In the third year, students move into the advanced level of all classes. They move into a story class that concentrates on the short form, such as shorts and commercials. The students have no limit on the length of their film at this level. They are now eligible to take the 3-D Character Computer Class, which uses SGI computers. The fourth year continues to the next level of advanced core classes and the students have a greater opportunity to customize their curriculum to emphasize their interests.
Students also develop a portfolio for presentation to the industry.
Faculty members, all of whom work as professionals in the field of animation, often provide CalArts students direct contact with the industry. The focus is film directing and writing, yet there is also a strong component of theater directing and writing. It takes three years to complete the program with an MFA degree. Applicants are accepted from a variety of backgrounds. Among our past students are those with training in theater, dance, animation, physics, medicine, and English literature, to name a few.