Eligible candidates who satisfy the basic academic criteria are encouraged to engage in the selection procedure. This involves submitting a portfolio for assessment. Selection will be determined by a combination of academic accomplishments, whether ongoing or completed, and the outcome of the portfolio review.
Portfolio submission
Your portfolio submission should demonstrate your observational skills, technical abilities, creativity, and storytelling capabilities.
Evaluation criteria
Your work will be evaluated based on:
- Technical skill and drawing ability
- Understanding of anatomy, perspective, and composition
- Creativity and originality
- Storytelling capabilities
- Attention to detail
- Consistency in character design
- Overall presentation and completeness of the portfolio
Important notes
- All submissions must be your original work.
- AI-generated artwork is not permitted.
- Follow the submission guidelines carefully.
- Review the
portfolio rubric to understand how your work will be evaluated.
- Submit your portfolio before the deadline.
Online portfolios consist of three parts. This includes detailed observational work, character and storyboard designs, as well as personal artwork to showcase a broad range of skills and creativity. Applicants must submit a maximum of 21 separate portfolio items.
1. Observational Artwork
This section focuses on your ability to observe and accurately represent human figures, hands, and everyday subjects. You'll need to submit a total of 12 drawings in this category.
1.1 Human Figure Drawing: Submit 4 drawings (each count as a separate item)
Your submission should include four life drawings of the human figure, which can be clothed or unclothed. Avoid using photographs as references. Focus on capturing the form and structure in your drawings.
- 2 figure drawings showcasing your grasp of form, structure, and proportions. These should be either sitting or standing poses, with each pose lasting between 5 to 15 minutes.
- 2 gesture drawings emphasizing your skill in conveying the main line of action, performance in the pose, and line quality. Each should be a quick sketch, with poses between 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
Note: Shading is optional. We welcome rough sketches that effectively reveal the basic construction of the figures. AI generated images are not permitted.
1.2 Hand Studies: Submit 4 drawings (each count as a separate item)
For this portion of your portfolio, you are required to submit detailed hand-drawn sketches focusing on the human hand engaged in various activities. This exercise is designed to demonstrate your ability to capture complex forms, intricate details, and dynamic actions using simple lines and structure, and form.
Requirements:
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Actions: Each sketch should depict a hand performing different actions, such as grasping a cup, pointing, holding a pen, or manipulating small objects. Aim for a variety of poses to showcase your versatility.
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Technique: You may use traditional mediums, such as pencil or pen and ink, or digital tools in the creation of these sketches. Choose the medium that best suits your style and enhances the details in your drawings.
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Detail and accuracy: Focus on accurately depicting the anatomy of the hand, the gesture, form, and the interaction of the hand holding or working with various objects. Consider the play of light and shadow to enhance the three-dimensional feel of the hand.
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Presentation: Each sketch should be clean and clearly presented. Include minimal background elements to ensure the main focus remains on the hand itself.
Additional tips:
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Study real hands: Observe and sketch from real-life situations as much as possible. Avoid using photographs as your only reference to ensure that your work captures the dynamic nature of real movements and interactions.
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Showcase creativity: While accuracy is crucial, also show your creative approach. For instance, you might sketch a hand interacting with an unusual object or in a creative pose that tells a story.
1.3 Observational Sketchbook Drawings: Submit 4 drawings (each count as a separate item)
Quick sketches of people or animals from life, your choice. Focus on describing the story in the drawing. We want to see if you can tell a story with quick sketch work.
What we're looking for:
- Ability to capture movement and gesture
- Storytelling through composition and subject matter
- Quick but effective representation of form and character
- Variety in subjects and scenarios
Tips:
- Sketch in public places like cafés, parks, or transit stations
- Try to capture the essence of the moment or action
- Focus on what makes the subject interesting or unique
- Include enough context to tell a small story
2. Character, Environment & Storyboard
This section focuses on your ability to create original characters, depict environments, and tell stories through sequential art. You'll need to submit 4 items in this category: 1 character rotation, 1 storyboard (with 4 panels), and 2 environment drawings.
2.1 Character Design/Rotation: Submit 1 character rotation drawing (counts as 1 item)
Create an original character design and rotate the design using the following views: ¾ front view, ¾ back view, Profile view, Front view, and Back view.
The character's proportions and design should be consistent in each view.
Submit this work as a single portfolio piece. Please submit only the character rotation sheet for review. Refer to the character rotation example below.
Do not copy this example character, your submission must be a unique design that you have created.
Note: Line drawing is sufficient, color and shading is not required.
Evaluation criteria:
- Consistency in proportions and details across all views
- Character personality and design appeal
- Clarity and cleanliness of the line work
- Originality and creativity in the character concept
2.2 Storyboarding: Submit 4 storyboard panels (counted together as 1 item)
Use the provided character design and character rotation along with the storyboard panels shown below. Develop a simple visual story using these four panels, based on the premise:
"The Forgotten Birthday"
Visual storytelling requirements:
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Narrative structure: Your story should unfold visually with a distinct beginning, middle, and end. Ensure that the action intended by each scene is clearly staged. Including dialogue is optional and should only be used to enhance the visual narrative.
Storyboard submission guidelines:
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Template use: Utilize the provided four-panel, widescreen storyboard template for your sketches. You are free to create these drawings either traditionally (using pen or pencil) or digitally.
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Character expression and poses: Your submission must showcase effective storytelling through expressive poses and facial expressions.
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Character consistency: All drawings should adhere to the provided character model sheet to maintain consistency ("on model").
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Shot variety: Incorporate a range of shot types in your storyboard, including long shots, medium shots, and close-up shots to create a dynamic visual flow.
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Text instructions: If needed, include any action descriptions or dialogue clearly printed in the designated space below each panel.
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Adjusting drawing sizes: Feel free to initially create your drawings at a larger size for detail and clarity, then scale them down to fit the confines of the storyboard template.
2.3 Environment Drawings: Submit 2 drawings (each count as a separate item)
Please submit two drawings of a room in your home, capturing it from opposite corners using a two-point perspective technique. These drawings should illustrate the room's spatial layout and depth and include details such as furniture and any other significant items present.
Additionally, in each of these drawings, incorporate a pose of the original character you designed for portfolio item 2.1. Ensure that your character's pose is integrated naturally within the room environment, demonstrating your layout, perspective and character design skills.
Rendering is not required.
This is to demonstrate your understanding of perspective and composition.
Evaluation criteria:
- Correct application of two-point perspective
- Spatial awareness and depth
- Integration of character within the environment
- Attention to detail and composition
Tips:
- Begin by establishing your horizon line and vanishing points
- Consider the room's layout and what elements will best showcase your perspective skills
- Create a dynamic character pose that interacts with the environment
- Ensure consistent scale between the character and environment elements
3. Personal Artwork
This section allows you to showcase your personal style, creativity, and exploration of various art forms. You'll need to submit 5 pieces in this category that represent your unique artistic vision and skills.
3.1 Other Creative Work: Submit 5 pieces (each count as a separate item)
This assortment should showcase a broad spectrum of your artistic capabilities and your unique personal style. We encourage you to include various works, such as entries from your sketchbooks, paintings, caricatures, original animations, and cartoons.
Accepted media types
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Digital artistic creations: This category encompasses works created or digitally altered using software. It can range from digital paintings, digital illustrations, concept art, and prop designs, to digital cartoons, digital photography, and computer-generated imagery (CGI). This is optional.
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Animated or live-action works: For any animation or live-action submissions, include a title card or brief description of your role. If you're the sole creator, no extra documentation is needed. Each piece counts as 1 portfolio item. Submit via video links (YouTube, Vimeo) only.
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Sketchbook submissions: Pages from your sketchbook can be submitted in .jpg, .png, or .pdf format and will count as a 1 portfolio piece. This is optional.
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Additional art forms: You are also encouraged to submit other types of art such as sculptures, ceramic works, installation art, and traditional photography, showcasing the breadth of your artistic capabilities. This is optional.
Selection guidelines
When selecting personal artwork for your portfolio, consider the following:
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Diversity: Include works that demonstrate different techniques, styles, and subject matter
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Technical skill: Showcase your strongest technical abilities
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Creativity: Highlight your unique creative vision and problem-solving
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Personal interest: Include work that demonstrates your passion and artistic voice
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Relevance to animation: While not required, works that demonstrate storytelling, character design, or sequential art can be particularly relevant
Evaluation criteria
Your personal artwork will be evaluated based on:
- Technical execution and craftsmanship
- Creativity and originality
- Visual communication effectiveness
- Depth of artistic exploration
- Personal artistic voice and expression
Note: Focus on quality over quantity. Select your strongest work that best represents your abilities and artistic vision.
4. Submission Guidelines
Follow these guidelines carefully to ensure your portfolio submission is complete, properly formatted, and meets all requirements. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may affect your application.
4.1 Instructions for online submission
Please follow these steps when submitting your portfolio for the Bachelor of Animation program:
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Login: Access the
portfolio submission portal by logging in using your student number and password credentials.
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Read the instructions: After logging in, you will be required to acknowledge that you have read and understood all the submission instructions and portfolio guidelines. This ensures that your portfolio adheres to the required standards and formats.
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Upload your files: Use the "Upload Files" button to submit your portfolio pieces. Make sure each file is correctly named and corresponds to the portfolio requirements.
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Video riles: For any video submissions, provide links to your videos hosted on YouTube.com or Vimeo.com. Ensure that these links are accessible and if there are any passwords, include them in your submission.
File format requirements
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Image files: Submit in .jpg, .png, or .pdf format
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Video files: Provide links to YouTube or Vimeo (not files)
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File naming convention: LastName_FirstName_ItemNumber (e.g., Smith_John_1.1)
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File size: Each file should not exceed 5MB
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Resolution: Minimum 1500px on the longest side
4.2 Academic integrity
By submitting your portfolio, you agree to comply with Conestoga College's Academic Integrity policy. Your submissions should be entirely of your creation, featuring original characters and illustrations. Refrain from using characters or artwork that are already established or known. We encourage you to express your unique artistic identity and enjoy the creative process.
Important notes:
- All artwork must be created solely by you
- AI-generated artwork is not permitted and will not be reviewed
- Copying or tracing existing characters or artwork is not allowed
- Collaborative work must clearly indicate your specific contribution
- Proper citation must be provided for any referenced material
Violation of these guidelines may result in disqualification from the selection process or, if discovered after admission, may lead to academic penalties in accordance with Conestoga College's policies.
4.3 Selection process
The final selection is based on a combination of academic achievements and portfolio evaluation. Each portfolio item will be evaluated according to the criteria outlined in the portfolio rubric.
Evaluation process
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Initial review: All portfolios are reviewed for completeness and adherence to guidelines
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Detailed assessment: Each portfolio item is scored according to the rubric criteria
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Overall evaluation: Total scores are calculated and considered alongside academic achievements
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Final selection: Candidates are selected based on combined scores
Timeline
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Submission deadline: May 31, 2025
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Review period: June 1 - 13, 2025
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Notification of results: By June 30, 2025
Refer to the
portfolio rubric for detailed information on how each component will be evaluated.
