Canada has numerous animation & visual effects industries & produces many animated films, series, commercials, and much more, every year. It houses one of the largest animation studios in North America & the fourth-largest visual effects center in the world (Montreal). Canada offers attractive tax & financial incentives for animators & filmmakers. Moreover, it has hundreds of film & animation studios and houses numerous companies always looking for talented animators. In addition, the country also has some prominent design studios, creative agencies, & design firms. Everything considered, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Canada is one of the best locations for animators.
However, it is not surprising that numerous students tend to stay in Canada, even after their graduation. Moreover, the country even attracts both aspiring & seasoned animators from across the globe – specifically from the United States. Today, in this blog, we will talk over the best locations for animators in Canada. So, hang on & read this article till the end as we tell you all about these places.
Best Locations For Animators In Canada
Two top cities in Canada are considered as the best locations for animators. Thus, here is a description of the two!
-
Toronto
Having a population of not more than 2.6 million, Toronto is the largest Canadian city & ranks as one of the most livable & satisfactory cities among others. Being a global center for Arts & Culture, Toronto is the country’s center for film, media, publishing, telecommunication, & information technology industries.
In addition, Toronto has:
- Award-winning animators, game developers, special effects professionals, etc.
- 66% more artists than in any other Canadian city.
- More than 80 film festivals, including TAAFI, i.e., Toronto Animation Arts Festival International & TIFF, i.e., Toronto International Film Festival.
- The most significant purpose-built sound stage.
- The Toronto Television, Film, & Digital Media Board.
- Ten city-owned museums.
- Over 900,000 square feet of space to accommodate large & small productions.
- Over 200 city-owned public artworks & historical moments.
- TFTO, i.e., Toronto Film & Television Office.
As stated earlier, the city has a lot of animation, film, game, and visual effects studios. Even the City of Toronto website shows that the screen-based production & digital media industries are two of the fastest-growing creative industries in Toronto. It contributes over $1 billion to the economy annually and employs more than 25% of the national sector!
Below is the list of animation studios among the best locations for animators in Canada.
- 9 Story Media Group
- AIC Studios
- Guru Studio
- Gameloft
- SPIN VFX
- Squeeze Animation Studio
- Tendril Design & Animation
- Twisted Frame
- House Of Cool Studios
-
Montreal
With a population of over two billion, Montreal is Canada’s second-largest city and one of the best locations for animators. In addition, it is also the second-largest French-speaking city worldwide, after Paris, of course!
Here’s what the city offers:
- Over 40 animation & visual effects companies
- 35,000 direct jobs in television/ cinema production
- More than 500 broadcasting/ production companies
- Up to 44% in tax incentives on production services
- One of the massive sound stages in the country
- Stand in for numerous European & North-American cities
- 50 high-tech sound stages
- Over 60 game creation studios
Following are the Toronto animation studios:
- BarXseven
- BUF
- Big Bang Digital Studios
- Mind Avenue
- Mokko Studios
- NDI Media
- PIXI Studio
- ToonBoom
- Oasis Animation
There are many other locations as well to explore in Canada. However, we have listed the best locations for animators. For instance, apart from Montreal & Toronto, you can consider Quebec City, Ottawa, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, etc.
Eligibility Criteria To Study In Canada
To apply for a course and study in Canada, you must fulfill the following requirements:
- A reputed & recognized institution in Canada must accept you.
- You must prove that you can pay your family’s tuition fees & living expenses.
- Being a law-abiding citizen with zero criminal records & mustn’t be a risk to Canada’s security. If needed, you will have to provide a police certificate.
- You should be in excellent health and willing to finish the medical examination.
- You must satisfy the immigration officer by telling him you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay.
Exceptions To Eligibility Criteria In Canada
Sometimes, you don’t require a study permit to go to Canada. However, here are the exceptions:
- Short-Term Course Program
You don’t require a study permit if you plan to take a course/ program in Canada that lasts six months or less. In addition, you must complete the course/ program within the authorized stay period in Canada.
- Foreign Representatives In Canada
Suppose you are a family/ staff member of a foreign representative to Canada accredited by GAC, i.e., Global Affairs Canada. In that case, you will not require a study permit to study in Canada. Additionally, you must contact the embassy in Canada, and your embassy can further get the protocol office to find out whether you require a study permit or not.
- Members Of Foreign & Armed Forces
If you are a member/ part of foreign and armed forces, then you do not need a study permit in Canada. Furthermore, if your family members, like minor children, wish to study in the country, they must meet the eligibility requirements.
- Foreign Nationals Who Are Registered Indians
If you are a legal citizen of any country with registered Indian status in Canada, you don’t need a study permit.
Conclusion
If you have already reached here, this implies you are ready and heading to Canada. Take note of the best locations for animators in Canada.
It is vital to note that animation is booming and offers numerous career opportunities. Thus, Canada is one of the best places to study if you want a career in this field!