Do I Qualify?

Are You Ready?

Check out these requirements before you start.

Admissions Requirements

You must meet each of the following criteria:

Be 18 years or older upon the first day of class
Have a good understanding of the English language (all of our classes are conducted in English)
Have intermediate general computer software skills
Meet the minimum computer system requirements (see below)

Computer System Requirements

Because we are an online school, you must have a computer with an internet connection and a webcam. The webcam allows you to capture images from your sketchbook, record video reference, and participate in class with your mentor and other students. Detailed computer system requirements include:

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows 10 version 1809 or higher. or Microsoft Windows 11
8 GB of RAM (16GB recommended)
64-bit Intel or AMD with SSE4.2 instruction set
Webcam
Headset with microphone, or Headset and separate microphone
Three button mouse (a two button mouse will not work with Maya)
7GB of free disk space for installing Maya

Apple Mac OSX

Apple macOS 11.x, 12.x, or 13.x
8 GB of RAM (16GB recommended)
Apple Silicon arm64 or Intel x86
Webcam
Headset with microphone, or Headset and separate microphone
Three button mouse (a two button mouse will not work with Maya)
7GB of free disk space for installing Maya

Note: If using Catalina, you will need to use Maya 2020 or later. Earlier versions of Maya are not compatible with Catalina.

If you’re unsure whether your system has the required hardware to run Maya, please make sure to look at the Maya system requirements as well as Autodesk’s recommended system hardware page. (We recommend matching to the latest Maya version requirements. This is to ensure that when later versions are supported, your system will be able to run them.)

General Software Requirements By Course

Below are software needed to use the Animation Mentor Campus. Students need to meet the general computer system requirements, as well as those specific to their course or workshop.

3D Animation Courses and Workshops

Software required for the Core Character Animation Courses: Animation Basics, Body Mechanics, Advanced Body Mechanics, Introduction to Acting, Advanced Acting, and Feature Animation Acting & Polish; and other workshops, including Creature Animation: Locomotion, Creature Animation: Fight or Flight, Cartoony Animation for 3D Animators, and Previsualization Basics for Animators.

Character Animation Courses

Creature Animation Courses

Cartoony Animation

Previsualization Basics for Animators

Autodesk Maya or Equivalent Animation Software

We typically support the three most recent versions of Autodesk Maya. The caveat is that we always wait 9 months before supporting the latest release of Maya to ensure there aren’t any critical bugs that would adversely affect students.

Alternately, you may use other equivalent 3D animation software, but will need to find suitable rigs. Animation Mentor rigs are only compatible with Maya.

Once you are registered into the program, we will send you step-by-step information on how to download Autodesk Maya.