The Animation school Cape Town

A single-subject school: it does animation and nothing else, which sets it clearly apart from South Africa's generalist art universities. And the Cape Town campus is the only one of the two offering student accommodation, which matters if you are coming from far away.

Two courses: the three-year Diploma in Digital Animation at NQF level 6, and the one-year Higher Certificate in 2D Animation at NQF level 5. That one-year certificate is a genuine entry point for testing the water before a three-year commitment, or if you are not aiming at 3D.

The diploma structure is clear: fundamentals plus 2D and 3D introduction in year one, 3D character work, modelling, texturing, rigging, look dev and compositing in year two, specialisation, a collective short film and professional immersion in year three.

The pipeline is fully industry-aligned, with licences included in the fees: Maya, Arnold, Nuke, ZBrush, Toon Boom Harmony, Substance Painter, Adobe. Acting rooms and sound recording studios.

Admission is selective on portfolio, requiring a six-panel comic page and 6 to 12 original works less than three years old. The school states it rejects traced, copied or AI-generated work.

SAQA-registered qualification, accredited by the Council on Higher Education. ZAR 131,000 paid in full for 2027.