Computer Graphics Master Academy

What Computer Graphics Master Academy does

Computer Graphics Master Academy (CGMA), legally CGMA Online Inc., is a California-incorporated online education platform founded in 2010 and headquartered in Sherman Oaks, CA. The company delivers structured digital art training for the entertainment industry — concept art, game art, and visual effects — through three academies containing 130+ courses and 10+ curated learning tracks taught by 200+ instructors who are active industry professionals at studios such as DreamWorks, ILM, Pixar, Framestore, and Marvel. The platform runs on a term-based cohort model (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) delivered through a virtual classroom with pre-recorded lectures, weekly assignments, live Q&A, and individual feedback recordings; content carries lifetime access and subtitles in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

The revenue model is consumer-direct, per-course enrollment at approximately $599 per course with installment plans, supplemented by a $69/year CGMA+ subscription offering 70+ additional workshops and 250+ hours of supplementary content. Distribution is exclusively online via self-serve enrollment through the company website, supported by content marketing (blog, newsletter) and an admissions inquiry funnel. The company reports 20K+ cumulative students, no disclosed institutional or B2B contracts, no venture or private equity funding, and founder ownership.

As of November 14, 2024, a dissolution filing is before the California court, course operations are paused, and a preservation hold is in effect pending court guidance. Operating status is recorded as closed and the entity is in the process of winding down, which fundamentally constrains any forward-looking investment thesis absent a reversal of the dissolution process.

Name

Computer Graphics Master Academy

Legal name

CGMA Online Inc.

Website

https://cgmasteracademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Computer Graphics Master Academy (CGMA) is a private, online digital art education platform offering 130+ courses in concept art, game art, and VFX to individual students globally, taught by 200+ active industry professionals. The company is currently in dissolution proceedings as of November 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Art Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Creator Course Marketplaces (Multi-Instructor Catalogs) (MPACALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital Arts & Design (Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation) (EDAMAAAB)

Keywords

• Online art education
• Digital art courses
• Concept art training
• Game art training
• Visual effects courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Sherman Oaks

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Course Enrollment Fees: Students pay per course with payment plan options including 3x payments, 2x payments, or full payment. Each course is 8 weeks long plus an extra week for material course review.
2. CGMA+ Annual Subscription: Companion add-on offering over 70 new stand-alone workshops with over 250 hours of content, available for one-year access

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Computer Graphics Master Academy (CGMA) operates an online education platform delivering 130+ structured digital art courses across three academies (Concept Art, Game Art, VFX). Courses are taught by 200+ active industry professionals and combine pre-recorded lectures, weekly assignments, personalized expert feedback recordings, and live Q&A sessions. The platform also offers CGMA+, a subscription add-on with 70+ standalone workshops and 250+ hours of supplementary content, plus ancillary services such as portfolio reviews and gift certificates.

Product overview

CGMA is an online educational platform for creative industries offering a portfolio of three core academies: Concept Art Academy (73 courses), Game Art Academy (123 courses), and VFX Academy (12 courses), totaling 130+ courses. The platform delivers structured learning through curated tracks (Foundation & Design, Houdini | FX, 2D/3D Character Design, 2D/3D Environment Arts, Compositing | Lighting, Animation Master Academy, Visual Storytelling & IP Development, Character TD | Rigging) and individual courses taught by 200+ industry professionals. Courses feature pre-recorded lectures, weekly assignments, individual feedback recordings, and live Q&A sessions. CGMA+ is a supplementary add-on offering 70+ additional workshops (250+ hours). The platform provides lifetime course access, certification of completion (upon submitting 80% of assignments), and subtitles in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. CGMA operates as a California corporation but has a dissolution filing pending as of November 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Concept Art Academy: Concept Art Academy with 73 courses focusing on illustration, design, and visual storytelling
• Game Art Academy
• VFX Academy
• CGMA+

Products and services

• Concept Art Academy Core academy offering 73 courses focused on concept art skills for entertainment industries including film, games, and animation, covering character design, environment design, illustration, and visual storytelling.
• Game Art Academy Core academy offering 123 courses focused on game art skills including character creation, environment design, animation, rigging, and 3D asset creation for game production.
• VFX Academy Core academy offering 12 courses focused on visual effects skills including compositing, lighting, and FX simulation for film and TV production.
• CGMA+ Annual subscription add-on offering over 70 stand-alone workshops with 250+ hours of supplementary content taught by multiple instructors, complementing the core CGMA academies.
• Gift Certificates Gift certificate purchases enabling individuals to give CGMA courses to aspiring artists.
• Portfolio Review Standalone portfolio review service providing students with feedback on their artwork and course recommendations.

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Direct peers

• iAnimate: iAnimate is an online school focused on character animation workshops taught by feature-film and game industry animators. It directly overlaps with CGMA's Animation Master Academy in curriculum, instructor caliber, and target learner profile.
• CG Spectrum: CG Spectrum provides online mentored training in 3D animation, VFX, game development, and concept art with industry-professional mentors. It overlaps directly with CGMA's three academies and competes for the same self-serve, career-oriented learner segment.
• Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Games + Animation: Gnomon is a vocational school for the entertainment industry offering courses in concept art, game art, VFX, and animation taught by working industry professionals. It is the closest direct competitor to CGMA in target audience, curriculum structure, and career-outcome positioning.
• Think Tank Training Centre: Think Tank offers online and in-person programs in animation, VFX, and game art, with mentorship from working artists. Its online portfolio programs target the same career-track concept art and 3D artist audience as CGMA's Game Art and VFX academies.
• New Masters Academy: New Masters Academy provides online drawing, painting, and digital art instruction with subscription and course-based access. It competes with CGMA's Concept Art Academy and Foundation & Design Track for the same traditional-and-digital fine arts learner base.
• AnimSchool: AnimSchool provides online 3D animation training taught by professional animators, covering character animation, rigging, and performance. It competes with CGMA's Animation Master Academy and Character TD | Rigging tracks for animation-focused learners.

Broad incumbents

• Brainstation: Brainstation offers bootcamp-style and short-course training in design, development, and data with some coverage of digital design and UX/UI. It overlaps with CGMA's professional upskilling positioning but at a broader, less-specialized scope.
• Pluralsight: Pluralsight is a large-scale technology and creative skills platform with courses covering 3D, VFX, game development, and digital arts alongside broader IT and engineering topics. It serves as a broader incumbent offering overlapping CGMA's content in a wider subscription library.
• LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn Learning is a broad professional skills library covering creative tools, design software, and 3D/animation topics within a much larger B2B and consumer subscription product. It competes for general creative upskilling budgets that could otherwise go to CGMA.

Emerging players

• Cubebrush (incl. Schoolism alumni): Cubebrush hosts an artist marketplace and learning content, having absorbed Schoolism's concept art instruction community. It represents an emerging direct competitor in the concept art / illustration course space that CGMA's Concept Art Academy competes against.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Computer Graphics Master Academy