CSULB program earns accolades in 'America's Top Animation Schools' ranking
Erin Russell ‘25, a freshly minted graduate of Cal State Long Beach’s animation program, was able to hit the ground running after obtaining her BFA in art/animation. Having written and directed two films during her time at The Beach, she had a strong portfolio and was able to find work right after graduation.
“The professors I had in this program were a huge support in my journey in the BFA program and gave me the confidence and knowledge to be able to put my work out there,” she said.
Animation can be a tough and competitive industry to crack, but thanks to CSULB’s respected and affordable animation program, scores of graduates and current students have found success in the field.
The program has helped launch graduates into major and independent animation studios like Pixar, DreamWorks and Klasky Csupo, onto TV and film productions, and in related areas of leadership. Current students have won accolades in film festivals and have found internships and promising job opportunities.
This month, The Hollywood Reporter recognized CSULB’s animation program by including it in its inaugural ranking of 13 of “America’s Top Animation Schools.”
“Among the Cal State campuses recognized for affordability and diversity, Long Beach offers a choice between animation and preproduction tracks, traditional 2D and 3D, and experimental approaches,” the article states.
Total undergraduate tuition and fees are $8,342 for California residents, according to CSULB’s tuition and fees website. That’s far below the $55,000 and higher annual tuition for private and out-of-state schools.
“You don’t have to compromise quality when you’re choosing a state school. Our recognition has gone up the past decade, and, of course, our alumni have done great work,” said Aubry Mintz, a professor in animation and founder of the program at CSULB. “As students get hired at the major studios, they talk about us. Our reputation keeps growing.”
Mintz cites a competitive portfolio and admissions process, outstanding faculty, proximity to Hollywood, accessibility and affordability as key factors that make The Beach stand out among its peers. He also points to the 24 Hours Animation Contest, which he founded 23 years ago and hosts every year from the CSULB campus. Over the past few years, Beach students have finished extremely well in the international competition.
CSULB’s animation program, which is housed in the College of the Arts' School of Art, started in 2007 with five classes and now features 65 classes. The program provides students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the animation field for film, game and media arts. Training begins with traditional methods, then progresses to digital media and allows students to experiment with alternative techniques for narrative and non-narrative films.
The program has also been recognized by the Animation Career Review, a website that ranks the top 50 animation schools and colleges in the U.S. The Beach has consistently ranked in the top 40, and oftentimes in the top 20-30, Mintz said.
Notable alumni include Jennifer Yuh Nelson (“Kung Fu Panda 2” and 3, “Love Death + Robots”), Daniel Chong (creator and director of “We Bare Bears” on the Cartoon Network), the late Everett Peck (creator and director of “Duckman” and “Squirrel Boy” on the Cartoon Network), and Peter Avanzino (head director of “Futurama”).
Angela Abeyti ‘12, a prop and character designer for Nickelodeon, Netflix and Adult Swim, credits the program for providing her “strong foundational groundwork” and “deep appreciation” for the world of animation.
“The sheer enthusiasm in all my classmates and teachers at CSULB was infectious and it lit an enthusiastic flame in my heart for animation and 'toons — one that has stayed lit and grown into a veritable wildfire ever since,” she said.
Morgane Keesling ’18 completed the animation program, but because of her interest in theme park design, she was allowed to create her own track based on research she had done on themed entertainment. At The Beach, she combined animation studies with art history, story development, illustration and industrial design. Now she’s head of creative development for live entertainment at Disneyland Paris.
“CSULB’s animation program deeply shaped the way I approach storytelling in my role at Disneyland Paris,” Keesling said. “It taught me the importance of finding the perfect detail to bring a story to life — something animators excel at. That focus on detail helps me spotlight the incredible stories we have at Disney and make every experience as rich and meaningful as possible.”
View a gallery of student films from CSULB's animation program:
