Hey! I was wondering if you could tell me about Sheridan's animation program? And generally if you like it there or not. I'm gonna apply to schools soon and i'm real nervous.
sure thing!! i’ve been neglecting anons asking kind of the same thing so i hope you don’t mind me publishing this for their benefit too??
so far i am stressed and terrified and i absolutely love it. obviously i can’t say much since i’ve only been here for a couple weeks, but speaking as someone who’s a huge gay internet nerd, it’s a really fun, creative environment to be in??? there’s so much work and a lot of the time you will ask yourself why you ever thought you wanted to be here, frantically redrawing 200 balloons in one night, but there’s also just as many things that will remind you of what’s driving you to create.
there’s a lot of emphasis on trad stuff, especially in the first year. i’m not sure how much portfolio stuff you’ve looked at so far, but it’s literally all traditional. if you’re close enough, it is SO good to go to as many program open houses as possible. i always wanted to blow them off but when i went to the one they held last fall i ended up meeting the people i live with now??? don’t worry if you’re far, though. there are tons of international students who made it just fine.
i can give you more detailed portfolio help if you want, but at this stage as long as you’re doing life drawing you’re set. the program has like this huge scary rep behind it and it’s deserved but it also should absolutely not discourage you?? i was so close to not applying because i thought it was useless, but a friend who’s in second year now was willing to encourage me and show me their portfolio and shit and it was so helpful??? but YEAH i did my portfolio in like. the two weeks before it was due so definitely don’t make my mistakes but also you don’t have to be a perfect art robot, you know???
you don’t have to be scared of rejection, either. literally almost everyone in my class right now has done at least one year of art fundies. i got in straight from high school but that’s not too common and i have classmates who completed entire degrees elsewhere before coming here??? so it creates a really neat environment where no one is here because it was what they felt obligated to do after high school. so far no one’s been snooty about their art, either??? there is SUCH a high population of embarrassing fandomy queers in this program too.
THIS blog was like 40% of how i got in, i swear. they have tons of other helpful links but some of those portfolio websites are TERRIFYING because of how good they are. i got a pretty solid score on my portfolio and it was of, uh, dubious quality, so. you know. let the good ones inspire you and let mine comfort you, i guess.
so, bottom line for this really fucking long post, i guess???: i’m an animation baby so take everything w/a grain of salt, but in my experience this program is equal parts about technical proficiency/stone cold art and sentimental ambition. it’s hard scary work but it’s worth it. if it’s what you end up going for then i look forward to seeing you here! good luck w/whatever u do uvu