ESMA montpellier
Animation school
France
Address:
1 Pl. Niki de St Phalle, 34070 Montpellier, France
The most decorated school on this list when it comes to graduation films. Student work is regularly selected for the Student Academy Awards, SIGGRAPH and international festivals, and ESMA was ranked first worldwide for Excellence in 3D animation production at the 2025 Rookies.
The professional 3D Animation & Visual Effects cycle runs five years: a preparatory Entertainment year then four years of professional cycle, ten semesters at 30 ECTS. The software chain is a film-pipeline marker: Maya, Houdini, Pixar's RenderMan and Blender. Teaching RenderMan is not incidental, few schools do it.
A useful particularity: Montpellier is one of three campuses, with Lyon and Bordeaux, offering an English-language course, reserved for non-French speakers with a minimum B2 level.
Online application with a reply within 48 hours, then a portfolio review and a motivation interview. Direct entry into year two is possible with an equivalent year of higher education.
RECA member, RNCP 40876 level 7 title. Published 2026 rates: €6,380 in year one, €7,980 a year thereafter, plus €200 in annual registration fees.
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