Gain a powerful insight into the fast-paced and multidimensional world of visual effects production, digital arts and animation with all the tools, techniques and practical experience required to succeed as one of tomorrow's industry professionals. Subject areas include 2D and 3D animation, filmmaking, post-production, motion design, matte painting, digital compositing, visual effects supervising, creative coding, audiovisual installations and interactive art.

Catalyst's visual effects, digital arts and animation courses are based at the imagination-inspiring Funkhaus facility in Berlin, where architecture meets artistry and collaboration makes community. Our intensive 1-year HE Certificate and in-depth 3-year Bachelor's degree are rigorously validated by our UK university partner. Setting us apart from other institutes, our programmes are project based, putting you at the vital centre of your learning experience. It’s a work hard, play hard approach that provides you with the credentials, broad experience, mindset and portfolio required to take the next step in developing your career and the confidence to evolve with the industry.

Throughout this multidisciplinary programme, you will gain the crucial skills across these key industry-relevant areas, which are needed to excel in whichever direction you decide to pursue in your career as an artist and technologist. Our project-based curriculum allows you to build a portfolio while you shape your academic projects towards your professional goals and interests. Whether you're interested in gaming, animation, immersive installations or on-set VFX, this programme provides you with the knowledge, gear, facilities and guidance to realise your creative and professional goals.

Tomorrow’s visual creatives will be multidisciplinary artists, fluent in cutting-edge software and cross-media technology tools. But above all, they will be visual storytellers, guided by an acute awareness and sensitivity that will open minds and contribute to the design of future realities.

As creators of worlds we ask ourselves - what kind of worlds are we creating and what kind of worlds do we aspire to build?

Echoing the flexibility of the industry, our potential-pushing professionals mould their workshops around the interests of their students. Whatever your creative background or approach, you’re invited to employ your new skills in expressing your unique voice and autonomously forging your own direction. It’s all about artistic exchange: our team has the knowledge and experience; you’ve got the right questions. 

However you measure it and whatever artistic realm you are working in, most creatives would like to achieve success with their creative endeavour from successful completion of an artistic exploration all the way through to financial security and a global audience. 

There are many skills required to develop these dreams into real and practical futures. Our optional course in self-development and leadership is the ‘rocket fuel’ which will provide you with the frameworks, the focus and the drive to help realise your future.

Self development to better understand how to take decisive action, to communicate powerfully with others and take an honest look at how you limit yourself. Leadership to complete your creative project, to bring your work into the external world and to attract an audience to share, appreciate and follow your work. 

Our tutors are all experienced professionals with a passion for passing on their experience to others. You will be guided along your visual effects journey by a team of permanent tutors and visiting visual effects industry pros from around the world.