This summer I learned to animate with Maya (expensive 3D software) and ToonBoom Harmony 4 (less expensive but still expensive 2D software.) Working with directors from Jimmy Neutron I learned how professional animaters bring art to life.

Though there were bumps in the road to getting an animation program at all in DAAP, the program was packed with tips and tricks on how to animate faster and conveniently. Attending a camp, even for a week, has the intention of immersion and full focus on one thing. This program was helpful but honestly rough around the edges, my teacher during this was new and was given the opportunity to run the camp with the promise that if it went well, he would stay in the position. He did not.

Though this was a good experience, I would not recommend the school/college to students for actual schooling. Unless you know exactly what you want to study DAAP will not be helpful, they separate and make it difficult to change majors. For example, if you want to do character design in games you would have to choose either coding your character or animating them, when you may not know what you would rather do. This can make it very hard for first year students, and DAAP is a lot of commitment, changing a major halfway through would be detrimental. Know your worth and stick to it, if you do end up at DAAP it’s an amazing school with billions of opportunities, but heed the warnings in this article.