Why this Mastère?
Video game, film and animation studios – and the entertainment industry more broadly – are looking for animation and rigging experts who have mastered advanced techniques. This Mastère responds directly to that demand, offering high-level training and a unique specialisation.
A comprehensive, specialised programme
Over 2 years, the Mastère 2D/3D Animator & Rigger prepares you to become an expert in: 2D/3D animation of characters, creatures and objects; advanced rigging and skinning for integration into various engines and production pipelines; and industry-standard software: Maya, Toon Boom, Unreal Engine, Blender, Unity, Animate. With 18 months of hands-on projects and a 6-month internship, you specialise while gaining skills directly applicable in the industry.
Recognised certifications
You will be prepared for the following certifications: Autodesk Maya Certified Professional, Toon Boom Harmony Certification, Unreal Engine Animation & Rigging, Blender Animation & Rigging Certification.
A rewarding pathway
In addition to the artistic and technical aspects, you will develop project management and team leadership skills. You will have the opportunity to work on a team video game project and choose a minor in the 4th year (Character & CFX Artist or 3D Environment & VFX Artist)
International experience and career integration
In the 4th year, you will benefit from an experience abroad (optional) and a final-year internship, giving you direct immersion in the industry and boosting your employability.
| Diploma awarded |
School diploma: Mastère 2D/3D Animator & Rigger |
| Pathways / Further study |
See further study options within our programmes |
| Tuition fees |
See the " Funding " section |
|
Show all
|
|
| Prerequisites |
|
| Total programme length |
2 years (1,010 hours) |
| Assessment methods |
Continuous assessment: throughout the year via end-of-project evaluations (written reports, oral presentations, knowledge assessments during the project…) Mid-terms / exams: at the end of each semester, individual assessment of acquired skills (written, computer-based or oral tests) In the 1st year: assessment of the PC game project (4 months) and writing of a game bible In the 2nd year only: assessment of the demo reel/portfolio project of best work |
| Major projects |
|
| Campus |
Lyon, Paris, Bordeaux and Online |
| Format |
Full-time initial programme with a 6-month final-year internship. |
| Internships |
2nd year: 6 months |
| Average class size |
20 students |
| Pass rate |
N/A |
| Satisfaction rate |
N/A |
| Employment rate at 6 months |
N/A |
| Reported further study rate (via 6-month surveys) |
N/A |
| Intake |
September 2027 |
| Disability |
Click here to find out about our arrangements for welcoming and supporting people with disabilities |
8 reasons to choose the Mastère 2D/3D Animator & Rigger, focused on innovation, creative careers and the technologies of the future
We train specialists in 2D/3D animation and rigging, capable of producing high-quality animation for video games, animation and film. In the 4th year, broaden your skills with a minor from one of our other Mastères to stand out on the job market.
Jobs are evolving: with us, you will learn to use artificial intelligence and motion capture to create smoother, more realistic animation that is faster to produce.
A diploma is essential, but official recognition on the software used by studios is what will really make the difference on your CV. Preparation for these certifications is provided by the school, while taking the exams is optional and, where there is a fee, paid for by the student.
We believe real-world experience is essential to success. With our Project-Based Learning approach, you work on real projects alongside experts, gaining skills you can apply immediately.
The programme is built on an agile, project-based approach, enabling you to adopt a modern project management methodology – crucial in animation careers – with a strong emphasis on teamwork.
Over several months, you will work as a team on an ambitious production – a real studio-grade project that will enrich your portfolio and catch recruiters' attention.
Because hands-on experience makes all the difference, you will spend 6 months in a studio
The focus is on producing a professional-quality portfolio that showcases your technical and creative skills.
REQUEST A BROCHURE
194 pages covering everything about our campuses, schools, project-based learning, programmes, employability, campus life, etc…
Approved by G. Art's development board, made up of around thirty professionals, this programme will enable you to specialise in advanced 2D/3D animation and rigging skills, with an approach focused on the latest technologies and production optimisation.
- Animating characters and objects in 2D/3D with advanced techniques
- Optimising projects for real-time rendering
- Using AI to speed up the creative process and achieve quality results
- Mastering rigging and skinning for integration into various production pipelines
- Creating a striking showreel that reflects your 2D/3D animation and rigging skills
- Walk and run cycle animation with character in 2D and 3D for biped characters, creatures or animals
- In-depth study of animation phases (reference capture, blocking, splining, polishing in Maya).
- Export and integration into Unreal and Unity
Skills developed: you will be able to create realistic and stylised 2D and/or 3D cycle animations for series, film and video games with professional precision.
- Mastery of the acting process with live staging and/or reference research
- Mastery of timing and spacing based on the dialogue provided
- In-depth study of animation phases for characters and objects
- In-depth study of animation phases (reference capture, blocking, splining, polishing in Maya).
- Export and integration into Unreal and Unity
Skills developed: you will be able to bring your characters to life with realistic and stylised 2D and/or 3D dialogue acting animation for any type of character (objects, characters, animals, creatures).
- Mastery of biped/quadruped skeleton creation in Maya
- Mastery of controller creation and automation of body movements with deformers
- Mastery of facial rigging (skeleton, blend shapes, curves)
- In-depth skinning and corrective blend shapes
Skills developed: you will be able to create all kinds of rigs (characters, objects, cartoon or realistic) optimised to streamline the animation process, and achieve a professional, high-quality result within a given timeframe.
- In-depth clothing creation with Marvelous Designer
- Hair creation and simulation with XGen in Maya
- Integration of assets into Unreal and/or Unity
Skills developed: you will be able to create clothing and hair in a realistic or cartoon style, master simulation tools and integrate these assets into a game engine.
- Agile / Scrum / Kanban methodologies applied to art production
- Managing relationships with technical and art teams
- Collaboration tools (Trello, Jira, Notion) and production pipeline
- Leadership and communication in a creative environment
Skills developed: you will be able to manage complex projects using modern management methodologies, coordinate creative and technical teams, and lead projects effectively with the right collaboration tools.
- Creating a PC video game over 4 months
- Building a professional portfolio and a striking demo reel
- Certification preparation: Unreal Engine Developer, Autodesk Maya, Blender, Toon Boom
Skills developed: you will be able to create a complete PC video game, build a professional portfolio that reflects your skills and earn recognised certifications that help you stand out to recruiters.
Mastery of 2D animation and rigging for high-quality productions.
Advanced skills in animation, rigging and simulation in Maya.
Expertise in integrating animation and rigging into Unreal Engine for real-time projects.
Rigging and animation skills in Blender, an essential and accessible piece of software.
Training in AI and motion capture, so you can bring the latest technologies into your animation and rigging projects.
100% Project-Based Learning: learning through real projects in collaboration with industry experts.
For the Mastère Animator & Rigger 2D/3D, we have chosen long internships rather than work-study in order to maximise the time devoted to training. This means you will complete more projects and take part in more masterclasses and workshops. It also makes it easier to consider periods abroad. Here is a comparison of the 2 approaches:
take a look at our other MSc, MBA and Mastère programmes >
Several times a year, we organise masterclasses with companies and iconic figures from the video game industry, in France and abroad.
In workshops, professionals share their expertise on specific topics: presentation of a new technology, CV workshop, …
Immersion by Gaming Campus is a key stage in our schools' teaching approach. For 2 weeks, all our students, whatever their programme, level of study or specialism, come together to immerse themselves in the industry they are training for.
Employability Week, a real highlight of the year, brings our students together on site in Lyon and Paris, and online. In total, more than 50 industry professionals meet and talk with our students to boost their search for internships and work-study placements, and help our alumni find their first job. Meetups, workshops, speed recruiting…
An event that brings our students together on site and online. In total, more than 90 offers are available to students, and around thirty industry professionals come to meet and talk with them to boost their search for internships and work-study placements, and help our alumni find their first job.
At the end of the programme, you receive a Gaming Campus skills book. You can use it to showcase yourself to companies and make the difference when looking for internships, a work-study placement or your first job. The title is awarded on validation of all skills blocks and the associated ECTS credits.
Our school's teaching approach is project-based learning (PBL). It builds skills and guarantees a very high level of employability. From Year 1 of the Mastère, you learn by doing. Your year is structured around 10 to 15 projects, and by the end of your programme you will have completed 75 projects. All your projects are supervised by professional lecturers. Some are real cases provided by video game companies.
How project-based learning is structured
01
Guided research
02
Project kick-off with the lecturer
03
Independent organisation of work, in a team or alone
04
Coaching by the lecturer
05
Submission of the deliverable
06
Project debrief
Project examples
- Walk and run cycle animation with personality in 2D and 3D for biped characters, creatures or animals
- In-depth study of animation phases (reference capture, blocking, splining, polishing in Maya).
- Export and integration into Unreal and Unity
Skills acquired:
You will be able to create realistic and stylised 2D and/or 3D cycle animations for series, film and video games with professional precision.
- In-depth clothing creation with Marvelous Designer
- Hair creation and simulation with Xgen in Maya
- Integration of assets into Unreal and/or Unity
Skills acquired:
You will be able to create clothing and hair in a realistic or cartoon style, master simulation tools and integrate these elements into a game engine.
- Mastery of the acting process with live staging and/or reference research
- Mastery of timing and spacing based on the dialogue provided
- In-depth study of animation phases (reference capture, blocking, splining, polishing in Maya).
- Export and integration into Unreal and Unity
Skills acquired:
You will be able to bring your characters to life with realistic and stylised 2D and/or 3D dialogue acting animation for all types of character (objects, characters, animals, creatures).
Project – Theatre arts
Project – Advanced facial acting
Project – PC game (4 months) & Game Bible writing
Project – Motion Capture
Sample timetables
Immersion Week
Immersion by Gaming Campus is a key stage in our schools' teaching approach. For 2 weeks, all our students, whatever their programme, level of study or specialism, come together to immerse themselves in the industry they are training for.
Project 1
Theatre arts
Project 2
Body Mechanic
Masterclass
Led by an industry professional
Project 3
Cloth simulation
Project 4
Project management: learning management methods for art productions
Project 5
Introduction to AI
Workshops
Job search strategy and tools
Project 6
Showreel / Portfolio
Workshops
Soft skills
Our lecturers
Simon Moreau
Director and concept artist
Delphine Carlier
3D animator and rigging artist
Victor Fiorile
CFX Artist
Loïc Bruyère
Director and 2D animator
All Gaming Campus programmes put student employability at the heart of the curriculum. During your Mastère Animator & Rigger 2D/3D you will have several opportunities to build experience in industry, notably with a long internship in Year 2.
Why choose internships to train for the video game industry?
« With the end-of-programme internship, our aim is also to ease professional integration and recruitment by video game companies. To support our students in finding an internship, we have built impactful partnerships with companies in the industry. »
– The Corporate Relations team
Objective: confirm your career plans through an extended immersion in the business world.
The corporate relations team
The teaching team and the employability unit help you find your end-of-Mastère internship: searches and applications.
Gaming Campus has built close relationships with more than 100 video game companies in France and abroad.
Several events are organised during the year for students to take part in: Employability Week; Career Days; workshops on CVs, cover letters and online identity; LinkedIn masterclass.
Your corporate relations contact: entreprises@questeducation.fr
Career prospects and salaries
The Mastère Animator and Rigger 2D/3D prepares you for a wide range of careers in animation, film, video games and entertainment. Here are the main jobs you will be trained for:
An exceptional 3,000 m2 campus in the heart of Lyon
+ Gaming Campus Online, our digital platform Gaming Campus Lyon
Online school
Gaming Campus Online
Admissions
We attach great importance to the diversity of our cohorts. That is why we have chosen an application process based on your file (not a competitive exam). Each application (submitted online on our website) is reviewed by the admissions team and then the teaching team. For admission, we take into account your career plans, your academic background and our prerequisites. The admissions process is quick and smooth, with no need to go through Parcoursup. From the moment you submit your application, allow 15 days to be accepted, waitlisted or refused.
Hold a Bac+3 in art and design, computer science, technology or science. Bachelor, BUT or Licence.
Funding
Tuition fees are €10,400 incl. VAT* per year for the Mastère years for the 2027 – 2028 intake.
(*) Price for payment in a single instalment. Payment in several instalments possible under certain conditions. Payment can be made in 1, 3 or 10 instalments. Stopping your studies due to force majeure (serious and disabling illness, accident, death of a relative) ends the direct debits.
Compare with other programmes, work-study and the 3 or 10 instalment schedule: Gaming Campus fees 2027-2028.
| Pre-registration | €650 incl. VAT |
| Single payment Mastère | €9,750 incl. VAT |
| Payment in 3 instalments | €10,000 incl. VAT |
| Payment in 10 instalments | €10,100 incl. VAT |
Financial aid
Student loan on preferential terms : LCL is G. Art's main banking partner. You can obtain special loan terms for your Mastère and a privileged relationship. Feel free to contact us for more information.
State-guaranteed student loan : since June 2020, the French State can act as guarantor for your loan to make it easier to obtain. Visit Etudiant.gouv.fr to find out more.
Campus jobs : Small jobs helping to develop the campus are sometimes available. The teaching team also gathers and shares small job offers near the campus.
City grants : Check with your town of residence, or your parents', to see whether you are eligible for the Student Minimum Income (RME). Not all towns offer the RME. It is awarded by the CCAS (municipal social action centre).
Département grants : For students on means-tested grants, the departmental councils offer annual grants or interest-free loans.
Fondation de France grants : 120 foundations award grants and interest-free loans. We encourage you to contact the Fondation de France to find out more.
Finding accommodation : We help you find accommodation through our network of housing partners. We have built close relationships with student residences near the campus.
FAQ
This Mastère is for students holding a Bac+3 (or equivalent, 180 ECTS) in video games, animation or related fields, as well as professionals wishing to specialise or retrain in 2D/3D animation and rigging. A passion for animation, movement and artistic creation is essential, along with fluent English (B2/C1).
- A specialised, immersive programme in animation and rigging.
- A programme focused on the latest technologies (AI, motion capture, game engines).
- 4 recognised professional certifications (Maya, Toon Boom, Unreal Engine, Blender).
- A hands-on, project-based approach, with a 6-month internship to support your entry into the job market.
-
Students will be trained on the industry's key software, including:
- Autodesk Maya (animation, rigging, skinning)
- Toon Boom Harmony (2D animation and rigging)
- Blender (rigging and 3D animation)
- Unreal Engine & Unity (animation integration and optimisation)
- Marvelous Designer (cloth simulation)
- Xgen (hair and fur creation and simulation)
- Duration: 2 years (1,010 hours of training)
- Format: Full-time initial training
- Campus: Lyon
- Class size: 25 to 30 students per class
- Internship: 6 months in a company in Year 2
Learning is based on real, immersive projects, including:
- Body Mechanic project: animating human movement and physical dynamics.
- Dialogue acting project: animating characters with dialogue.
- 3D Rigging project: creating advanced rigs for characters and objects.
- Cloth and hair simulation: using Marvelous Designer and Xgen.
- Video game project: creating a PC game over 4 months.
- Portfolio & Showreel project: presenting your best work.
Jobs open to you after the Mastère include:
- 2D/3D Animator: animating characters, objects and creatures.
- 2D/3D Rigger: creating rigs and skeletons for animation.
- Technical Artist: the link between art and technical teams.
- CFX Artist: cloth and hair simulation.
- Motion Capture Specialist: integrating and optimising motion capture data.
- Animation / Rigging Project Manager: managing animation productions.
The fee is €10,400 per year.
Admission is based on an application file, portfolio and interview. Go to our application form.
Criteria :
- Application file (CV, portfolio, cover letter)
- Motivation interview with the admissions panel
- Presentation of a portfolio demonstrating your artistic and technical skills
Apply for the programme
Simple application, quick response:
September 2027 intake: Applications open
We have chosen an application process with no competitive exam and without going through ParcourSup or Mon Master. This allows us to review each application individually and maximise equal opportunities and each candidate's potential. It also lets us give the academic background the same weight as the career plan. Finally, with a short admissions process based on dialogue, we hope to reduce students' stress when looking for a programme.
Apply now
For any problem sending this form, write to contact@gamingcampus.fr