Want to get into animation school?

Top drawings make top portfolios. 
Learn to draw a stand out portfolio from
the animation portfolio experts.

Schedule a call with our Admissions Director

Our students have been admitted to top animation schools around the world.

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Our History

Animation Portfolio Workshop is Canada’s first and original animation portfolio preparation program. Founded in 1999 by Gerard Sternik and Vince Peets, we set the standard for pre-art college training in drawing. 

We are a social yet disciplined environment for budding animators to build a strong portfolio by cultivating proper technique and learning how to measure their progress. 

The last 23 years of teaching have proven to us that learning how to draw will prepare you to take on the challenges of school – and beyond. 

Learn more about us

Animation Portfolio Workshop has partnered with the Honourable Justice Kofi N. Barnes and APW Associate Director Joshua Miller, to offer the APW African Canadian Youth Scholarship granted annually to one student who best meets the specific financial and artistic eligibility criteria for this opportunity.

Learn More

One opportunity can change everything.

African Canadian Youth Scholarship.

Drawing excellence
is essential.

If your dream is to get into animation school, you need to know how to draw. No “short cuts” or “tips on portfolio-making” can ever substitute for doing the work. 

We’ve designed our animation portfolio preparation course to cover exactly what you need to know in order to get into animation school and perhaps more importantly, to be able to meet the challenges of learning animation.

Learn about our curriculum

Our Course

228 hours of live, comprehensive, and interactive curriculum from our highly successful animation portfolio preparation program. Learn character design, life drawing, perspective, layout, storyboards and more while building your animation school portfolio.

We offer options to best suit your schedule. All classes are delivered live with the choice of in-person or online.

Your portfolio matters.

Learn from the best.

See our graduate portfolios

APW not only changed the way I draw, it made me much more confident about my art. The structure of the course allowed me to stay on top of my work while preparing my portfolio. It still surprises me how fast my work began to improve and was utterly thrilled to be accepted to SVA in New York.​
Sophie Alberdingk-Thijm
Sophie Alberdingk-ThijmLEAD REVISIONIST, YOWZA ANIMATION CORP.​
APW is the catalyst that launched my career. They successfully taught me the skills to succeed in animation school and beyond. I've been working nonstop for almost 9 years now in Toronto and I am always bumping into successful APW graduates.
Joseph Lague
Joseph LagueLEAD RIGGER, CEL ACTION 2D / INDUSTRIAL BROTHERS​
Animation Portfolio Workshop has raised the bar when it comes to nurturing the next generation of artists and consistently getting the right tools into their heads, hands and hearts.
Lynn Dana Wilton
Lynn Dana WiltonANIMATOR, STOP MOTION​
APW was a major catalyst in forming my passion and skills as a young artist. It helped me to build a strong foundation that went far beyond getting into the college of my choosing and sustains my work ethic today as a professional concept artist in the entertainment industry.
Patrick O'Keefe
Patrick O'KeefeART DIRECTOR, SONY PICTURES
Working in the animation industry requires more than talent and skill. On a daily basis you are required to be quick, confident, committed, careful and provide a high level of quantity and quality work. I was very fortunate to study at the Animation Portfolio Workshop. It instilled in me the dedication and craftsmanship required to develop and use these skills not only as a student, but as a professional. I still use the fundamentals I learned in class at work each day.
Myke Bakich
Myke BakichSTORY ARTIST
The Animation Portfolio Workshop was instrumental in getting me into Seneca's animation course. I joined as an amateur artist with zero knowledge of anatomy, and left a professional with a strong understanding of the human body. My sketchbook improved exponentially after the year I spent at APW. Gerard and Vince were incredibly patient with us and took the extra time needed to help us expand our abilities. I can easily say that without the APW, I would not be where I am today.
Claudio Gonzalez
Claudio GonzalezCREATURE CLOTH TD, WETA DIGITAL, NEW ZEALAND
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Not ready to build a portfolio?

Dip your toe into animation and sharpen your drawing skills with our introductory and open session programming. 

Have questions?
We're here to help.

Schedule a call with our Admissions Director