{"id":6011,"date":"2021-03-18T10:21:39","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T15:21:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=6011"},"modified":"2021-03-18T10:23:55","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T15:23:55","slug":"uw-stout-animation-major-ready-to-take-on-starring-academic-role","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/uw-stout-animation-major-ready-to-take-on-starring-academic-role\/","title":{"rendered":"UW-Stout animation major ready to take on starring academic role"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo
Student Jonah Hammen studies a storyboard in the Animation Production class. \/ UW-Stout photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Renamed, refocused BFA program, ranked nationally and No. 1 in Wisconsin, follows consumer trends<\/h3>\n

In the entertainment world, animation and animated characters are hot, from blockbuster big screen films to popular streaming programs to network television shows, video games and beyond.<\/p>\n

Reflecting the genre\u2019s growth, University of Wisconsin-Stout is going mainstream with animation as well.<\/p>\n

The university has changed the name of its entertainment design undergraduate program to animation and digital media and strengthened the program\u2019s focus on animation. Enrollment is open for fall 2021.<\/p>\n

Animation had been a concentration within the entertainment design program, one of six Bachelor of Fine Arts programs in the School of Art and Design.<\/p>\n

\"Photo
Student Elizabeth Offerosky acts out a concept in the Animation Production class. \/ UW-Stout photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAs a result of adding resources, faculty and courses, we have been able to grow this concentration into a major,\u201d said Program Director Kim Loken, an assistant professor. \u201cWe envision a program that will grow in surprising and delightful ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

The change coincides with new rankings by an industry leader, Animation Career Review, again listing UW-Stout as the state and a national leader in animation higher education.<\/p>\n

Students learn two-dimensional, three-dimensional, character and motion-capture techniques in the program. The goal is to teach them how to create imaginative characters and visuals to tell original stories that move an audience emotionally and intellectually.<\/p>\n

\"Photo
Assistant Professor Kim Loken, director of the animation and digital media program. \/ Contributed photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the program:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Students will have access to the state-of-the-art Vicon motion capture studio, which opened in 2019.
    \nNew courses include Fundamentals of Animation; and Digital Illustration.
    \nTwo courses have been revised to focus more on collaborative projects and on the tech art production pipeline.
    \nTypography in Motion, a graphic design and interactive media program course, now also supports animation students studying motion graphics and title design.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Expanding industry<\/h3>\n

    The animation industry had been growing robustly before 2020 then surged during the pandemic, with creators able to work virtually while production of traditional films with live acting stalled for safety concerns.<\/p>\n

    Demand for films and shows with animation has grown 20% globally, according to the Guardian, with more people at home and increased demand in streaming products, such as on Netflix and Amazon Prime.<\/p>\n