Computer Graphics Master Academy
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersSherman Oaks, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Computer Graphics Master Academy firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Computer Graphics Master Academy industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Computer Graphics Master Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sherman Oaks
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Computer Graphics Master Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 3x Payment Plan |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 2x Payment Plan |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Full Payment |
| Subscription | Annual | One-Year Access Add-on |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Computer Graphics Master Academy product offering
Product offeringCore 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.
Companies that use Computer Graphics Master Academy
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Computer Graphics Master Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Computer Graphics Master Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights1 record
Computer Graphics Master Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Computer Graphics Master Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Computer Graphics Master Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Computer Graphics Master Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Computer Graphics Master Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Computer Graphics Master Academy
What does Computer Graphics Master Academy do?
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.
Is Computer Graphics Master Academy a public or private company?
Computer Graphics Master Academy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently closed.
When was Computer Graphics Master Academy founded?
Computer Graphics Master Academy was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Computer Graphics Master Academy based?
Computer Graphics Master Academy is headquartered in Sherman Oaks, United States, in the North America region.
How does Computer Graphics Master Academy make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Course Enrollment Fees are the primary driver. The others are CGMA+ Annual Subscription.
Who are Computer Graphics Master Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are iAnimate, CG Spectrum, Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Games + Animation, Think Tank Training Centre, New Masters Academy and AnimSchool. Broad incumbents are Brainstation, Pluralsight and LinkedIn Learning. Cubebrush (incl. Schoolism alumni) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Computer Graphics Master Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Computer Graphics Master Academy.
What industry is Computer Graphics Master Academy in?
Computer Graphics Master Academy's product category is Online Art Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACALAA, Creator Course Marketplaces (Multi-Instructor Catalogs), with a secondary code of EDAMAAAB, Digital Arts & Design (Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation). Its NAICS code is 611610 and its SIC code is 8200.