Unleash your imagination by producing narratives that inspire and amaze audiences. Immerse yourself in the dynamic realm of animation, where you will learn the newest cutting edge technologies propelling this exciting field.
The BFA in 3D Animation and Motion Arts prepares you with the knowledge and skills to flourish in the animation and visual effects sector. The fundamentals of modeling, texturing, lighting, animation, compositing, and simulation are the basis of the curriculum, guided by projects and assignments that ensure these skills are motivated by carefully constructed concepts and stories.
Student Work
The Experience
The 3D Animation pathway introduces an amazing range of tools and techniques taught by internationally renowned faculty. Studio courses factor in every semester, lending ample opportunity to create an impressive graduation showreel. Most courses are located in our award-winning Myrtle Hall facility, less than 30 minutes away from hundreds of New York’s world famous cultural institutions, many of which sponsor our students through internships. When not in class, our students are soaking up the limitless screenings, openings, festivals, shows and exhibitions that are occurring throughout the year in New York City.
Digital Arts Facilities
Students in the 3D Animation BFA have excellent studios with access to several digital computing facilities that are outfitted with state of the art Apple and Windows/PC computer stations. These computers are loaded with top of the line animation software including Nuke, Maya, Houdini, Adobe Suite, Unreal, Adobe Substance Painter/Designer, ZBrush, Marvelous Designer, ProTools, and much more. All 3D Animation students also have access to shared Digital Arts facilities that include a green screen room, an audio editing suite, and a world-class spatial computing lab. Further access to Pratt Institute facilities is also possible, including fine art workshops and a large photogrammetry volume.
High End Computer Lab
Green Screen Studio
Green Screen Studio
Stop Motion Studio
Stop Motion Studio
Internships
The Department of Digital Arts and Animation offers an internship program tailored to digital artists. Throughout the academic year, students partake in internship opportunities at a variety of studios and companies in the metropolitan New York area, gaining skills and experience in areas covering animation, visual effects, motion graphics, game design, interaction design, fine arts, and publishing.
The internship program places students on their career paths, providing experiences that aid in determining their educational and professional goals. Internships may be taken for college credit by both undergraduate and graduate students. While the Department has our own Internship Coordinator, students may also want to visit Pratt’s extensive network and dedicated staff that supports and facilitates Internships and Industry Connections.
Study Abroad
Immersing yourself in another culture is an incredible experience that can extend the boundaries of creativity. Study abroad programs are an integral part of the college experience, and Pratt has deep connections with university partners around the world. See where you can go.
Learning Resources
We develop disciplinary fluency in our program of study and we celebrate the interdisciplinary nature of art to critically address the plurality and complexity of the environments in which we operate. Learning resources.
Our Faculty
Pratt’s distinguished faculty of outstanding creative professionals and scholars share a common desire to develop each student’s potential and creativity to the fullest. Bringing different views, methods, and perspectives they provide a rigorous educational model in which students make and learn. See all Digital Arts faculty and administrators.
3D Animation alumni have risen to the top of their fields exhibiting at prestigious venues as the Whitney Biennial and Sundance, and receiving top recognition such as with the Emmy and Oscar awards.
Where they work
Our 3D Animation alumni have gone on to work at top studios such as Pixar, ILM, Dreamworks, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Framestore, Psyop, Crafty Apes, and The Mill.
Join us at Pratt. Learn more about admissions requirements, plan your visit, talk to a counselor, and start your application. Take the next step.
Building your portfolio can be daunting. We’ll answer your questions and help you feel confident about the portfolio you submit with your application. Start building your portfolio, now.
You’ll find yourself at home at Pratt. Learn more about our residence halls, student organizations, athletics, gallery exhibitions, events, the amazing City of New York and our Brooklyn neighborhood communities. Check us out.
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, Liberation Day, or Jubilee Day, marks the day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of federal orders ending their bondage on June 19, 1865. The holiday reminds us that emancipation was not immediate and that the road to freedom was long, collective, and hard-fought.
Jacob Lawrence’s “Forward Together” (1997) reflects the spirit of that journey. The painting shows Harriet Tubman guiding others toward liberation, symbolizing the resistance, courage, and unity that pushed the country closer to justice. Tubman’s legacy is part of the foundation that Juneteenth stands on.
Lawrence taught at Pratt Institute from 1956 to 1970, where he shaped young artists in the Art Education and Graphic Art and Design Departments. His work continues to echo through generations, challenging us to reflect on the past and move forward together.
Image: “Forward Together,” 1997
Jacob Lawrence
The Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation, Seattle/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
#Juneteenth #JacobLawrence #PrattInstitute
It's been a month since #PrattGrad25 walked across the Radio City Music Hall stage! We are still riding the excitement from commencement.
#PrattInstitute #RadioCityMusicHall
Trying to get unstuck? Let Prattfolio help you out. The latest issue features a fortune teller game where you can pull a creative prompt or write your own! Pick up the newest Prattfolio to play or download the PDF and print it out yourself!
Read more about the prompt generator and how to play.
#PrattInstitute #Prattfolio
A design show where you can look, touch, and get up close to the work. This year's Pratt Shows: Design brought alumni, students, and industry professionals together on our Brooklyn campus.
Pratt Shows: Design offers a glimpse into the future of design from some of the most innovative emerging voices. Every year, it leaves us inspired.
#PrattInstitute #ArtSchool #ArchitectureSchool #FashionSchool #PrattShows
Thumbs up for our amazing grads and their customized caps.
It's been a few weeks since the class of 2025 had their moment at Radio City, but we are still loving these!
#PrattGard25 #PrattInstitute
“When things get difficult and external noise and chaos surrounds you, use creativity in any form you can as an escape hatch.” Andrew Reach, BArch ’86 (@andrew.reach)
When a spine disease halted his architecture career, the Pratt alum found healing in art practice. The practice blossomed into a new career for the artist, whose digital drawings, 3D animations—some with original music by Reach—and 3D-printed sculptural pieces, are exhibited and installed in public spaces, particularly around his adopted home of Cleveland.
Learn more about his work in the most recent issue of Prattfolio at the link in our bio.
#PrattInstitute #PrattAlumni #AndrewReach #3DAnimation #ScheuermannsDisease
Congratulations to Harvey Fierstein and Paul Tazewell on their Tony Award wins.
Harvey Fierstein received the 2025 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, and Paul Tazewell took home Best Costume Design of a Musical for Death Becomes Her.
Fierstein is a four-time Tony Award winner and a seven-time Tony Award nominee. Fierstein has been a mainstay on Broadway since the 1980s as an actor and playwright. Most notably originating the role as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray and writing the stage musical books for Newsies and Kinky Boots.
Before Broadway, Fierstein attended Pratt Institute and graduated with a BFA in 1973.
Paul Tazewell's Tony win comes after his historic Oscar win for Costume Design for Wicked. Tazewell previously received a Tony for his work on Hamilton. He has been nominated eight other times.
Tazewell started his design studies at Pratt before transferring to the North Carolina School of the Arts to focus on theater arts and returning to New York for his MFA at NYU.
Image 1: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
Image 2: Justin Lubin/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Image 3: Getty/Variety
Image 4: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
#PrattInstitute #HarveyFierstein #PaulTazewell #TonyAwards
In honor of National Children's Day, we’re shining a light on our Saturday Art School—a program that has inspired and empowered young artists since 1897. Open to children and teens ages 6–18, the program offers hands-on classes led by art and design education students, fostering a space where creativity and curiosity thrive. Saturday Art School values giving young students the freedom to explore, create, and grow through making.
Swipe through to see some archival images of young artists!
Images: “Children's Saturday Morning Art Classes”, no date 1900-1950; “Children's Saturday Arts School”, 1983; “Children Working on a Project at Saturday Morning Art School”, no date 1945-1946; “Saturday Morning Art - Julie Lapping P.S. 98”, no date 1983; “Saturday Morning Art School”, 1964; “Saturday Art School”, 1975
Learn more about this program at the link in our bio.
#PrattInstitute #NationalChildrensDay #SaturdayArtSchool #PrattLife
One word, endless looks. At Pratt Shows: Fashion, students summarized their thesis collections in just one word. One word to describe our reaction? Amazed!
Featured work from:
Kylei Casmire, BFA Fashion Design '25
Noah Luca Weisberg, BFA Fashion Design '25
Henry Hitchcock, BFA Fashion Design '25
Christen Lee, BFA Fashion Design '25
Bel Davies, BFA Fashion Design '25
Interviewer/Filming: Jalen Stokes, BFA Writing ’26
Editing: Hayoung Jung, MArch '26
Students focus on individual expression through form and motion. These stories are set in amazing worlds populated with unique characters. Students bring these worlds to life through a series of animation studio courses that grow in complexity and depth. Courses include 3-D modeling, 3-D animation, character design, character animation, storyboarding and storytelling, animation history, motion dynamics, lighting and rendering and post-production courses. Recommended electives include contemporary issues in film and video, 2-D animation, scripting, special effects, 3-D printing, and other advanced digital animation techniques.