Animatronics

The Animatronics graduate program harnesses opportunities presented by constantly evolving technology, preparing students for success in careers at the intersection of arts and technology. Guest artists, industry leaders and seasoned storytellers will provide timely industry insight and enhance learning outcomes for students.

The program promotes out of the box thinking and problem solving by teaching students to design, build and execute story enhancing objects. Storytelling is at the core of the program, leveraging cutting edge technique to train leaders who will drive story forward in new and compelling ways. 

View Curriculum

Master of Fine Arts

First Year
In your first year of the graduate Animatronics program, you will focus on design—learning the concepts, tools and techniques of creating animatronic figures and props. You'll become confident in the 3D printing lab, where you will sculpt small animated figures and learn techniques to grow and scale figures. Hands-on experience will be paired with practical courses in animatronics project management.

Second Year
Classes during your second year will include in-depth studies in engineering and infrastructure of animatronic figures, while expanding on year one fundamentals of design. You will design lifelike and imagined animated figures, along with interactive props for museum and theater settings. You'll increase your technical knowledge of relevant softwares, helping you to select the best software titles for each project you pursue.

Third Year
Your final year in the Animatronics program will prepare you to design figure finishings, including costumes, wigs and fur, with a special focus on maintenance, boning and costume structure. Additionally, you will become adept at animatronic programming—a practice rooted in animation functions, range of motions and speeds. Your time in the program will culminate with a research-based thesis project, conducted under the supervision of a thesis advisor.

Careers

Nearly all of UNCSA alumni start careers in their chosen field. The Animatronics program will provide you with the tools, experience and guidance needed to enter the professional world, and with the ability to serve an array of projects across many disciplines.