Senior year in Drexel’s Animation & Visual Effects (ANFX) program is the ultimate test of everything learned over the past four years. This is when students specialize in their chosen area, complete their capstone projects, and prepare to enter the industry full-time. With the Drexel Digital Media Showcase on the horizon, senior year is all about polishing skills, refining portfolios, and making industry connections.
Core Classes
Senior-year courses focus on finalizing personal projects, collaborating on high-quality work, and developing industry-ready materials. Key classes include:
- Advanced Portfolio (ANIM246): This course focuses on building skills for the career-long practice of producing and maintaining a professional creative portfolio while allowing the students the opportunity to create or refine additional student-driven portfolio work that synthesizes their skills and experience from direct class assignments in their other coursework.
- Concentration Focus: Students continue to refine their skills in their respective chosen concentration (organic modeling, character animation, or generalist)
- Digital Media Senior Project (DIGM490): The three-term senior project where students research, design, and develop a UX solution to present at the Drexel Digital Media Showcase. Create professional media assets for a team-based senior project in a simulated real-world production environment. This course integrates academic and practical knowledge, emphasizing digital media production, best practices, and effective presentation skills through collaboration and teamwork.
Skills You’ll Master
By senior year, students refine both technical and professional skills to prepare for full-time work in the animation and VFX industry:
- Capstone Project Development
- Managing a long-term production from concept to final render.
- Industry-Standard Lighting, Rendering & FX
- Creating high-quality visuals using Arnold, Redshift, Unreal Engine, and Houdini.
- Presentation & Client Communication
- Learning how to pitch projects to studios, recruiters, and industry professionals.
- Time Management & Collaboration
- Balancing independent projects while preparing for the Digital Media Showcase.
The Drexel Digital Media Showcase: Preparing for the Industry
One of the biggest moments of senior year is the Drexel Digital Media Showcase where students present their senior capstone projectsto faculty, industry professionals, and potential employers
How Students Prepare for the Showcase
- Finalizing the Capstone Project
- Completing all aspects of the animation, VFX, or game project for a polished final presentation.
- Building a Standout Portfolio
- Refining demo reels, case studies, and websites to impress recruiters.
- Perfecting the Pitch
- Practicing how to present work professionally, explain design choices, and engage with audiences.
- Networking & Job Hunting
- Connecting with animation studios, VFX houses, and game developers for potential job opportunities.
Challenges & Growth
The biggest challenge of senior year is time management—balancing the capstone project, job applications, and final coursework can be overwhelming. However, this year also marks tremendous growth as students shift from being learners to industry-ready professionals.
Tips for Success
- Start job applications early.
- Many studios hire months in advance—be proactive!
- Keep refining your demo reel.
- Only showcase your best, most polished work.
- Network with industry professionals.
- Attend animation festivals, conferences, and studio events to make connections.
- Stay adaptable.
- The industry evolves quickly—learning new tools like AI animation, real-time rendering, and virtual production can give you an edge.
Looking Ahead
With senior year wrapping up, the next step is launching a career in animation, VFX, game design, or motion graphics. Whether joining a studio, freelancing, or continuing personal projects, Drexel’s ANFX program prepares students to step confidently into the creative industry.