Learn to draw a standout portfolio in 38 weeks.

Complete our 228 hour curriculum online once a week for 35 weeks and be finished in time to submit your portfolio.

Drawing excellence
is essential.

If your dream is to get into animation school, you need to know how to draw. No “short cuts” or “tips on portfolio-making” can ever substitute for doing the work.

We’ve designed Session I to cover exactly what you need to know in order to produce your best portfolio yet and, perhaps more importantly, to be able to meet the challenges of learning animation.

Session I: June 1 2024 - Feb 16 2025

Online | Saturdays

Online | Sundays

Animation Portfolio Workshop is Canada’s first and original animation portfolio preparation program. For 23 years, APW has set the standard for pre-art college training in drawing.

All our animation portfolio preparation courses consist of 228 hours of live, comprehensive, and interactive curriculum. Learn character design, life drawing, perspective, layout, storyboards and more to build your animation school portfolio.

I’ve been meaning to do this for a while, but now with the new semester at Seneca I’m compelled to finally say it: Animation Portfolio Workshop is really making a difference in the quality of students that come into my first semester Life Drawing classes.”

Werner Zimmerman, Animation Instructor

Details

In Session I, our curriculum is designed to have you prepared with a complete portfolio by the end of the program. The program is delivered in an online format over 35 weekly, 6-hour classes on either Saturdays or Sundays. Both sessions occasionally have two classes a week, on both Saturday and Sunday. Please check the calendar for the full schedule.

You will cover a comprehensive array of foundational drawing exercises. During the latter portion of the course, simultaneously with the ongoing classes, the directors will schedule virtual portfolio review sessions to help students select their portfolio pieces

Course Outline

Our program consists of two modules: Life Drawing for Animation and Drawing for Animation. These two modules cover all of the required drawings in an animation portfolio and together make up a typical session of the Animation Portfolio Workshop.

The Life Drawing for Animation module exposes students to a series of drawing exercises that help to develop the skill set needed to create all the observational drawings that comprise an animation portfolio.
The Drawing for Animation module rounds out our animation portfolio preparation program by introducing and covering solid, structural object drawing, linear perspective, layout, character body construction, character design, storyboarding and composition.

One day of classes has a three hour Life Drawing for Animation class, a lunch break and a three hour Drawing for Animation class. Two courses, one workshop.

Learn more about our curriculum

Sections

Online A

Saturdays, June 1, 2024 – February 15, 2025 | Sundays, June 2, 2024, February 2 – February 16, 2025 | 10:00 – 5:00 PM EST
$5,000 CAD (Plus 13% HST and/or 4% surcharge where applicable)

Online B

Sundays, June 2, 2024 – February 16, 2025 | Saturdays June 1, 2024, February 1, 2025 – February 15, 2025 | 10:00 – 5:00 PM EST
$5,000 CAD (Plus 13% HST and/or 4% surcharge where applicable

Your portfolio matters.

Learn from the best.

See our graduate portfolios

APW not only changed the way I draw, it made me much more confident about my art. The structure of the course allowed me to stay on top of my work while preparing my portfolio. It still surprises me how fast my work began to improve and was utterly thrilled to be accepted to SVA in New York.

APW is the catalyst that launched my career. They successfully taught me the skills to succeed in animation school and beyond. I've been working nonstop for almost 9 years now in Toronto and I am always bumping into successful APW graduates.

Animation Portfolio Workshop has raised the bar when it comes to nurturing the next generation of artists and consistently getting the right tools into their heads, hands and hearts.

APW was a major catalyst in forming my passion and skills as a young artist. It helped me to build a strong foundation that went far beyond getting into the college of my choosing and sustains my work ethic today as a professional concept artist in the entertainment industry.

Working in the animation industry requires more than talent and skill. On a daily basis you are required to be quick, confident, committed, careful and provide a high level of quantity and quality work. I was very fortunate to study at the Animation Portfolio Workshop. It instilled in me the dedication and craftsmanship required to develop and use these skills not only as a student, but as a professional. I still use the fundamentals I learned in class at work each day.

Working with Gerard and Vince and having them focus my energy and enthusiasm for drawing gave me the start I needed. They knew when to answer questions I had and when I needed the encouragement to continue searching for myself.

Taking the workshop was the best decision I ever made for my future and making my dreams come true. No matter how talented you are everyone needs guidance, and that's what the workshop is all about. The teachers are on your side every step of the way encouraging you and teaching you how to really draw. Getting into animation school is the best thing that happened to me and I owe it to the workshop and all the teachers and the entire APW team that helped me get there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why take the Animation Portfolio Workshop?

To get into a top animation school you need to submit a portfolio of your drawings that demonstrate skills in the areas of observational drawing, perspective, character design, life drawing and more. We’ve designed our animation portfolio preparation course to cover exactly what you need to know in order to get into animation school and perhaps more importantly, to be able to meet the challenges of learning animation.

Why learn drawing? Isn't most animation done with computers?

If you want to be an animator, layout artist or storyboard artist, you need to go to animation school and if you want to go to animation school you need to know how to draw. As a standard part of the application process, all of the top animation schools like Sheridan, Seneca, Calarts, Ringling, SVA (School of Visual Arts) and many more require each applicant to submit a portfolio of drawings that show a demonstration of skill in Life Drawing, perspective, drawing various objects from daily life, animal drawing, character design, storyboard and more.

Is APW Online?

Yes. We offer our full comprehensive program online for students who do not or cannot attend in-person. It’s interactive and engaging with plenty of one-on-one attention. Not just a bunch of videos to watch.

Do I need to submit drawings in order to enroll?

No, we are all about starting at the beginning and building up a solid understanding of drawing fundamentals. Anyone who is interested can register. If you feel that you are an absolute beginner and you are concerned that you may not be able to keep up with the pace of our full program then you might want to try our Drawing Basics first.

Do non-Canadian students need a Study Visa?

Since at least three of our courses are under six months in duration, it is covered by a simple Visitors Visa. Plan to receive your visa well in advance of the Intensive start date to allow enough time to make adequate travel preparations.
Government of Canada Visitor Visa information
Processing times for Visitor Visa Applications
Check your Eligibility

Does APW assist students with the college application process?

No. A session of APW focuses from start to finish on drawing. All paper-work involved in the application process is handled by the student or by the parent or guardian of the student – APW does not contact schools on behalf of individual students. Our focus is on the development of foundational drawing skills and on helping each student assemble the strongest portfolio they can.

How do I register?

Fill out the form for the program you’re interested in and we’ll contact you to walk you through the rest.

I have more questions

Please review our full Frequently Asked Questions page. You can also book a call with our Admissions Director.

Have questions?
We're here to help.

Schedule a call with our Admissions Director