Courses

Diploma of 2D Animation

World-building begins with a Diploma of 2D Animation at Collarts. Kick-start your animation career with project-based learning from industry experts.

8

months full-time

4

units per trimester

STUDY MODES

On Campus, Online, Blended

NEXT INTAKE

June 2026

LOCATION

Melbourne (Collingwood), Sydney (Waterloo)

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Study Your 2D Animation Diploma with Collarts

Learn the art of motion, one frame at a time.

CRICOS Code 110537G (2 years)/110538F (3 years) /110539E (2 trimesters)/110540A (3 trimesters)

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Turn your passion for drawing and storytelling into industry ready skills with a Diploma of 2D Animation at Collarts. Designed as a fast, more focused course, you can study online or on campus. This diploma prioritises hands-on learning so you can start building your animation career sooner.

You will master the principles of animation, learning how to translate still images into movement using timing, anticipation, squash and stretch, and character expression with industry standard 2D software. Strengthen your drawing foundations through life drawing, anatomy, perspective and character and background design, while developing a professional folio of work.

As you progress, you will explore film animation history, visual storytelling, motion design, and production design, gaining a clear understanding of how animated worlds are conceived and produced. With strong industry awareness units and practical projects, this diploma prepares you for entry level roles in animation.

Voted as Australia's #1 provider of creative arts courses for Teaching Quality and Engagement, Collarts will get you there.

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Course Information

Options? We’ve got plenty. Get ready to be inspired.

Explore Collarts' in-depth courses and discover your creative future. Speak with a careers consultant or download our course guide today.

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Diploma Benefits

The first step in your animation career.

The Diploma of 2D Animation is perfect for students who want to learn the foundations of animation in only 8 months. You can study on campus, online or in a blended format to suit your lifestyle.

You’ll develop a broad understanding of 2D animation practices and techniques and be equipped with all the industry-standard skills required for an entry-level career.

Throughout the 2D Animation Diploma, you will:

  • Learn the foundations of 2D animation, including motion design and animation theories.

  • Develop design techniques to enter the 2D animation industry at an entry-level.

  • Gain entrepreneurial skills so you can forge your own professional career.

  • Create your own professional career-ready portfolio of 2D animation work.

  • Get mentored by industry experts and collaborate with students from other creative courses.

  • Study in our world-class creative spaces and classrooms across five campuses or study online.

Future Careers

A career as an animator can be as varied as the projects you’ll work on. Here are the pathways a Collarts degree can lead to.

Courses

2D Animator

2D Animators bring static images to life using traditional or digital techniques. The main challenge is creating movement and action sequences, and injecting personality and emotion into characters and scenes through frame-by-frame or puppet animation.

Average industry salary:

$50k - $60k

Motion Graphics Designer

Create animated visuals such as logos, title sequences, social content and branded video assets. They combine design principles, animation techniques, typography and audio to communicate ideas clearly and creatively. Work across digital media, advertising, broadcast and online platforms, or freelance.

Average industry salary

$61k - $90k

Storyboard Artist

Translate scripts and ideas into visual sequences that map out how an animation or motion project will unfold. Use drawing, composition and visual storytelling skills to plan camera angles, pacing and narrative flow before full production begins. This role is essential across animation, film, television, advertising and game development, helping teams align creatively from the outset.

Average industry salary

$74k - $125k

Meet your faculty

Lucy Hayes - Program Leader

An award-winning film & television producer, Lucy’s films have played at high profile festivals around the world, including Berlin, TriBeca, Sydney, and Austin. In 2018, She won the AACTA and Screen Producers Award for Best Australian Animation and Best Australian Short Film for LOST & FOUND. In 2016, she was awarded a coveted Creative Talent Suite Placement at Lin Pictures (Rideback) in Hollywood, where she worked across the development of Disney's live action ALADDIN as well as production of the LEGO films and Stephen King's IT.

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Yannis Ye - Program Leader

Yannis Ye is a motion graphics and multimedia artist with over 10 years of experience across both traditional and digital media. She is also a member of Women in Animation (WIA) and began her professional career in New York as a motion graphics designer, collaborating on projects for clients including DoorDash, Shoe Carnival, and Jeep. Her work demonstrates versatility across both industry and creative contexts. It has been featured at international festivals and events, including the Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival, Australia Animation Film Festival, Cine Paris Film Festival, ARFF Paris International Awards, and the Australia Women Film Festival. As Program Coordinator and Lecturer of Animation at Collarts, Yannis teaches the Drawing for Animation and Environment Design units. She supports students in building strong technical foundations while discovering their own artistic styles. She also hosts life drawing and observational drawing workshops to strengthen students’ practical skills and artistic sensitivity. Her teaching philosophy encourages students to be courageous, confident, and curious in their creative exploration while developing distinctive artistic voices.

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Mark Egan - Lecturer

Mark Egan is a digital artist and creative technologist with over 15 years of experience working with technology in the creative arts. He's built jump-powered flight simulators for schools, augmented reality treasure hunts for museums, sound-reactive video games for musicians as well as audio-visual performances at festivals such as Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival.

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Sabrina Schmid - Lecturer

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The Collarts Experience

Experience life at Collarts through a vibrant creative community shaped by industry insight, cultural relevance and real-world learning—explore campuses, events and student life via Collarts Life. This ethos is embedded throughout our courses.

Student Life

Student life at Collarts mirrors real-world creative industries, offering a collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment where students learn alongside peers from across the creative spectrum. From hands-on projects to campus events, students are supported by dedicated wellbeing and academic services throughout their studies. Discover what student life at Collarts is all about and how it shapes your Bachelor experience via Student Life at Collarts.

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67/69 Cromwell St, Collingwood VIC 3066

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Collarts Sydney - Waterloo Campus

242 Young Street, Waterloo, NSW, 2017

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Student at Collarts

Oscar - 2D Animation Student

"I get a better sense of what it's like actually being in the job, there's not a lot of places in Melbourne where you can get that. "

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