A school at the heart of creative innovation
Located in Rennes, in the heart of the dynamic Courrouze district, ESMA offers a campus designed to encourage creation and excellence in the fields of 3D animation, VFX and video games. The site boasts professional facilities, including drawing rooms, animation studios and computer workstations equipped with the most widely used software in the field, such as Illustrator, Photoshop, Unity and Unreal Engine.
ESMA Rennes is located at the heart of a fast-growing hub of creative companies, incubators and cultural spaces, in an ecosystem that is conducive to digital innovation. It’s a strategic location that offers future talent the chance to immerse themselves fully in Rennes’ cultural energy.
Courses at ESMA Rennes
ESMA Rennes offers a full range of courses dedicated to 3D animation, VFX and video games. The courses combine artistic development and technical expertise to prepare students effectively for the demands of the creative and entertainment industries.
Prep Entertainment
A preparatory year dedicated to learning the basics of drawing, volume and visual storytelling, ideal for fine-tuning your career plans and acquiring the essential skills needed to go on to 3D animation or video games under optimum conditions.
3D Animation & Special Effects
A 5-year course, certified by a Level 7 RNCP title (Bac+5), covering the production stages of a 3D animation film: storyboarding, modelling, rigging, animation, lighting, rendering and compositing. The final year of the Professional 3D Animation Cycle is devoted to the production of a collective short film, presented before an international jury, a real springboard for showcasing creativity and gaining access to major animation festivals.
Video Game
A 4-year vocational course to specialise in the video game industry: Game Artist, Level Designer or Technical Artist. This comprehensive course combines theory and practice to enable you to master all the phases involved in creating a video game: artistic conception, game design, development, UX/UI, right through to the production and promotion of a video game, whether independent or AAA.
A place of excellence for training in 3D animation and video games
ESMA Rennes welcomes its students to a modern and innovative campus, perfectly suited to the demands of the 3D animation, VFX and video game industries. Designed to encourage creativity and collaboration, this site meets the standards of the creative and digital industries.
The courses take place in a professionally equipped environment, with animation studios, drawing workshops, sound studios and computer rooms equipped with high-performance workstations and benchmark software such as Maya, Houdini, Blender, Unreal Engine and Unity. Each space enables you to master all the stages of digital production: 3D modelling, rigging, animation, lighting, rendering, compositing and video-game development.
The campus also has the filming equipment and post-production facilities needed for large-scale animation and video game design projects. Future Game Artists, Level Designers and Technical Artists work in conditions similar to those found in studios, ideal for the creation of AAA or independent video games.
Coworking and relaxation areas complete this environment to stimulate creativity, encourage teamwork and provide effective preparation for careers in 3D animation, VFX and video games.
Housing solutions tailored to student life in Rennes
ESMA Rennes is making it easier for students to find accommodation thanks to its partnership with Artemisia, a recognised expert in student residences. Located in the immediate vicinity of the campus, the Artemisia residence offers more than 200 modern, functional flats, ranging from studios of 18 to 25 m² to shared flats. All fully-equipped, these flats offer optimum comfort on a daily basis. Students also benefit from a wide range of services, including laundry facilities, broadband internet access and friendly communal areas. An ideal solution for students studying 3D animation, VFX or video games.
Living close to the campus means you can take full advantage of the teaching facilities and creative spaces, while easily integrating into student life and forging links within the ESMA community.
Rennes, a dynamic student city, also offers a wide range of accommodation options: private residences, shared flats and independent studio flats in lively, well-connected neighbourhoods. It’s the ideal setting for a successful course and a career in the creative and digital industries.
Join one of the best schools for 3D animation, special effects and video games
Rennes, a fast-growing creative hub
Rennes is a dynamic and innovative city in the creative industries sector. ESMA Rennes offers a 5-year course dedicated to the design, modelling and production of 3D animated films, providing students with a comprehensive, professionally-oriented education. The city is also home to a number of specialist studios, including Vivement Lundi! (director of Mémorable) and BPI Studio (collaboration on LOVE, DEATH & ROBOTS), renowned for their animation and special effects productions, offering an ideal environment in which to prepare for the professions of tomorrow.
Rennes also hosts a number of events dedicated to the digital and visual arts, such as Stunfest and the Festival National du Film d’Animation, which offer great networking opportunities.
A springboard to creative studios in France and abroad
Training at ESMA Rennes enables students to master the technical and artistic skills sought after by the biggest studios. Thanks to a network of alumni and partnerships, students are helped to quickly join companies in the 3D animation and video game sectors.
Every student leaves with solid, operational expertise, a real asset for long-term employment in the creative and digital industries.
Rennes, an innovative and cultural student city
Ranked as one of the best student cities in France, Rennes has a reputation for dynamism, quality of life and cultural richness. As the capital of Brittany, the city attracts thousands of students every year thanks to its friendly atmosphere, historic heritage and numerous festivals and events dedicated to creativity and the digital arts.
Between strolls through the historic centre, the banks of the Vilaine and festivals such as Travelling and Stunfest, Rennes offers a stimulating environment, ideal for personal development and professional meetings in the 3D animation and video games sectors.
The ESMA Rennes campus is strategically located in the Courrouze district, just a few minutes from the city centre. It is easily accessible thanks to an efficient public transport network (metro, bus) and well-developed cycle paths. The TGV high-speed train station links Rennes to Paris in less than 1 hour 30 minutes, while Rennes-Bretagne airport provides fast connections to major cities.
Rennes combines creativity, accessibility and quality of life, making it the ideal place to study 3D animation, special effects and video games.