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Animation Summer Program for High School Students
Why Take High School Animation
Dive deeper into the constantly evolving world of animation and learn how digital animation is transforming storytelling and visual language. Under the guidance of leading professionals, at our animation camp you’ll discover the history, fundamentals, and current best practices of animation as you work individually and collaboratively to create your own short films. Each three-week session explores different animation topics and welcomes both beginners and seasoned visual storytellers.
What You'll Learn
- Understand the pipeline process of digital animation from first pitch to finished project
- Discuss the fundamentals of movement as they pertain to a variety of animation fields
- Explore relevant history of animation
- Gain hands-on experience with industry-standard animation software based on the objectives of our professional animators
At the end of your session, your work will be featured in a student showcase in our 180-seat, 4K high-definition, state-of-the-art projection space.
Come join us for a summer art camp you won't forget!
Program Highlights
Animation Screenings
Each session will conclude with a screening of your work in front of an audience, which takes place at our projection space inside the DeRoy Center for Film Studies.
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 offers additional summer programs that might interest High School Animation students, including Screenwriting and Filmmaking. 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
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James Suhr, art director and film storyboarding director known for Despicable Me, Gravity Falls, and Dogs in Space.
I've never been immersed so much in animation before. Interlochen has allowed me to explore different types of animations. I would have never thought to do stop-motion or even puppet animation.
Isabella, Animation
Arts Camp animators and actors collaborate on voice-over projects
Go behind the scenes as Interlochen Arts Camp’s animation students work with acting students to record voice-overs for their original animation projects at Interlochen Public Radio.
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