Edison College is Victoria’s oldest and largest animation college! As a Toon Boom Harmony Centre of Excellence since 2015, Edison College Canada (ECC) is constantly training and inspiring artists to participate in the country’s booming digital arts and entertainment economy.
This 2D Animation Course is a one-year intensive diploma program designed to get students ready for a career as a 2D character animator. Students will learn through live practical demonstrations and theory, followed by guided in-class assignments.
Generally, all 2D Animation Programs are recognized by the provincial governments in Canada. This 2D animation diploma has been reviewed and approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
You can enroll in 2d animation courses online from anywhere in Canada, including Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
All subjects, in this Character Animation Course, are designed to flow one into the other with the culmination of two personal projects. All of which will be brought together into a demo reel and portfolio website, giving the students the resources to start a career as an animator while fostering their individual passion and drive through the variability of personal projects.
At the end of the program, students will be able to:
• Develop a portfolio that showcases their abilities and use that portfolio to search for employment.
• Apply for employment as a ‘junior 2D character animator’.
• Be able to animate a 2D character in Harmony Toon Boom.
• Certification: students must have some familiarity with art and design theory, character design, background art and design/layout, compositing, storyboarding, editing, rigging, scene planning, etc.
• Students will be able to complete Harmony Toon Boom (a popular software in Online Animation Courses Canada).
Two-dimensional character animation is at the foundation of some of the world’s most beloved storytelling — from feature films and episodic television series to video games, advertising, e-learning, and independent content creation. In Canada, the animation industry has deep roots and active production capacity, with British Columbia home to one of the most concentrated clusters of professional animation studios anywhere in the country.
Vancouver’s animation sector includes major independently owned animation studios and award-winning production companies ZipRecruiter operating across the city, alongside Toon Boom Animation itself — the Montreal-based Canadian company whose software, Toon Boom Harmony, has become the global industry standard for 2D character animation. Toon Boom Harmony’s clients include Disney Television Animation, Bento Box, Fox Television Animation, Toei Animation, and major studios across more than 140 countries Toon Boom — and proficiency in Harmony is a consistent expectation in professional 2D animation job postings across Canada.
Edison College has been a Toon Boom Harmony Centre of Excellence since 2015 — one of a select group of recognized training institutions globally. This designation means graduates of this program receive not only their diploma but Toon Boom Certification, the same credential recognized by professional studios worldwide. Paired with the Emmy Award-winning Harmony software and Storyboard Pro included in tuition, this is the closest available training pathway to the actual tools and workflows used in working animation production.
The animation labour market is competitive and portfolio-driven. The Job Bank places 2D animators and illustrators within NOC 52120, and the B.C. employment outlook for this broad occupational group is rated Limited for 2025–2027 — reflecting the competitive nature of creative employment across the full design and illustration sector. However, demand for 2D animators remains steady, especially in industries like advertising, gaming, education, and entertainment — and with the rise of digital content, skills in animation software and storytelling are highly valued. ZipRecruiter
The freelance market for certified Toon Boom Harmony animators is active nationally and internationally, with graduates building careers as independent contractors across the full pipeline of 2D production — rigging, character animation, storyboarding, and compositing. Edison’s fully online program is open to students across Canada, from British Columbia and Ontario to Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories, reflecting both the national and international character of the animation career landscape.
Sources: WorkBC — NOC 52120 | Government of Canada Job Bank | Toon Boom Animation
Graduates of the 2D Character Animation diploma are prepared for a range of production roles across the animation pipeline — and the demo reel and portfolio website built during the program are the primary tools graduates use to pursue employment and freelance contracts. Career opportunities include:
Core Animation Roles:
Pre-Production Roles:
Technical Production Roles:
Post-Production & Editorial:
Independent & Freelance:
Toon Boom Harmony is widely used in industries including television, film, video game development, advertising, and educational content creation — and professionals in 2D animation, storyboarding, and motion graphics rely on this software for its robust drawing and rigging tools. ZipRecruiter
B.C.’s animation studio community — including ICON Creative Studio (Canada’s largest independently owned animation entertainment company), Atomic Cartoons, Zoic Studios, and many independent production houses — provides a meaningful local employment cluster for graduates based in the province. Nationally, Montreal and Toronto are the largest animation markets in Canada, with active studio communities and consistent demand for Harmony-certified animators.
2D character animators work in production environments that range from major studio floors and boutique independent shops to fully remote freelance arrangements — reflecting the inherently digital and location-flexible nature of animation work:
Animation Studios: The primary professional destination for graduates — animation studios in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal employ 2D animators across television series, short-form content, commercial production, and film work. B.C.’s animation sector benefits from federal and provincial tax credit programs for Canadian animation production, making it an active production environment even as a highly competitive one.
Video Game Studios: Vancouver is home to one of North America’s most active game development ecosystems, with studios employing 2D animators for character animation, UI animation, and cutscene production. Toon Boom Harmony rigging skills are increasingly valued in game pipelines alongside traditional 3D tools.
Advertising & Motion Design: Marketing agencies, motion design studios, and digital advertising producers across Canada employ 2D animators and motion graphics artists to create branded content, social media animation, and explainer videos — one of the most accessible entry-level markets for new graduates.
E-Learning & Educational Content: The growing Canadian e-learning and educational technology sector employs 2D animators to produce animated instructional content, training videos, and interactive educational media — a steady and growing market particularly suited to remote freelance animators.
Broadcasting & Streaming: Canadian broadcasters and international streaming platforms producing Canadian content (Corus Entertainment, CBC, and Canadian co-productions) employ 2D animators and storyboard artists for episodic animation — leveraging Canada’s strong animation co-production treaty relationships with France, the UK, and other countries.
Remote & Freelance: Graphic designers and illustrators — including animators — work in studios, offices, or from home, with many operating their own businesses and working for clients ranging from single-person studios to agencies of hundreds operating in multiple offices around the world. WorkBC Active freelance platforms list Toon Boom Harmony as one of the most in-demand skills for remote creative contracts Upwork, making this one of the most genuinely location-flexible creative careers available — directly aligned with the fully online delivery of this program.
Compensation in 2D animation varies significantly based on experience level, production type, employment model (studio vs. freelance), and geographic market — with professional studio rates and senior freelance work commanding substantial pay.
In British Columbia, graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 52120, which includes 2D animators) typically earn between $22.12 and $59.00 per hour Job Bank, with animation roles at the higher end of that range particularly for those with specialized Toon Boom Harmony rigging or compositing skills.
In Vancouver, the average animation salary is approximately $83,215 per year ($40.01/hr) ZipRecruiter — reflecting the higher compensation levels available at professional studios compared to entry-level design positions. Experienced animator roles at major studios in B.C. have been listed with salary ranges of $90,400 to $150,500 CAD annually Glassdoor, confirming the significant upside for those who build a strong production track record.
For junior and entry-level roles, compensation typically starts in the $20–$35/hr range, with meaningful increases as graduates build their demo reel, accumulate production credits, and develop specializations in high-demand pipeline roles such as rigging. Animation rigging professionals typically earn between $50,000 and $90,000 annually, with experienced artists working on high-profile projects earning higher salaries — particularly in larger studios or with advanced tool specializations. ZipRecruiter
The freelance market offers considerable flexibility in earnings. About a third of workers in graphic and animation-related fields in Canada are self-employed Glassdoor, with income determined primarily by portfolio strength, client relationships, and specialization. Toon Boom Certification — included with this diploma — is a direct and demonstrable credential that freelance animators use to attract studio contracts and platform-based clients.
Studying from another province? The animation career is fundamentally portfolio-driven and location-flexible — graduates from any province can compete for Canadian and international animation contracts. The key markets for studio employment are B.C. (Vancouver), Ontario (Toronto), and Quebec (Montreal). Graduates are encouraged to consult the Government of Canada Job Bank for current wage data specific to their home province.
Sources: WorkBC — NOC 52120 | Government of Canada Job Bank — BC | ZipRecruiter — Animation Vancouver
This video shows an example of a student demo reel created by our students in a 2D animation diploma program. These demo reels are crucial for students since they must demonstrate some hands-on experience in the field of animation before receiving their diploma certificate.
Such demo reels are also helpful for students looking for their first jobs because they exhibit their ability to do animation before they finish their diploma.
A successful career in animation requires a strong balance of theory and practice. Keeping this important balance in mind, the faculty at Edison College takes hands-on training seriously since it has a direct impact on students’ careers.
"Graduating from this program as a Mental Health and Addiction Community Support Worker has been a truly impactful experience. The education I received provided me with both the knowledge and practical skills needed to support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges in a meaningful and compassionate way.
The instructors were supportive, knowledgeable, and brought real-world experience into the classroom, which made the learning feel relevant and applicable. I especially valued the focus on trauma-informed care, cultural awareness, and building genuine connections with clients.
This program helped me grow not only professionally but personally. I left feeling confident, prepared, and motivated to make a difference in my community. I’m grateful for the foundation it gave me and would recommend it to anyone looking to pursue a career in mental health and addiction support
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"I had a great experience completing my Therapeutic Recreation Activity Assistant program at Edison College. The course was practical, easy to follow, and really helped me feel prepared to work in the field. I would definitely recommend it to others."
"My experience at Edison College Canada has been very rewarding. The Community Support Worker program, especially the Mental Health and Addiction specialization, has helped me build confidence and real-world skills to support vulnerable individuals in my community. I feel more prepared for my future career."
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