Webster University's Animation Program Ranked Among Best in Midwest

Webster University’s Animation Program in the School of Communications was named as one of the top programs in the Midwest and Missouri by Animation Career Review, a website for people aspiring for careers in animation, game development/design/art, graphic design, digital art and related fields.

Webster’s Animation program was ranked as the 18th best in the Midwest region, which includes programs at universities and colleges in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana and South Dakota. In Missouri, Webster’s program was ranked the second best.

"To be recognized at this level is a testament to the hard work of the students, alums, faculty, and staff of the Webster Animation Program,” said Associate Professor of Animation Chris Sagovac, chair of the media arts department in the School of Communications. “This honor is all of us."

For the rankings, Animation Career Review sent every school under consideration surveys requesting specific information about their programs as well as asking them to rank peer institutions. Animation Career Review lauded Webster for the program's small classes, hands-on experience with equipment and resources early in the program, collaboration across disciplines within the School of Communications and across the University, and internships and portfolio development.

"Professor Sagovac has created a beautiful animation program from nothingness,” said Assistant Professor Chris Aaron from the media arts department. “This ranking, determined by all peer institutions' tallies within the U.S., shows that other universities are taking notice of the quality of our alumni and students graduating from Webster."

The animation program has had significant success over the years. The work of alumni can be seen in films released by just about every major studio in the United States, including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Paramount, and Dreamworks. Just a few of the films and television shows that graduates of Webster University worked on include “Frozen,” “Sunny With a Chance of Meatballs,” “Maleficent,” “Game of Thrones,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Ant Man” and “Zootopia.”

• See the publication's Midwest rankings for animation programs here.
• See the Missouri state rankings for animation programs here.

Animation Career Review started its annual animation school rankings in 2012. Criteria used to rank a school include academic reputation, admission selectivity, the depth and breadth of the program courses and the faculty, the value of the school as it relates to tuition and average student debt, and geographic location.

To view student work produced by Webster University animation students this year, watch the reel above or click here.