Cartoon and Animation Bahçeşehir University (BAU)

Overview

At Cartoon and Animation programme from BahçeÅŸehir University (BAU)  trains world-class directors, character designers, storyboard artists, 2D and 3D animators, visual development artists, and animation producers who can create original animated series, feature films, commercials, game cinematics, and digital content for both the rapidly growing Turkish animation industry and the global entertainment market. 

Key facts

Many graduates launch their own boutique studios or secure development deals with international distributors within a few years of graduation. Starting salaries for talented graduates now rival or exceed those of live-action film directors, and award-winning creators quickly reach seven-figure dollar deals for original IP. 

The social prestige of animation artists has skyrocketed: once considered a children’s medium, animation is now celebrated as high art and big business, with Turkish animated features regularly opening the Istanbul Film Festival and young directors appearing on Forbes 30 Under 30 and similar lists. 

Some graduates pursue MFA degrees at CalArts, Gobelins, or Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, while the majority prefer to ride the explosive growth of the industry directly. In short, the English-medium Bachelor of Cartoon and Animation produces globally competitive creators who stand at the center of Turkey’s transformation into an animation superpower, enjoying extraordinary creative freedom, international recognition, and financial success in one of the most exciting and respected creative fields of the twenty-first century.