Animation Summer Program for Grades 6-8

Why Take Animation

Animation creates characters and worlds bound only by your imagination. In this program, you will develop the essential skills you need to express yourself as an aspiring animator. You’ll learn how to bring your drawings, paintings, sculptures, and objects to life through a variety of types of animation and make your own films. You’ll also have the opportunity to collaborate with other young artists to create short films that may be shown at festivals around the world as part of the Animators Workshop Group (AWG).

What You'll Learn

During your time at animation summer camp, you will:

  • Master the foundations of visual storytelling
  • Explore the history of animation
  • Try out a number of animation techniques such as sand animation; clay and puppet animation; hand-drawn; paper cutout; and more

At the end of the session, your work will be featured in a student showcase in our 180-seat, 4K high-definition, state-of-the-art projection space.

Program Requirements

Cait Belland
Contact
Assistant Director of Admission
Cait Belland
Phone
231.276.7472 231.276.7472
Send Email
Program Snapshot
Program Length
3 weeks
Program Dates
  • SESSION 1: June 22, 2025 to July 12, 2025
  • SESSION 2: July 13, 2025 to August 3, 2025
Tuition
6,985
Age Range
Intermediate (Grades 6-8)
Deadline
  • SESSION 1: Accepting applications
  • SESSION 2: Accepting applications

Program Highlights

DeRoy Center for Film Studies

Film & New Media courses are held inside of the DeRoy Center for Film Studies, the 26,000 square-foot home of Interlochen's Film & New Media Division. The facility touts four editing suites, classrooms equipped with cutting-edge technology, a soundstage, and a 180-seat 2K HD projection space—it's the same projection you'll find at your local cinema, allowing films to be seen and heard the way the director intended.

Additional Opportunities

The Film & New Media program also offers Intermediate Filmmaking as part of Interlochen Arts Camp. Interlochen is also home to the Arts Academy boarding high school, which offers a Film & New Media major for grades 9-12, as well as a post-graduate year.

Meet the Faculty

Our Animation faculty members have dozens of professional film and television credits to their names. They've worked on some of the world's biggest films and franchises—and this summer, you'll have the opportunity to learn alongside them.

Please note the gallery may showcase previous instructors.

All Faculty

Aaron Mann

Aaron Mann

Instructor of Animation

Guest Artists

Recent guest artists to the Film & New Media Department during Interlochen Arts Camp include:

  • Robert Eggers, film director, screenwriter, and production designer known for The Witch and The Lighthouse
  • Peter Gould, television writer, director, and producer known for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul
  • Janet Leahy, an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer known for Mad Men
  • Michael Moore, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker.
  • Gordon Radley, former president of George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic

What is animation?

Hear from Interlochen Arts Camp animation students about what animation is—and learn more about their experience in the program. 

  Watch Now

Dive deeper into Interlochen Arts Camp with a free digital viewbook

Camp 2025 Viewbook Graphic

In our free informational booklet, you'll learn more about: 

  • Each of our seven arts areas 
  • Various programs 
  • Renowned faculty 
  • A day in the life of a student 
  • How to apply and financial aid information 
  • And more