13 Online Animation Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 8 min read
If you’re interested in animation, online programs can help you explore the field beyond what is typically covered in school. These programs introduce you to areas like 2D and 3D animation, motion graphics, storytelling, and digital design while helping you develop both creative and technical skills. They also provide opportunities to learn from instructors, mentors, and professionals working in animation and related fields.
Why should I do an online animation program in high school?
Online animation programs allow you to create projects while learning how animation workflows and creative tools are used across film, gaming, and digital media. You might work with software such as Blender, Maya, or Adobe After Effects to design characters, build animated scenes, explore visual storytelling, or develop portfolio pieces, with feedback from instructors and peers. Over time, these experiences can help you strengthen your artistic and technical abilities, build a stronger portfolio for college applications, and better understand different paths within animation and design.
Below is a curated list of 13 online animation programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for free virtual research opportunities, check out our blog here.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Program Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: January (Spring), May (Summer), September (Fall), November (Winter)
Eligibility: High school students or incoming college freshmen with strong academic performance
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program offers you a highly selective, fully funded opportunity to conduct independent research under the guidance of a Ph.D. mentor. Over 12 weeks, you will work 1-on-1 with an expert to explore a topic of your choice, which can include animation-related areas such as computer graphics, visual storytelling, or digital media. You will develop a research question, conduct in-depth analysis, and produce a final research paper, gaining exposure to advanced academic methods and critical thinking. The program emphasizes intellectual rigor, mentorship, and independent inquiry, making it particularly valuable if you want to explore animation from a conceptual, technical, or interdisciplinary perspective.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Estimated total fees of $6,434
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: June 12
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 in Spring 2026, college students, aspiring filmmakers, and international students
The UCLA Film and Television Summer Institute’s Traditional Animation Program introduces you to the fundamentals of hand-drawn animation while guiding you through the process of creating your own animated short film. Offered through UCLA’s Animation Workshop, the program teaches you how to write stories, storyboard scenes, and develop animated sequences, even if you have no prior drawing experience. Through synchronous online classes, practical exercises, and guest lectures from industry professionals, you will gain exposure to the creative and technical aspects of traditional animation. Students use tools such as Wacom tablets, Pencil2D, and Adobe Premiere to complete animation projects while learning foundational animation techniques and storytelling methods.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: January (Spring), May (Summer), September (Fall), November (Winter)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students (10–20 hours/week commitment for 8–12 weeks)
The Ladder Internship Program offers you a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in web design and digital creation by working directly with high-growth startups. During the internship, you will contribute to real-world projects such as website design, user interface improvements, and digital branding initiatives, skills highly relevant to animation and visual storytelling. You will collaborate closely with a startup team and receive mentorship from both your manager and a Ladder Coach, helping you refine your technical, creative, and professional skills. The program emphasizes practical experience, allowing you to work on meaningful deliverables that you can include in your portfolio.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $325
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Program Dates: Multiple sessions year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Ages 10–17 (high school students eligible)
The Online 3D Animation Workshops at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) provide you with a structured introduction to animation through industry-standard principles and tools. Across three progressive modules, you will learn the twelve foundational principles of animation, such as squash and stretch, anticipation, and follow-through, which are essential for creating realistic and engaging motion in films, games, and digital media. You will gain hands-on experience with professional software such as Autodesk Maya, starting with simple exercises like bouncing balls and progressing to more complex animations, including pendulum motion and character walk cycles. Each module builds on the previous one, helping you gradually develop both technical proficiency and creative control
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Tuition-based (varies by session)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; limited class sizes
Program Dates: 12-week sessions (multiple cohorts, including summer)
Application Deadline: Rolling (register before session start)
Eligibility: Ages 11–18 (high school students eligible)
The Animation Course offers you a structured, live 12-week program designed specifically for young artists interested in animation and drawing. Led by a professional animator with experience at Disney and Sony Pictures, the course focuses on building foundational animation and storytelling skills through weekly lessons and assignments. You will receive personalized feedback on each assignment, helping you refine your techniques and identify areas for improvement. The program emphasizes both technical skills and creative development, helping you learn how to bring characters and stories to life through animation principles. You can choose a recorded or graded option.
Location: Virtual (Live Online)
Cost/Stipend: $1,999
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; limited seats
Program Dates: 2 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students (ages 13–18); college students are also eligible
The Animation Summer Bootcamp by Noble Desktop offers you an intensive, short-term introduction to 2D animation through live, instructor-led sessions. Over two weeks, you will learn the fundamentals of animation, including design principles, character development, and the history of animation, while gaining hands-on experience through guided projects. You will participate in interactive training sessions, working on sketching exercises and animation techniques that help you understand movement, timing, and storytelling. In the second week, you will apply these skills to create a final animation project that incorporates elements such as sound design and advanced animation concepts, along with a certificate of completion.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Tuition-based
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; structured cohorts
Program Dates: Multiple start dates year-round (typically 8–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students and above interested in animation and motion design
School of Motion offers industry-focused 3D animation courses that help you build practical skills in motion design, visual storytelling, and digital animation. Through structured online classes, you will learn how to create animations using professional tools and workflows, gaining exposure to techniques used in film, advertising, and digital media. You will work on hands-on projects that guide you through the animation pipeline—from concept development to final rendering—while receiving feedback from instructors and peers. The curriculum emphasizes both technical execution and creative thinking, helping you understand how motion design effectively communicates ideas. While many of its courses focus on 3D animation and motion graphics, School of Motion also offers opportunities to explore related areas, including 2D animation, design principles, typography, and visual communication. This allows you to experiment with different creative disciplines and build a more versatile skill set, especially if you are still deciding which area of animation or design interests you most.
Location: Virtual (Live Online)
Cost/Stipend: $1,999
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; limited seats
Program Dates: 2 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling (subject to availability)
Eligibility: High school students (ages 13–18); college students are also eligible
The Animation Summer Bootcamp by CreativeLive offers you an intensive, short-term introduction to 2D animation through live, expert-led instruction. Over two weeks, you will explore animation history, design principles, and character development, building a strong conceptual foundation for animation work. You will engage in hands-on exercises and guided projects to learn how to apply animation principles through sketching, timing, and motion techniques. In the second week, you will advance to more complex concepts such as sound design and final production, culminating in a completed animation project that showcases your skills.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: ~$6,434 total (tuition + fees; subject to change)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Program Dates: June 22 – July 31 (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: June 12 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12), college students, and international students, with a CGPA of 3.5 or higher. Check all requirements on the website
The Traditional Animation Program at UCLA’s Film and Television Summer Institute offers you a rigorous, university-level introduction to animation under the guidance of UCLA faculty. During the program, you will learn the full animation pipeline, from storyboarding to post-production, while gaining exposure to both historical and contemporary animation practices. You will complete hands-on exercises and create your own animated short film with sound, culminating in a final screening. The program also features guest lectures and a symposium with industry professionals from major studios like Disney, Marvel, and Sony, giving you direct insight into careers in animation and entertainment.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Typically low-cost; discounts frequently available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Program Dates: Self-paced (lifetime access)
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to all learners, including high school students
The Learn Animation for Beginners course on Udemy offers you a flexible introduction to animation fundamentals through a self-paced format. You will explore core concepts such as motion, timing, and basic animation techniques, making it a suitable starting point for those new to animation. You will work through video lessons and guided exercises to understand how animated sequences are created. The course focuses on building foundational skills, allowing you to experiment with animation tools and develop simple projects at your own pace.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free to audit; paid certificate option available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Program Dates: Self-paced (~5 weeks; ~10 hours/week)
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Beginner-friendly; suitable for high school students
The Introduction to Programming and Animation with Alice course by Duke University offers you a unique blend of coding and animation, helping you build both technical and creative skills. Using the Alice programming environment, you will learn to create 3D animated stories by controlling characters, camera movements, and scene design. You will develop foundational programming skills, such as loops, conditionals, and event-driven logic, and apply them to animation and game design. The course gradually progresses from storytelling and basic animations to building simple interactive 3D games, giving you a strong understanding of how animation and programming intersect.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free to audit; paid certificate option available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Program Dates: Self-paced (~4 weeks per course; multi-course specialization)
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Beginner-friendly; suitable for high school students
The Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization by CalArts offers a creative introduction to animation-adjacent fields such as game design, storytelling, and character development. Across a series of courses, you will learn how to conceptualize games, develop narratives, and design characters and worlds, skills that are closely tied to animation and visual storytelling. You will explore how to build compelling stories, design engaging characters, and create immersive environments. The program emphasizes ideation and creative experimentation, encouraging you to think like a designer while developing a structured approach to visual and narrative concepts.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Tuition-based (varies by course)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small class sizes (~9:1 student-to-mentor ratio)
Program Dates: Multiple sessions (6-week and 12-week courses)
Application Deadline: Typically January–April (varies by session)
Eligibility: High school students and older learners interested in animation
Animation Mentor is a highly regarded online platform that allows you to learn 3D animation directly from industry professionals at studios such as Pixar, Disney, DreamWorks, and Industrial Light & Magic. Through courses such as Animation Basics and Maya Animation, you will build foundational skills in character animation and software proficiency, preparing you for more advanced work in the field. You will receive mentorship from experienced animators and participate in a structured learning environment that includes assignments, feedback sessions, and collaborative discussions. The program emphasizes production-level skills, helping you understand how animation is created in professional studio pipelines.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.