Animation & Digital Media Academy

15 Weeks of Storytelling, Stop-Motion Animation & Digital Creativity

Students become animators, directors and digital storytellers as they learn how ideas move from imagination to the screen.

In this 15-week academy, students explore the complete animation process—from developing characters and planning storyboards to constructing sets, capturing stop-motion footage and creating digital 2D animation. They will learn how professional animators use movement, timing, sound and visual storytelling to bring characters and stories to life.

This is not simply time spent experimenting with animation apps. Each session combines a focused animation lesson with a guided creative project that develops technical skills, storytelling ability and artistic confidence.

Workshop Details

• Ages: 9–14
• Dates: Wednesdays beginning August 26, 2026
• Time: 1:00–3:00 PM
• Length: 15 weeks · 30 instructional hours
• Location: Baldwin, Florida
• Class size: Limited to only 5 students
• Tuition: $850 paid in full/$200 5-monthly payments
• Step Up for Students scholarships accepted

What Students Will Explore

Throughout the semester, students will investigate:

• The science and history of animation
• Persistence of vision and the illusion of movement
• Story development and visual storytelling
• Character design and expression
• Storyboarding and shot planning
• Stop-motion animation techniques
• Set, scenery and prop construction
• Camera angles, framing and composition
• Lighting for animation
• Frame rates, movement and timing
• Digital 2D animation
• Sound effects, music and voice recording
• Video editing and scene transitions
• Titles, credits and final production
• Constructive feedback and creative revision

How Each Session Works

Each two-hour session includes:

1. Animation Investigation
   Students explore an animation principle, storytelling technique or digital-media skill.
2. Creative Brief
   Students receive a focused project challenge with a purpose, requirements and creative constraints.
3. Design and Production
   Students develop characters, create storyboards, construct scenes or animate their ideas.
4. Editing and Improvement
   Students review their work, solve technical problems and improve their animation through revision.
5. Showcase and Reflection
   Students share their progress, explain their creative choices and receive constructive feedback.

Students Will Learn To

• Transform an original idea into a complete visual story
• Develop characters with personality and purpose
• Plan scenes using scripts and storyboards
• Create smooth movement using individual frames
• Use camera angles and composition intentionally
• Design and construct sets, scenery and props
• Record dialogue, music and sound effects
• Edit animation clips into a finished production
• Solve creative and technical problems
• Give and receive constructive feedback
• Manage a larger project from concept to completion
• Communicate ideas through visual media

Sample Projects

Students may be challenged to:

• Create a flipbook that demonstrates the illusion of movement
• Design an original animated character
• Produce a short LEGO or clay stop-motion scene
• Animate a character walking, jumping or showing emotion
• Build a miniature set for an original story
• Create a commercial for an imaginary product
• Add dialogue, music and sound effects to an animation
• Develop a short digital 2D animation
• Recreate a scientific process through animation
• Produce an original animated short as a final project

More Than Making Videos

Animation is where art, technology and storytelling meet.

Every project begins with a question:

What do we want the audience to see, feel or understand—and how can we communicate that through movement?

Students learn that successful animation requires more than pressing record. It requires planning, patience, observation and countless small decisions. They discover how timing changes emotion, how camera angles influence the audience and how sound can completely transform a scene.

What’s Included

• 15 weeks of expert, hands-on instruction
• Access to animation equipment and technology during class
• Stop-motion animation materials
• Set, scenery and prop-building supplies
• Guided lessons and creative production briefs
• Storyboarding and project-planning materials
• Digital animation and video-editing instruction
• Individual guidance in a five-student learning environment
• A final animated production and student showcase

Who Is This Academy For?

Animation & Digital Media Academy is designed for students who:

• Love drawing, storytelling, movies or creating videos
• Enjoy building characters, sets and imaginary worlds
• Want to learn how animation is created
• Are interested in art, technology or digital media
• Learn best through creative, hands-on projects
• Want to turn their ideas into finished productions

Students do not need previous animation, drawing or video-editing experience. They simply need curiosity, imagination and a willingness to experiment, practice and improve.

Tuition

$850 for the complete 15-week academy

Enrollment is limited to four paid spaces, allowing every student to receive personal instruction, support and feedback.

Step Up for Students scholarship funds are accepted.

To use scholarship funds, select Scholarship Payment in the checkout cart. You can then process the payment through the EMA website using your student’s available scholarship funds.