Welcome to Los Angeles City College Animation Program!

ART 250 – Introduction to Digital Art

Units: 3.0 Units
Transferrable: UC // CSU
Weekly Course Hours: Lecture 2 hrs // Lab 2 hrs
Format: In-Person & Online
Recommended Prerequisite: ART 501

Course Description
Step into the world of digital creativity. In ART 250, you’ll learn how to integrate traditional art principles—like color, design, and composition—with today’s digital tools. Through projects and experimentation, you’ll gain a strong foundation in digital workflows that support animation, illustration, and design.

What to Expect

• Learn core digital art software

• Apply design and color principles to digital media

• Create original artwork using drawing tablets and digital tools

• Experiment with image editing, layering, and composition

Program Planning Tip
ART 250 is the recommended starting point for animation students. It lays the groundwork for more advanced courses like ANIMATN 218 (Fundamentals of Animation) and ART 634 (Computer Graphics I).

ANIMATN 118 – History of Animation

Units: 3.0 Units
Transferrable: UC // CSU
Weekly Course Hours: Lecture 3 hrs
Format: In-Person & Online

Course Description
Discover how animation evolved from hand-drawn shorts to the global industry it is today. ANIMATN 118 surveys animation across cultures, techniques, and historical moments, examining both groundbreaking animators and the cultural forces that shaped their work.

What to Expect

• Study major animators and studios from around the world

• Explore historical techniques and innovations

• Analyze how politics, economics, and culture influenced animation

• Gain context for modern animation practices

Program Planning Tip
This course complements studio classes by giving you the critical and historical lens needed to appreciate and create animation at a deeper level.

ART 201 – Drawing I

Units: 3.0 Units
Transferrable: UC // CSU
Weekly Course Hours: Lecture 2 hrs // Lab 2 hrs
Format: In-Person & Online

Course Description
Strong drawing skills are the foundation of animation. ART 201 develops your ability to observe, sketch, and render using a variety of techniques and media. You’ll learn to apply the elements and principles of design while honing your creative responses to materials and subject matter.

What to Expect

• Practice observational and technical drawing

• Explore line, value, texture, and form

• Use a variety of traditional drawing tools and media

• Strengthen your portfolio for animation and design courses

Program Planning Tip
ART 201 builds confidence in visual storytelling and prepares you for courses like ART 209 (Perspective Drawing) and ANIMATN 218 (Fundamentals of Animation).

ANIMATN 218 – Fundamentals of Animation

Units: 3.0 Units
Transferrable: UC // CSU
Weekly Course Hours: Lecture 2 hrs // Lab 2 hrs
Format: In-Person & Online
Prerequisite: ART 250

Course Description
Bring drawings to life through the principles of animation. ANIMATN 218 introduces concepts like squash and stretch, anticipation, overlapping action, and timing. Using digital, cutout, and traditional techniques, you’ll complete projects that develop your sense of motion and storytelling.

What to Expect

• Learn and apply the 12 principles of animation

• Experiment with 2D, cutout, and digital animation methods

• Analyze motion in nature and translate it into animation

• Build short animated projects focusing on timing and weight

Program Planning Tip
This is the cornerstone of the Animation Foundation Certificate. It’s best taken after ART 250 so you’re comfortable with digital tools.

ART 209 – Perspective Drawing I

Units: 3.0 Units
Transferrable: UC // CSU
Weekly Course Hours: Lecture 2 hrs // Lab 2 hrs
Format: In-Person & Online
Recommended Prerequisite: ART 201

Course Description
Learn to create convincing environments and objects in space. ART 209 introduces vanishing point systems and freehand drawing techniques to help you depict depth and dimension. These skills are essential for animation, storyboarding, entertainment design, and illustration.

What to Expect

• Master one- and two-point perspective

• Create environments and structures in 3D space

• Apply perspective to storyboards and animation backgrounds

• Build confidence in scene composition

Program Planning Tip
Pair this class with Fundamentals of Animation or Storyboards to strengthen both technical drawing and storytelling skills.

ART 634 – Computer Graphics I: 3D Computer Graphics

Units: 3.0 Units
Transferrable: UC // CSU
Weekly Course Hours: Lecture 2 hrs // Lab 2 hrs
Format: In-Person & Online
Recommended Prerequisites: ART 501, ART 250

Course Description
Step into the third dimension. ART 634 introduces 3D modeling and rendering techniques used in games, animation, and multimedia. Students design objects and environments while exploring the creative possibilities of 3D digital tools.

What to Expect

• Learn the basics of 3D modeling and rendering

• Create digital objects and environments

• Explore lighting, shading, and texture application

• Gain practical skills for animation and game design pipelines

Program Planning Tip
This course is the entry point to 3D animation. It prepares you for advanced classes like ART 636 and ANIMATN 225.

ANIMATN 225 – Three-Dimensional Character Animation

Units: 3.0 Units
Transferrable: UC // CSU
Weekly Course Hours: Lecture 2 hrs // Lab 2 hrs
Format: In-Person & Online
Prerequisite: ART 634

Course Description
Bring digital characters to life in 3D. ANIMATN 225 focuses on applying the 12 principles of animation to 3D characters. Students practice rigging, lip sync, and motion capture while developing skills in timing, weight, and performance.

What to Expect

• Rig and animate 3D characters

• Practice lip sync and facial animation

• Apply keyframe and interpolation techniques

• Use motion capture for realistic performance

Program Planning Tip
Best taken after ART 634, this course is a gateway to advanced 3D animation work and prepares you for professional pipelines.

ART 636 – Computer Graphics II: 3D Computer Graphics

Units: 3.0 Units
Transferrable: UC // CSU
Weekly Course Hours: Lecture 2 hrs // Lab 2 hrs
Format: In-Person & Online
Prerequisite: ART 634

Course Description
Deepen your 3D design skills. ART 636 builds on Computer Graphics I with advanced modeling, texturing, and rendering. Students create detailed 3D assets and animations, explore lighting and camera work, and are introduced to character rigging and motion capture.

What to Expect

• Create advanced 3D models and textures

• Animate objects and scenes with lighting and camera control

• Explore character rigging and animation concepts

• Produce rendered animations for portfolio projects

Program Planning Tip
Take this class after ART 634 to strengthen your technical 3D skill set and prepare for advanced animation and production work.

ART 649 – Storyboards

Units: 3.0 Units
Transferrable: UC // CSU
Weekly Course Hours: Lecture 2 hrs // Lab 2 hrs
Format: In-Person & Online
Recommended Prerequisite: ART 250

Course Description
Plan the story before the animation begins. ART 649 teaches industry-standard storyboarding and scripting techniques used in animation and entertainment. Students learn to translate scripts into visual sequences, develop animatics, and create characters and stories through research and pre-visualization.

What to Expect

• Learn storyboard formats and terminology

• Practice translating scripts into visual storytelling

• Create animatics using industry software

• Develop characters and stories through visual planning

Program Planning Tip
This course pairs well with Fundamentals of Animation or Perspective Drawing to sharpen both storytelling and technical drawing skills.