the potential to drive discoveries and insights across various disciplines.<br><br>In the first year, students engage in coursework that builds a foundation for them to situate animation within the realm of fine art practice. In the second year, students acquire fundamental artistic and technical skills for 2D and 3D animation production using industry-standard software. During the third year, students receive extended assistance by enrolling in upper-division courses specialized in various areas of animation production. In the fourth year, senior students, equipped with an advanced understanding of animation techniques and aesthetics, embark on the creation of a short animation film, either individually or collaboratively, throughout a one-year Animation Capstone course. Students can view examples of class projects and senior capstone projects completed by students in the ASU Animation Spring 2023 Showcase (https://www.youtube.com/watchvCgmrdeBNfI0). Upon completing the program, graduates can demonstrate both technical and artistic abilities, enabling them to create animations for exhibitions in arts venues such as galleries and museums, screen them at film and animation festivals, and use them in presentations for careers in the animation, game and film entertainment industries.<br><br>The program features a faculty of active professional artists who work at the forefront of computer-generated imagery, emerging technology (machine learning, virtual reality and extended reality), and independent animation filmmaking. Students enrolled in the program collaborate closely with faculty members, who not only impart essential knowledge but also emphasize critical concepts in their teaching, fostering interdisciplinary engagement. Moreover, students enjoy the opportunity to explore animation as an ever-expanding and evolving medium. This exploration is made possible through interactions with the state-of-the-art facilities and resources at the Media and Immersive eXperience Center in Mesa, Arizona. Designed to accommodate programs in film, media arts, design and emerging technology, the MIX Center hosts a vibrant community of hundreds of students who engage in a wide array of creative endeavors, including filmmaking, the design of new virtual worlds, video game development, and the creation of immersive media experiences across various domains.<br><br>The animation curriculum is augmented by internships offered by a wide range of arts organizations, and public exhibitions and visiting artist and scholar lectures supported by the School of Art galleries, the Ceramics Research Center and Archive and the ASU Art Museum. These events offer students the opportunity to develop their knowledge and appreciation of contemporary art and culture while building a professional network.