Animation

The Department of  Animation was established at the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2006 and since 2007 it has offered a two-year MA in Animation (taught in English) curriculum. The main goal of the programme is to successfully educate creators of animated films, providing them with theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The further aim is to contribute to the global development of animation as an art form.

Animation is a thriving medium and developing at greater pace than ever before. It has become a part of mass culture as well as one of its principal forms. Animation can be seen in digital screen graphics, computer games, music videos, films, etc.

As our master students come from very different parts of the world and have different educational backgrounds we try to encourage their individual approach to filmmaking. The films vary from narrative to more experimental. Most of the works are executed in traditional 2D or stop motion techniques. Recently we have started to offer more thorough CGI courses as well. We invite several well-known animation artists to give workshops where they offer their inspiration and different approaches to animation.

Upon completion of the MA in Animation programme, students have acquired in-depth theoretical and practical animation skills. Students can specialise in specific animation techniques and create individual projects in the appropriate technique. After graduation, our students are qualified to realise themselves as animated film creators, professionals in creative industries or teachers in their field. Students who have completed the master’s programme are also qualified to continue their studies and pursue a doctoral degree.

The Department of Animation also offers a BA in Animation curriculum in Estonian language.


The classes were amazing. I learned how to tell stories, how to analyse films (not only animation), write scripts. I was fascinated by the teachers. They were professionals, not pedagogues. The programme made me an animation film director. My life has been tied to animation ever since. I also gained a huge circle of contacts, wonderful people I met during the course and after. I always tell people they should study animation in the Master’s programme at EKA if they want to be animation directors. Urte Oettinger MA Animation ‘10 Co-founder of WIRED FLY

News and events

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Elis-Hetty Leppik and Rebeka Kruus at Vent Space Gallery

On April 22 at 6:00 p.m., EKA animation students Elis-Hetty Leppik and Rebeka Kruus will open the exhibition Come on in, coffee is still hot at Vent Space Gallery. The exhibition invites viewers to enter the animator’s apartment, where everyday life is intertwined with colorful creations. The exhibition will remain open until April 28. Every day, 2–7 pm.
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Call for applications: EKA admissions open until 6 March!

Starting from February 1, 2023, Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA) is welcoming applications for its thirteen international Master’s and PhD programmes in art, design, architecture and art culture. Apply now viaDreamApplyplatform. EKA offers nine master’s programmes in English: Animation, an international MAprogramme with a main goal to successfully educate creators of animated ...
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Congratulations to new MA graduate Milly Yencken!

This winter graduated Australian native, Milly Yencken, with her film “The Eastern Rain”. “The Eastern Rain” is a quality and poetic film made with charcoal and oil paint, which brings the viewer through a dreamlike world of contemplation. (Advisors of the film were  Kamila Kucikova ja Lucija Mrzljak) Milly recieved an A for her thesis and film (cum laude.) “The Eastern Rain” will begin it’s ...
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Animation MA programme online info session

EKA Animation MA programme invites prospective master's students to join the programme’s online info session on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 15:00 EET (local Estonian time). This will be a good opportunity to hear more about the programme and to meet and ask questions directly from the people of animation department – both the teaching staff and the current students. The online info session ...
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EKA animation visits Animateka 2022!

From the 28th of November through the 4th of December in the beautiful capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, 28 of our students attended the wonderful Animateka International Animated Film Festival. Animateka is a renowned animation festival with a focus on central and Eastern european animation. The students not only watched a plethora of new and creatively inspiring films, but also had the ...
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Diana Cam Van Ngyuen, Joanna Quinn and Theodore Ushev in EKA!

During PÖFF Dark Nights Festival, the animation department had the pleasure of inviting 3 animation director stars, Diana Cam Van Ngyuen, Joanna Quinn and Theodore Ushev to give talks in the EKA auditorium. Thank you three for your insightful discussions and presentations! For more information:  Diana Cam Van Ngyuen www.lovedad.film Joanna Quinn www.berylproductions.co.uk ...
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Assessment Marathon 01.—22.12.2022 at EKA Gallery

December brings an opportunity to experience, in an exhibition format, works produced by students in the Faculty of Fine Arts as their term projects: every day there will be a fresh crop of university students’ works on display in the gallery. Works in contemporary art, prints, installation, sculpture and painting curricula will be on display. On each morning of the marathon, a new exhibition ...
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Theodore Ushev Open Lecture

EKA Animation department invites you to join us on Wednesday (23 Nov.) from 10:30 – 12:00 in our auditorium (A101) for an insightful lecture from world-famous animated film director Theodore Ushev. Theodore Ushev is a Bulgarian-born Canadian filmmaker who has created some of the most iconic animated films of recent decades. At the meeting Ushev introduces his animated world and talks about ...