Admission

Entry to the MoPA 3D animation school is by competitive examination. This is entirely online and distance learning. To enter the Preparatory Class, you need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. The preparatory class is not compulsory, but it does provide a solid foundation of artistic skills for further training in 3D animation. To enter the MoPA school in 1st year, you need to have passed your baccalaureate, as well as registering via ParcourSup.

MoPA's 3D animation school is open to applicants with all types of school-leaving certificate. Every year, MoPA accepts and selects students from a wide range of general and vocational backgrounds.

More than just a curriculum, the MoPA 3D animation school places great importance on the student's professional project and motivation to join the school.

The competition to join MoPA, the 3D animation school, is as follows:

1. Registration for the MoPA competition opens, and you have a fixed period in which to register and pay the competition fee.
2. Once registration is closed, you will be notified of the competition tests. They include :
- a portfolio of creative work to be created at home, based on a subject assigned by the MoPA school
- a portfolio of personal work (Book) to be sent to us.
3. Based on the results, you may be offered an interview by videoconference.

It's important to note that your drawing skills are not the first thing to be judged. The MoPA 3D animation school's selection criteria are creativity, motivation, commitment and the desire to join the animation industry. Note also that the interview is not designed to trick you! It's a chance for us to get to know you and understand your motivation for joining our school.

To enter the MoPA preparatory class, the success rate is around 50%. However, the level of selection is higher for direct entry into the 1st year of training in 3D animation: the success rate is around 20%.

You don't need to have any knowledge of 3D animation to enter the MoPA animation school in 1st year or in a preparatory class. However, you do need to have an artistic sensibility. The MoPA entrance exam includes drawing, photography and storytelling tests based on a given subject.

More than diplomas, we're interested in your ability to structure a project into a global file. The selection criteria for MoPA's 3D animation school are creativity, motivation and commitment.

The preparatory year and the first year of the Stop Motion course are accessible outside ParcourSup.

On the other hand, the first year of the 3D Animation course is accessible via ParcourSup.

We invite you to contact us at contact@ecole-mopa.fr to help you with your application.

The MoPA entrance exam is the same for all students in France and abroad. Admission interviews may be conducted in English.

MoPA is internationally recognised and welcomes foreign students every year. Since it was founded, more than 180 foreign students have been trained at our animation and stop-motion film school. You can find all this information on our International Admissions page.

Registering for the MoPA 3D animation and stop motion film school couldn't be easier! Once you've registered, you can take the tests 100% online. Once you've uploaded your work to the dedicated platform, you'll receive your eligibility results. If your results are positive, you will be invited to a motivational interview, and finally receive your admission results.

Several application sessions are held throughout the year. To find out more, go to our Registration page.

All the tuition fees for our animation film school are available on our website: https://www.ecole-mopa.fr/en/registration-fees

No, you do not need to be an accomplished artist to apply to an animation school. However, most schools expect applicants to have basic drawing skills, including observational drawing, gesture drawing, and an understanding of composition. These fundamentals can be developed through regular practice before applying and do not require a formal artistic background.

What matters just as much as technical drawing ability is:

Creativity and a personal artistic voice — the ability to develop original ideas, imagine characters, create compelling situations, and build unique visual worlds.

An understanding of movement and timing — observing how people, animals, and objects move, developing a sense of rhythm, and refining these skills by watching a wide range of animated films and series.

Storytelling ability — knowing how to structure a narrative, choose a point of view, and communicate ideas visually through framing and storyboarding.

A strong artistic and cinematic culture — familiarity with major animation films and artists, visual curiosity, and an openness to related creative disciplines such as illustration, comics, and photography.

The application process for MoPA's animation program is designed to showcase these different qualities. Applicants submit a portfolio featuring personal work—drawings, sketches, graphic projects, or animated pieces—along with their motivations and background. The portfolio is not expected to be at a professional level; instead, it should demonstrate curiosity, commitment, and the potential to grow.

Once enrolled, drawing becomes an integral part of the curriculum. Students take courses in observational drawing, anatomy, perspective, and storyboarding while progressively mastering professional 3D animation software. The goal is not to become an illustrator, but to develop the visual thinking and graphic skills required to design and bring animation projects to life.

Admission to MoPA's 3D animation school is open to high school graduates and is based on an application portfolio and an individual interview with an admissions panel composed of faculty members and industry professionals. The selection process is designed to assess the applicant's artistic potential, motivation, and the consistency of their career goals rather than an already advanced technical skill level. Direct entry into the second, third, and fourth years of the program is also possible.

The application process:
 

1. Learn about the program and the school

Explore the resources available on the MoPA website, including program information, student films, and admission requirements.

Whenever possible, attend an Open Day or a Discovery Workshop.

2. Prepare your application

The application includes personal information, academic records, a motivation letter, and a portfolio of personal work.

The portfolio should reflect the applicant's artistic approach rather than technical perfection. A wide variety of work is encouraged, including observational drawings, sketches, personal graphic projects, simple animations, photography, writing, and more.

3. Submit your application

Applications are completed entirely online.

4. Admission interview

Applicants shortlisted after the portfolio review are invited to an individual interview.

The interview allows the admissions panel to evaluate the candidate's motivation, artistic sensitivity, cultural curiosity, and understanding of the profession they wish to pursue.

What does the admissions panel evaluate?

> Artistic potential and personal approach rather than technical mastery, since the purpose of the program is precisely to help students develop their technical skills.

> The consistency of the applicant's career goals: Why animation? Why MoPA? What are your professional ambitions in the medium term?

> Artistic and cinematic culture: visual curiosity, personal references, and the ability to discuss the films, artists, and creative works that inspire the applicant.

> Commitment to a demanding long-term program and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
 

Want to learn more? Discover the admission requirements for MoPA's 3D animation school.