Academy of Arts & Innovation
THE ROOKIES
Certified School
We are certified among the best schools in the world by top professionals in the field.
Learn moreArt | Cinema | fashion | Game | ai & advertising
Awarded among the best academies in the world
The first Academy of Arts & Innovation recognized among the top 20 in the world.
Side Academy is among the top twenty creative academies in the world according to The Rookies 2025, thanks to outstanding achievements in Fashion Design, Visual Effects and 3D Animation. With its transformation into the Academy of Arts & Innovation, the institute represents the evolution of traditional Academies of Fine Arts, integrating visual arts, digital research, emerging technologies and artificial intelligence into contemporary creative processes.
What's new: Discover the new three-year and MAster pathways
6 months - Foundation -
18 months - Studio Production -
Our Faculty
The finest instructors and professors, who have taught at top Academies and Universities in the field and beyond, will be at your disposal throughout our courses. What truly sets Side Academy apart is the quality of teaching, delivered in classrooms on-site or via live streaming from every corner of the world.
Sarah Arduini
“She has worked in the Animation Industry for over 10 years, contributing to many Disney movies. Academy Award winner for Best VFX for Disney’s The Jungle Book.”
The magic of our students
Some of our students’ best projects for The Rookies Award 2025
Work with the biggest Studios and Brands
Our courses have enabled several students who have graduated from our facility to be able to curate major projects and productions for brands such as Disney, Marvel, Ducati, among others.
An 'Academy of Oscars
For about 10 years, it has stood out as a unique educational institution in training professionals for 3D Content Creation.
Funding & Benefits
Intesa Sanpaolo
Student life
Discover Verona
Testimonials
"The Italian Side Academy is a school of excellence, offering courses on animation, visual effects, arts and games, including digital production, computer graphics, and 3D art with scripting and editing."
“When I first saw what the students of Side Academy create, I was left speechless. This school is the triumph of merit!”
“I fulfilled my dream of working in a top studio thanks to my training path at Side Academy and the instructors I had the chance to work with.”
“More than anything else, I dreamed of working at Weta FX (Avatar, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and many more), and thanks to Side Academy, I made it!”
“I am happy to be working on a creative project with 3D artists trained by a school as unique in Italy and worldwide as Side Academy.”
Side Academy with the institutions
Even Sergio Mattarella, our President of the Italian Republic, had the opportunity to learn about our institution during the premiere presentation of Pupi Avati’s Dante.
FAQ:
Absolutely, all courses start from the basics, so no artistic or programming skills are required. We want to train new artists regardless of their educational background.
With the HYBRID mode, we allow those who need it to take the course ON-LINE, but to have the opportunity to attend certain labs, workshops or in-person events.
We recommend having a PC or Mac at home that can run professional software, so that students can continue working on their projects from home. For those taking the online course, you’ll also need: an internet connection, a graphics tablet, a microphone to communicate with instructors, and headphones. A webcam is optional.