The Rookies, a global barometer of creativity
Founded in 2010, The Rookies has established itself as a benchmark in the field of digital creation training. Every year, its international platform showcases the best student work in the fields of animation, special effects, video games, design and illustration.
The annual Rookies Global School Rankings are based on the work submitted to the Rookie Awards, a showcase for the expertise of schools around the world, and to be well placed in this ranking is to benefit from international recognition from the industry, which praises both the quality of the courses and the ability of the schools to prepare students for their future careers.
Rigorous, student-centred assessment
The methodology adopted by The Rookies is based on a fair and transparent approach: the work submitted by the students is assessed by professionals from the major international studios. Each project is analysed according to a number of criteria, including :
- the creativity and originality of the proposals,
- the technical level demonstrated in the production,
- quality of presentation and finish,
- the variety of skills involved,
- and the potential for professional integration.
All the scores obtained are used to establish a representative average for each school. This method, which focuses on the actual performance of students, ensures an independent ranking based on competence, talent and pedagogical coherence.
2025 Awards: ESMA shines internationally
17th place – Top 50 Creative Schools
ESMA is one of the Top 50 creative schools in the world, confirming the richness and complementarity of its courses: 3D animation, graphic design, illustration, concept art and video games. This ranking highlights the diversity of the profiles trained and the consistent quality of the teaching provided on its various campuses.
4th place – Top Creative Schools: 3D Animation
The school also achieved 4th place worldwide in the 3D Animation category. This performance illustrates the high level of training in 3D animation and special effects, a long-standing area of excellence at ESMA. ESMA’s graduation films, which regularly win awards at international festivals, bear witness to the exceptional expertise of its students and the support of its teaching teams.
1st place – Top Creative Schools: Production Excellence – 3D Animation
Lastly, ESMA took first place worldwide in the Production Excellence 3D Animation category, and was once again voted BEST SCHOOL IN THE WORLD. This award recognises students’ mastery of the entire production process, from script development to image finalisation, including art direction, pipeline, animation and compositing. It also highlights the students’ ability to work as a team in conditions similar to those in a professional studio.
Continuing recognition
These new results reinforce ESMA’s reputation as one of the best-performing creative schools in the world. For more than three decades, the school has been committed to imparting a demanding teaching approach, combining creativity, technique and professionalism, and training graduates who are sought after by the biggest animation and VFX studios.
Above all, these awards reflect the daily commitment of the entire ESMA community.
Congratulations to our students for their passion, creativity and perseverance, which make the school shine throughout the world. Their success is the greatest reward of all.