Bring Your Drawings to Life

Create, animate, and premiere your animated shorts!

At the Riekes Center, our 2D Animation Camp is all about having fun while learning the art of animation. In this hands-on camp, students of all skill levels work to design characters, build stories, and animate their own original projects. It’s a week of creativity, focus, and high-energy storytelling.

Guided Creativity & Storytelling

Our instructors provide the structure and tools, while allowing campers the creative freedom to choose the stories they want to tell. Whether it’s a classic cartoon, a short digital skit, or an experimental art piece, students are encouraged to develop a style that fits their unique vision.

Students gain confidence using digital drawing tablets and software in a supportive environment. They will learn the "12 Principles of Animation" while completing their own short animations and building new friendships.

Health & Well-being

While we love the digital arts, we prioritize our students' physical health. To ensure students aren't sitting in front of a screen all day, we incorporate regular stretch breaks throughout the day. These breaks are essential for keeping students refreshed, active, and energized.

The Friday Showcase

On Friday, we invite friends and family to watch the animations the students have created. It’s a chance for every animator to show off a project they are proud of.

Continue the Creative Process

For those interested, characters created in our Digital Art Camp can be brought into this animation camp to be brought to life through movement.

Advanced Teen Internships

Experienced teen animators (15+) can apply to be a Visual Arts Intern. You’ll work with our staff to help other campers in this camp and more. It’s a great opportunity to develop skillsets and gain great leadership experience. For more info please email our Visual Arts Director, Julio Deras, at jderas@riekes.org.