Animation at Buffalo

Degree Programs

Currently, students can focus on animation as part of their program of courses leading to the BFA, MAH, and MFA degrees in the department. We are also in the process of developing a PhD program that would provide students with the opportunity to pursue advanced work in animation and related scholarly research. We expect this program to begin in near future.

Courses and Faculty

We offer courses and workshops in the history, theory, and practice of animation. This includes Animation Fundamentals, History of Animation, and Visionaries of Experimental Animation. In the Spring of 2008, we offered courses in Stop Motion, Paint on Glass, and Writing for Animation taught by David Fain, Sheila Sofian, and Joseph Janeti respectively. In the fall of 2008, we are offering the production course, Introduction to Animation taught by Justin Chouinard. In the Spring of 2009, we are proud to offer a the course Synthetic Characters taught by international animation expert Dr. Heitor Capuzzo, as well as a special Master Class in Experimental Animation taught by Academy Award Nominated animator Ishu Patel.

Faculty

• Heitor Capuzzo: Synthetic Characters, History of Animation
• Dave Pape: Virtual Reality, History of Animation
• Vibeke Sorensen: Visionaries of Experimental Animation, Stereoscopic Animation, Expanded Cinema

Adjunct Animation Faculty

• David Fain: Stop Motion Animation, Flash Animation
• Ishu Patel: Experimental Animation Production
• Joseph Janeti: Writing for Animation
• Sheila Sofian: Paint on Glass
• Justin Chouinard (TA): Introduction to Animation

Employment and Professional Opportunities in Animation

The Department of Media Study works closely with the wider university and local arts community to provide students with a range of educational and professional employment opportunities. There are Teaching Assistantships, grants, and internships available at companies such as Fisher-Price, IBC Digital, and UB’s Center for Computational Research.

Buffalo was recently voted the #1 arts community among all mid-sized US cities. There are many galleries that show work of artists and students from the Department of Media Study. It is a vibrant cultural environment and animation is growing quickly as part of it. There are many screenings, shows, festivals, talks, guest artist residencies and major exhibitions at venues such as Hallwalls, Squeaky Wheel, and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. In addition, the Buffalo Film Commission, together with new start-up companies, a host of other arts organizations, and a major expansion of the university into the architecturally lush, and revitalized downtown culture scene is providing many new opportunities for artists and animators.

Buffalo and the Community

Buffalo has a population of about 250,000 people and is situated in the western edge of New York State near Niagara Falls, one of the world’s natural wonders. It is only a 1.5 hour drive from Toronto, Canada, a 1 hour flight from New York City, and a 1 hour flight from Chicago.

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