É«ÀÇÎÑ

HEY, ANIMATORS – this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for! Animation Career Review, in partnership with É«ÀÇÎÑ, has created a scholarship that provides creatives with the opportunity to train for the growing animation industry through any of É«ÀÇÎÑ’s globally recognized Animation programs. To learn more and apply, click here.

--

For nearly 5 years, Vancouver Film School has been officially recognized as a  certified school by SideFX – the industry leader behind the world’s most powerful procedural visual effects software, used by top studios in film, television, and gaming.  

This certification means that students of É«ÀÇÎÑ’s 3D Animation & Visual Effects program acquire a full mastery of Houdini during their training and graduate with a free commercial license, truly giving them a competitive edge. For aspiring animators, mastering Houdini is a must for breaking into the entertainment and game industries – and É«ÀÇÎÑ is where you make it happen.  

HOUDINI: THE INDUSTRY STANDARD 

Houdini is the backbone of modern visual effects. Known for its procedural, node-based workflow, Houdini enables artists to create complex simulations like explosions, destruction, fire, smoke, water, crowds, and environmental effects with unmatched efficiency and flexibility. 

Because of its power and scalability, Houdini has become the go-to tool for blockbuster films, AAA video games, and high-end television series. For students at É«ÀÇÎÑ, learning Houdini means developing a crucial skill set that aligns directly with how studios operate today. 

INDUSTRY RELEVANCE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES 

The creative industries have an ever-growing appetite for highly skilled VFX artists, and Houdini training has quickly become one of the most valuable qualifications in the field. Studios worldwide increasingly demand Houdini proficiency, making it a core requirement for roles in: 

• FX Artists – Specialists in creating realistic simulations of fire, smoke, water, and destruction. 
• Technical Directors – Artists who bridge the gap between art and code, creating tools and systems that power entire productions. 
• Environment Artists – Creators of dynamic, procedurally generated worlds for both film and games. 
• Game VFX Artists – Designers of interactive, real-time effects like magic, explosions, or environmental interactions in modern video games. 

É«ÀÇÎÑ students who graduate with Houdini experience are industry-ready, with the skills to walk into a studio and contribute from day one. The inclusion of SideFX commercial licenses for graduates means they can continue honing their craft independently, building portfolios and reels that stand out in a competitive hiring market. 

WHERE HOUDINI IS USED 

Houdini has been integral to countless major productions across film, TV, and gaming. Some high-profile examples include: 

• Films: Avengers: Endgame, Dune, Interstellar, Frozen II, and Spider-Man: No Way Home – all of which leaned heavily on Houdini for large-scale simulations and effects. 
• Television: Series like Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian, and Stranger Things have used Houdini to bring dragons, otherworldly landscapes, and supernatural events to life. 
• Video Games: Titles such as Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed, and Horizon Forbidden West use Houdini to generate procedural environments and cinematic effects at scale. 

Closer to home, Houdini is a staple at leading studios in Vancouver and around the world, including: 

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) 
• Sony Pictures Imageworks 
• Digital Domain 
• ¹ó°ù²¹³¾±ð²õ³Ù´Ç°ù±ðÌý
• MPC Film 
• EA Games 
• ±«²ú¾±²õ´Ç´Ú³ÙÌý

For É«ÀÇÎÑ students training in the heart of Vancouver’s booming creative industry hub, these present real, attainable opportunities. 

É«ÀÇÎÑ 3D ANIMATION STUDENTS MASTER HOUDINI 

At Vancouver Film School, our 1-year 3D Animation & Visual Effects program (ranked #1 in Canada and Internationally by Animation Career Review) gives students hands-on training in a variety of industry-standard tools, with Houdini as a crucial part of the curriculum. Under the guidance of an experienced industry faculty, students learn to integrate Houdini into real-world pipelines, developing dynamic simulations and procedural workflows that are aligned with professional studio practices. 

Being a Houdini-certified school also means that É«ÀÇÎÑ graduates earn recognition from SideFX itself, an endorsement that signals to employers worldwide that they’ve trained at a school aligned with these high industry standards. This certification, paired with É«ÀÇÎÑ’s globally recognized animation training in a real production environment, ensures graduates are not just technically proficient but also ready to seamlessly transition into their first studio gig. 

READY TO LEARN HOUDINI?  

For aspiring VFX artists, the opportunity to train with Houdini in an industry-focused production environment is a major advantage that will make you stand out to studios. As VFX pipelines become more complex and the demand for Houdini specialists surges, É«ÀÇÎÑ 3D Animation graduates are uniquely positioned to thrive. 

To get started, explore our 3D Animation & Visual Effects program or book an appointment to learn more about applying. 

Back to THE BLOG homepage