Develop your artistic signature. Deepen your expertise. Take an animated film from concept to completion.
Taught entirely in English, the 3iS Master in Animation is a two-year advanced program for French and international students who want to study animation in France and specialize in 2D or 3D animation.
Based at 3iS Paris West, the program combines advanced artistic and technical training with hands-on production. You will refine your specialist skills, strengthen your artistic vision and contribute to a complete animation pipeline, taking on increasing responsibility throughout the course.
At the heart of the Master is an animated short film developed collaboratively over two years, from concept and visual development to production, post-production and final delivery.
By the end of the program, you will have developed advanced expertise, contributed to a complete animated film production and built a specialized portfolio and demo reel designed to support your entry into the animation industry.
Campus
Paris West
Entry requirements
180 ECTS or equivalent
Certification
Nationally recognized French Level 7 professional certification registered in the National Register of Professional Certifications (RNCP)
At a glance
Duration
2 Years – 120 ECTS credits
Languages
English
Next intake
September 2027
Spring intake
February 2027
Pace
Full Time
Study format
On-Campus
Tuition fees - Non-French tax residents
€15,000
By the end of the Master, you will be able to:
Develop your artistic signature. Deepen your expertise. Take an animated film from concept to completion.
Taught entirely in English, the 3iS Master in Animation is a two-year advanced program for French and international students who want to study animation in France and specialize in 2D or 3D animation.
Based at 3iS Paris West, the program combines advanced artistic and technical training with hands-on production. You will refine your specialist skills, strengthen your artistic vision and contribute to a complete animation pipeline, taking on increasing responsibility throughout the course.
At the heart of the Master is an animated short film developed collaboratively over two years, from concept and visual development to production, post-production and final delivery.
By the end of the program, you will have developed advanced expertise, contributed to a complete animated film production and built a specialized portfolio and demo reel designed to support your entry into the animation industry.
Year 1 – Deepen, Choose, Design – 60 ECTS
Year 1 focuses on deepening your specialist skills while strengthening your understanding of the complete animation pipeline.
The exact subjects you study depend on your specialization and your role within the projects.
You may deepen your expertise in areas including:
Pre-production of the final-year Film
From Year 1, you and your team begin developing the animated short film that will be produced throughout the Master.
The pre-production phase includes:
The objective is to establish a strong artistic, narrative and technical foundation and prepare the project to enter full production in Year 2.
Year 2 – Produce, Supervise, Finalize – 60 ECTS
Year 2 is centered on full production of the final film and the transition from specialist practice to professional production responsibility.
The exact areas you work on depend on your specialization and your role within the production.
You may contribute to:
You will learn how to balance artistic ambition with technical constraints, available resources and production deadlines.
At the same time, you will finalize your portfolio, demo reel and application materials in preparation for entering the animation industry.
2D or 3D: Deepen your specialization
1 – 2D Animation
The 2D Animation pathway develops advanced skills in movement, performance, storytelling and visual development across the 2D production pipeline.
You may develop skills in areas including:
The aim is to combine mastery of movement and performance with strong visual skills and a clear understanding of the animation production pipeline as a whole.
2 – 3D Animation
The 3D Animation pathway develops advanced artistic and technical skills across modeling, rigging, animation, lighting, effects and compositing.
You may develop skills in areas including:
The aim is to combine artistic ambition, technical expertise and a strong understanding of the complete 3D animation pipeline.
The Final-Year Film
The animated short film is the defining project of the Master and the strongest demonstration of your ability to contribute to a professional production pipeline.
Over two years, you will take part in a complete collaborative animation production, from concept development and pre-production through to final delivery.
You will develop and defend artistic choices, take responsibility for your specialist area, work within a structured production pipeline, meet deadlines, solve production challenges and contribute to maintaining the artistic and technical coherence of the film.
This experience develops a skill highly valued by animation studios: mastering your own discipline while understanding how it contributes to the production as a whole.
Together with your portfolio and demo reel, the finished film provides recruiters with concrete evidence of your specialist skills, your creative contribution and your ability to work effectively within a production team.
Professional experience
Professional development is integrated throughout both years through collaborative productions, input from industry professionals, juries, application preparation, portfolio development and professional networking.
The program also includes a three- to six-month industry placement in France or abroad.
This placement allows you to apply your skills in a professional studio environment, understand production methods and expectations, and begin building your industry network.
Certification
The Master consists of two years of study following an initial 180-ECTS undergraduate cycle, bringing the complete higher education pathway to five years and 300 ECTS credits.
Subject to successful completion of the program and the applicable certification requirements, students may obtain a Level 7 professional certification registered in France’s National Register of Professional Certifications (RNCP), the official national framework for recognized professional qualifications.
The program includes validation of the required competencies, completion of the final-year project and professional experience within a company.
Depending on your specialization, portfolio and experience, the Master prepares you for roles including:
Animation & Directing
Visual Development
3D, Effects & Post-Production
With experience, graduates may progress towards lead, supervisory, art direction or technical direction roles.
Students who successfully complete the 3iS BA Animation & Video Game are admitted directly to the Master as the next stage of their five-year pathway, subject to full validation of their Bachelor.
The Master is also open to applicants with 180 ECTS credits or an equivalent three-year higher education qualification, primarily in animation, visual creation, digital production or a related creative field.
Applicants must have sufficient artistic and technical foundations to enter an advanced specialization program. They must also have sufficient English to follow the course, collaborate effectively within a team and present their projects.
Selection is based on:
