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Animation Summer Program for Grades 6-8
Why Take Animation
Animation creates characters and worlds bound only by your imagination. In this program, you will develop the essential skills you need to express yourself as an aspiring animator. You’ll learn how to bring your drawings, paintings, sculptures, and objects to life through a variety of types of animation and make your own films. You’ll also have the opportunity to collaborate with other young artists to create short films that may be shown at festivals around the world as part of the Animators Workshop Group (AWG).
What You'll Learn
During your time at animation summer camp, you will:
- Master the foundations of visual storytelling
- Explore the history of animation
- Try out a number of animation techniques such as sand animation; clay and puppet animation; hand-drawn; paper cutout; and more
At the end of the session, your work will be featured in a student showcase in our 180-seat, 4K high-definition, state-of-the-art projection space.
Program Highlights
DeRoy Center for Film Studies
Film & New Media courses are held inside of the DeRoy Center for Film Studies, the 26,000 square-foot home of Interlochen's Film & New Media Division. The facility touts four editing suites, classrooms equipped with cutting-edge technology, a soundstage, and a 180-seat 2K HD projection space—it's the same projection you'll find at your local cinema, allowing films to be seen and heard the way the director intended.
Additional Opportunities
The Film & New Media program also offers Intermediate Filmmaking as part of Interlochen Arts Camp. Interlochen is also home to the Arts Academy boarding high school, which offers a Film & New Media major for grades 9-12, as well as a post-graduate year.
Guest Artists
Recent guest artists to the Film & New Media Department during Interlochen Arts Camp include:
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Robert Eggers, film director, screenwriter, and production designer known for The Witch and The Lighthouse
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Peter Gould, television writer, director, and producer known for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul
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Janet Leahy, an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer known for Mad Men
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Michael Moore, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker.
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Gordon Radley, former president of George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic
What is animation?
Hear from Interlochen Arts Camp animation students about what animation is—and learn more about their experience in the program.
Dive deeper into Interlochen Arts Camp with a free digital viewbook
In our free informational booklet, you'll learn more about:
- Each of our seven arts areas
- Various programs
- Renowned faculty
- A day in the life of a student
- How to apply and financial aid information
- And more