• Register now, pay later

    Spread the cost of camp out over time with a payment plan. Get started today for as low as $375!

    Payment plans available during checkout, for as low as $375!

  • Add a course, save $50

    Save $50 when you buy a second camp or course, whether it's in another topic or for another course. 

    Automatically save $50 when you add courses or siblings!

    Pay standard tuition for one student to attend a small-group program and receive $50 off for each additional course or sibling. 

    Note: You have the flexibility to add additional courses and siblings at any time during the qualifying term. Your automatic savings will be applied, provided the same account is used for all purchases. Automatic savings do not apply to Online Private Lessons.  

  • Refer a friend, save $25

    Register for camp and invite friends! You'll earn a $25 credit for each new referral, and your friends save too! 

    Refer a friend and save $25. Your friend will save, too. 

    Once you register for an online or on-campus program, you'll receive a unique Refer-a-Friend code that can be shared with up to ten friends. You'll earn a $25 credit for each new referral, and your friends will save, too!

    Please note:

    • Students you refer cannot have previously attended an online or on-campus program with iD Tech. 
    • Referrals must be made prior to the date your friends' sessions start. 
    • New students must enter your unique Refer-a-Friend referral code at the time of registration.
    • Refer-a-Friend savings does not apply to Online Private Lessons.  

Animation Portfolio Academy with Adobe

  • Price: Starting at $4,699
  • Age: Ages 13-18
  • Skill Level: Beginner-Advanced
  • Format: iD Tech Academies | Small-Group, On-Campus
  • Duration: Two-week program

About This Course

Animation is an impactful storytelling medium. It’s found among the highest-grossing films of all time, like Pixar’s Inside Out 2. While each film is unique, the artists behind it share the same story—each began as a student, just like you!

In this collaborative studio experience, you’ll work with a team to design a concept and transform it into a polished final product. Begin with a vision—from a pitch for an animated TV series to a fully animated short film. In the first week, you’ll hone your skills, using the same principles as professional animators at studios like Disney. With your teammates, iterate on ideas and designs, and create a prototype of your final project.

Then, delve into production and utilize the powerful Adobe suite with Wacom drawing tablets! Take on the role that best suits your interests—design characters, paint backgrounds, create storyboards, or draw and color 2D animated scenes. At the end of the session, you’ll compile everything you created along the way into a personal portfolio. Your portfolio or final project can bolster a college application, and could be your key to a future in animation!

You'll learn to:

  • Develop a capstone project, such as a short animated film
  • Collaborate on a team with roles like story artist, character designer, and animator
  • Explore visual development, storytelling, and the production pipeline
  • Use a Wacom drawing tablet with the Adobe Creative Cloud suite
  • Showcase individual artwork in a portfolio or reel

Course Format 

This course is part of an intensive 2-week summer program running Monday through Friday (overnight at most locations with the option to stay the weekend within the two weeks). Your teen will learn in a lab on an inspiring university campus with a balanced daily schedule of assignment-driven workshops and outdoor/recreational activities. Courses are led by experienced instructors in a small-group setting. Learn more below. 
 

Sample Schedule

In this course, students will explore game design to build a game prototype in Unreal Engine 5.

Here’s a sample of what each week in the course could look like! Please keep in mind that students will progress at varying paces; this is a general outline of the key material and overall student experience.

Lights, camera, action! Students will brainstorm and collaborate on a pitch for their capstone project, such as an animated short film, a hybrid live-action film, or a development portfolio for a TV series or film. By the end of the week, students will have established a production timeline and developed a proof of concept, such as a scene from their film.

Additionally, students will have access to DSLR cameras and equipment, which they can use to shoot live-action footage or record a documentary of their development process.

In the second week, students will focus fully on developing their capstone project, taking on tasks such as storyboarding, animation, and compositing. As they go, students will collect their individual contributions in a personal portfolio.

For the final project, all files will be compiled into a finished film—complete with a credits reel—or a polished pitch deck. On Friday, all students’ work, including the final capstone project, will be showcased for family and friends to enjoy.

Portfolio-Boosting Diploma & Transcript

At the conclusion of your teen's course, they will receive an official iD Tech diploma and course transcript outlining the skills they learned over the session. 
 

Elite Staff & Experienced Instructors

Passion for tech. Unmatched expertise. Personality that brings out the absolute best in your student. With 25 years of experience, we know there's no replacement for the best teacher. Each year iD instructors go on to be hired by the most prestigious tech companies in the world like Google, EA, Disney, Microsoft, and more. When your student learns from the best, they’ll unlock opportunities to become their best. 

  • 100% USA-based, adult instructors

  • Recruited from top universities like Stanford, Caltech, and NYU

  • Rigorous background and reference checks

  • Robust training programs and certification

  • Adherence to American Camp Association accredited guidelines

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer at Google

“My time as an iD instructor was really formative. I stayed with STEM in college as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major, and now I’m working at Google in Chicago. If you find yourself thinking about STEM-related things outside of school, follow that passion. Major in it. Keep pursuing it.”

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer at Google

“My time as an iD instructor was really formative. I stayed with STEM in college as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major, and now I’m working at Google in Chicago. If you find yourself thinking about STEM-related things outside of school, follow that passion. Major in it. Keep pursuing it.”

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer at Bethesda Softworks

“The spirit of innovation and creativity I felt around my students while teaching Unity led me toward my career as a professional game designer. My time at iD Tech taught me that no dream is too big, and that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere.”

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer at Bethesda Softworks

“The spirit of innovation and creativity I felt around my students while teaching Unity led me toward my career as a professional game designer. My time at iD Tech taught me that no dream is too big, and that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere.”

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer at Disney

“The opportunity to create an environment of collaboration, inclusion, and creativity was a truly special experience. The skills I honed while teaching at iD Tech led me to my software engineering roles at ESPN and the Walt Disney Company.”

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer at Disney

“The opportunity to create an environment of collaboration, inclusion, and creativity was a truly special experience. The skills I honed while teaching at iD Tech led me to my software engineering roles at ESPN and the Walt Disney Company.”

Find a location near you!

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FAQ

This course gives teens the chance to step into a professional-style animation studio and experience what it’s like to bring a creative vision to life. By collaborating on a team project - whether it’s a short film or a TV series concept - they’ll learn the same storytelling and production principles used at top studios like Pixar and Disney. 

Along the way, they’ll choose roles that match their strengths, from character design to storyboarding to scene animation, building both technical skills and creative confidence. The session culminates in a finished project and personal portfolio pieces, providing not just an unforgettable experience but also tangible work that can strengthen a college application or open the door to future opportunities in animation and design.

iD Tech Academies offer intensive, assignment-driven programming workshops in various course topics including machine learning, virtual reality, game development, robotics, and more. Programs are designed to be a rigorous, pre-college experience that provides industry insights for teens interested in pursuing STEM fields in college or as a career.

All graduates will leave their academy with a portfolio tailored to their course topic - which is invaluable for college applications, internships, and jobs - along with their iD Tech Diploma. 

This course is taught by iD Tech instructors.

Yes, this course is designed for beginner to advanced students. Our small class size ensures that each student receives individual attention and has the freedom to learn at their own pace.

Yes! Every iD Tech experience contributes toward leveling up along the iD Tech Pathway. This course is worth 4,667 XP— learn more about the iD Tech Pathway here.

In addition to specialized skills, teens leave their academy with a new network of friends and mentors, resilience, critical thinking opportunities, and official certification that stands out to admissions officers.

At the conclusion of the academy experience, teens will receive an official iD Tech diploma and course transcript outlining everything they learned during the program. They’ll also take home a USB with their course project files, along with access to installation and setup guides so they can continue working at their own pace.

Yes! You can register today for as little as $460 per student, and pay the balance in convenient monthly installments. 

You can also save by registering for multiple sessions (save $50 when you buy a second course in another topic or for a sibling), or by inviting friends to join at camp (earn a $25 credit for each new referral; your friends save $25 too). 

With our weeklong summer camps, teens can strike the perfect balance between STEM skill development and summer fun, experiencing collegiate life and learning on-campus at a prestigious university. (Overnight options available at select locations.)

Additionally, with online programs including private lessons, teen academies, and virtual camps, there is a program that fits your teen’s interests, skill level, goals, and importantly, schedule. Learn more.

Our Program Specialists are here to provide you with the best experience. Looking for a personalized course recommendation? Need help signing up? We’ve got you covered. Call us at 1-888-709-8324 or email hello@idtech.com. 

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