De Anza's film animation program is the largest and most comprehensive in Northern California. The curriculum offers a foundation in scriptwriting, storyboard, layout and life drawing; unique modular production seminars in stop-motion technique, drawn animation and sound design; a computer animation sequence and extensive animation history courses. Classes are scheduled to accommodate working students' schedules and to allow entry to the program at any quarter throughout the year.

Art Department courses in figure drawing and computer graphics complement Film/TV's motion design and animation studies classes to create a truly interdisciplinary program. Students also utilize the resources of a live-action Film Department, taking elective courses in film history, screenwriting, production, lighting, post-production audio, film/video editing and compositing. They benefit from a diverse and experienced faculty in traditional and digital animation, as well as in related disciplines.

De Anza's Advanced Technology Center, (ATC), features an animation drawing studio, a shooting stage for puppet animation complete with motion control camera, a Macintosh OSX platform multimedia lab and a Windows PC computer animation lab running Maya, Combustion, and Toonz.


These are complemented by camera rooms for animation stands, stop motion sets and video pencil testers; 16mm and digital video editing stations, including Final Cut Pro editing suites; digital and analog sound recording studios and Foley room; and a sound stage with full lighting grid and accessories. A wide range of 16mm cameras, single-frame motors, video frame grabbers, synch sound recorders and Beta-SP and DV decks supports the program.

For studies classes and production footage analysis, the ATC houses two screening theatres with film, video and computer multi-format projection. There are also two commercial cable television stations on-site with broadcast studios and a distance learning classroom for master classes, broadcast courses and videoconferencing.