What are the admissions criteria for the Animation Foundation?
Would you like to join an animation foundation course but you’re not sure if you fulfil the admissions criteria? Would you like to have more information to maximise your chances of success? Candidates for the Animation Foundation must meet certain criteria in order to be accepted.
Catherine Totems, head of the animation foundation and animation degree course at Atelier de Sèvres, shares her advice on all the information needed to be accepted onto the Animation Foundation.
Admission conditions for Atelier de Sèvres
You can enrol for the animation foundation at Atelier de Sèvres from the final year of high school (all classes) if you are between 17 and 24 years old. In order to be accepted onto the foundation course, you must hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
Note that while registration for many foundation classes is via the Parcoursup platform, this is not the case for the Animation Foundation at Atelier de Sèvres, which is a private higher education institution.
If you think you meet these admissions requirements, you can make an appointment directly with the Animation Foundation teaching staff by calling Atelier de Sèvres. A date will be suggested according to your availability in order to invite you to an individual interview. During this interview, you will have to present your academic background as well as your portfolio.
Portfolio creation
During your individual interview at Atelier de Sèvres, you will be asked to present, firstly, your academic background and the reasons that led you to apply for admission to the Animation Foundation, followed, secondly, by your portfolio.
Your portfolio should contain as much material as you deem necessary. Drawings, sketches, video excerpts, paintings — all means of communication that you use are of interest to us and will be developed at Atelier de Sèvres. It is important to choose recent works so that the Animation Foundation teachers can accurately assess your level and your artistic strengths.
During the interview, which lasts for around 30 minutes, we will take the time to evaluate your academic background, your level and, most importantly, your motivation. This is the most important requirement, since it is this one that will determine your involvement on the Animation Foundation course, and therefore your chances of success in your year at Atelier de Sèvres and for the competitive entrance exams for the animation school of your choice.
"It's a discussion during which we answer all your questions, about schools, animation professions and how our foundation course works, and give you our feedback on your portfolio and your approach." –Catherine Totems
Do I need to have skills in Animation to join Atelier de Sèvres?
It is not necessary to have animation skills, an advanced level of drawing or in-depth knowledge of the arts to join the Animation Foundation. As indicated above, it is above all your motivation that will be decisive in the teachers’ choices.
However, a self-taught or trained experience is highly appreciated and you are invited to present this during your individual interview.
The Animation Foundation year is expressly designed to train you in the basics of drawing and animation, through a wide variety of classes and intensive practice throughout the year. So even if your skills and knowledge are not yet developed, you will be able to progress quickly at Atelier de Sèvres.
All candidates are carefully assessed and Atelier de Sèvres values diversity in its students. The various studios and prestigious schools available to students after the Animation Foundation offer various specialisms that encourage us to be diverse in our training. So how can you ensure you are selected?
"By being enthusiastic and wanting to join us, having a taste for group work, the desire to progress and to pass the competitive exams. Being humble and ready to listen with a good state of mind are the characteristics of the animation department at Atelier de Sèvres."—Catherine Totems
If you would like to know more about the Animation Foundation and the selection criteria and/or admission conditions, please contact Atelier de Sèvres by phone or via our website.
