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Our Programs

TRAINING FOR ARTISTS AT EVERY LEVEL

Whether you're brand new to CG art or ready to develop an industry-ready portfolio, there's a Think Tank program for you. Our advantage is a personalized approach to teaching, propelling your education with weekly individual feedback from our stable of industry professionals. And it isn’t just about learning, but doing! Showcasing what you're made of is how to break into the industry. With us you'll be handed the tools, support, and expertise to develop a portfolio that professional recruiters will notice.

Explore our programs

Student Art: Zoé Brening - Click to learn more

Online

Our global online campus provides an unmatched learning experience that emphasizes collaboration and feedback with professional supervisors and mentors.

Campus

Joining us in person puts you in the heart of Film, TV, and Games, and allows you to pursue a wider array of specializations to elevate you beyond the average CG Generalist.

Hybrid

Interested in learning online and in person? Begin your program remotely before coming to Think Tank to work right alongside your mentor in developing your portfolio.

Online

No experience required

DuoLingo 90 / TOEFL 65

CG Asset Creation for Film or Games

No experience required

DuoLingo 90 / TOEFL 65

Yes

CG Asset Portfolio Pre-Production & Production

Foundational skills required

DuoLingo 90 / TOEFL 65

Yes

CG Asset Portfolio Production

Very advanced skills required

DuoLingo 90 / TOEFL 65

Houdini for Film or Games

No experience required

DuoLingo 90 / TOEFL 65

Campus

3D Animation, Visual Effects & Game Art

No experience required

DuoLingo 90 / TOEFL 65

Yes

3D Portfolio Pre-Production & Production

Advanced skills required

DuoLingo 90 / TOEFL 65

Yes

3D Portfolio Production

Very advanced skills required

DuoLingo 90 / TOEFL 65

Hybrid

CG + 3D Asset Creation for Film or Games

48 Weeks Online + 16 Weeks On Campus

No experience required

DuoLingo 90 / TOEFL 65

Yes

CG + 3D Portfolio Pre-Production & Production

32 Weeks Online + 16 Weeks On Campus

Foundational skills required

DuoLingo 90 / TOEFL 65

Yes

Houdini + 3D for Film or Games

32 Weeks Online + 16 Weeks On Campus

Diploma

$19,750

$100

No experience required

DuoLingo 90 / TOEFL 65

As of July 1, 2023, all students are required to subscribe to keep.meSAFE, a Student Support Service (SSP) connecting them with 24/7 confidential mental wellness support with linguistically and culturally-matched licensed clinicians. There is an additional mandatory charge of $5.00CAD/month which covers unlimited use of the SSP through app, telephone and web.

Learn more about our instructional terminology.

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What is a Hybrid program at Think Tank?
Think Tank's Hybrid model lets you begin your program remote before coming to campus for your portfolio production term. This means you’ll develop your professional demo reel in a hands-on environment with the help of your industry mentors and instructors.

Hybrid allows you to have the flexibility of learning online before gaining the kind of in-depth, granular specialization only possible through Think Tank's in-person, hands-on instruction. We mean it when we say it's "the best of both worlds".

Think Tank offers two Hybrid programs: CG + 3D Asset Creation for Film or Games and CG + 3D Asset Portfolio Pre-Production & Production.
Does Think Tank offer any part-time programs?
What's the difference between online and on campus at Think Tank?
Whether you decide to learn at the Think Tank Campus or be a part of a remote global community, you’ll get first-hand instruction from industry professionals who are dedicated to your artistic growth and success.

Think Tank Online focuses on the creation of CG Assets for Films or Games. In the industry, an “asset” refers to the modeling, texturing and/or lighting of any pieces, big and small, you might be tasked to create. You’ll learn through our proprietary interactive teaching platform, Portal. And while technically “remote,” you’ll be in contact with your peer group and supervisor on a weekly basis.

Think Tank Campus allows for broader specializations that will elevate you above the average CG generalist. You’ll work hands-on with your instructors and mentors to go beyond just asset creation, preparing you for a gig in a more specified field. Having you on campus means you’ll brush shoulders (so to speak) with the wider CG industry who tend to make their way onto the campus. Also, we throw the best BBQs.

TLDR: Online focuses on developing CG Assets while Campus offers more broader, and granular specialization.
Are there different types of CG Art?
Yes! CG Art is often broken down into 3 main categories:
1. 3D Animation: This includes rigging (the creating of a 3D character's or object's skeleton/internal structure) as well as the process of making a 3D character or object move and appear continuous.
2. Visual Effects: Simply put, this is when something that doesn't exist in real life is made to look real on screen amongst real-world objects.
3. Asset Creation: The hallmark of Think Tank's online programs, asset creation covers all the sub fields concerned with creating either a 3D character or environment. This includes modeling, texturing, lighting, and potentially more traditional skills like 2D drawing.
What is a Think Tank Specialization?
With many Think Tank programs, you’ll have the opportunity to hone your skills and interests into a specific area of expertise. This means working closely with an industry pro who is themselves accomplished in your chosen area. We call this your Specialization Path, and it is what truly prompts you for stepping into your first role in the CG industry.

If studying online, you’ll select one of four Specializations related to CG asset creation:
- Props & Environments for Film (making hero props and environments for film)
- Characters & Creatures for Film (making the characters that star in film)
- Environments for Games (making immersive real-time environments for video games)
- Characters & Creatures for Games (making the characters that star in video games)
Joining us on campus allows for a broader specialization that will elevate you above the average CG generalist. Your path will be one of the following options:
- Props & Environments for Film (making hero props and environments for film)
- Characters & Creatures for Film (making the characters that star in film)
- Environments for Games (making immersive real-time environments for video games)
- Characters & Creatures for Games (making the characters that star in video games)
- Look Dev, Compositing, Hard-Surface Modeling, Matte Painting, Rigging, or Texturing
- Visual Effects or Animation
If taking a Hybrid program, you’ll focus on a CG asset creation path similar to learning online. You'll then undergo a mentored portfolio-focused term once on campus.