Gnomon

What Gnomon does

Gnomon is a private post-secondary institution founded in 1997 in North Hollywood, California, specializing in computer graphics education for the entertainment industry. It operates from a single campus at 6150 Laurel Canyon Blvd. in the NoHo West lot, supported by 237 employees and a total student body of approximately 550. The school trains students for careers in film, television, video games, and visual effects through a portfolio of programs: a 4-year BFA in Digital Production, a 2-year Certificate in Digital Production for Entertainment (with emphases in Game Art, Modeling and Texturing, VFX Animation, and Character and Creature Animation), standalone 10-week individual courses delivered on-campus or online, a Foundation in Art & Design program, a high school summer camp, and a corporate Training for Studios line.

Gnomon's curriculum is built entirely on industry-standard third-party software — Autodesk Maya, Epic Games Unreal Engine, Maxon ZBrush, The Foundry Nuke, SideFX Houdini, Adobe Substance Painter/Designer, Chaos Group V-Ray — with no proprietary technology stack. Teaching is delivered by working or recently retired industry artists from major studios, in average class sizes of 14 students. Reported outcomes include a 98% BFA placement rate and 79% certificate placement rate, externally verified under ACCSC definitions, and a claimed base of 1,000+ industry-employed graduates at studios including Disney Animation, DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Blizzard, Riot Games, ILM, Framestore, Paramount, PlayStation, Bethesda, NetherRealm, and Cloud Imperium Games.

Revenue is generated through tuition for full-time BFA and Certificate programs (eligible for federal Title IV aid), per-course fees for individual courses ($699–$2,133 plus a $25 enrollment fee), summer camp fees ($849/week), and the Training for Studios B2B offering. Go-to-market is sales-led via a portfolio-based rolling admissions process, supported by virtual info sessions, campus tours, an active multi-platform social presence (including live streaming on YouTube and Twitch), and industry events featuring guest speakers from major studios.

Name

Gnomon

Legal name

Gnomon Inc.

Website

https://gnomon.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Gnomon is a private post-secondary institution founded in 1997 in North Hollywood, California, that trains approximately 550 students for careers in film, games, and visual effects through BFA, certificate, and individual course programs taught by working industry artists on standard 3D production software.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Arts & VFX Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Computer Training (611420), Computer Training (61142), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile, Web & UI Engineering (Frontend, Backend, APIs, Mobile) (EDABAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Game art training
• Entertainment arts education
• Digital arts education
• Visual effects training
• 3D animation school

Headquarters

HQ city

North Hollywood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. BFA Degree Program: 4-year Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Production covering multiple aspects of 3D generalist skillset including visual arts and general education studies. Students can complete in 3 or 4 years depending on summer quarter participation.
2. Certificate Program: 2-year intensive certificate program in Digital Production for Entertainment with emphases in Game Art, Modeling and Texturing, VFX Animation, or Character and Creature Animation.
3. Individual Courses: Standalone 10-week courses available on-campus or online covering film, game, and visual effects production topics. Course prices range from approximately $699 to $2,133 per course plus enrollment fees.
4. Foundation in Art & Design (FIAD): Up to one year of fundamental art education for individuals 18+ looking to build portfolios. Modular course enrollment with transferable credits to full programs.
5. Digital Arts Summer Camp: One-week summer camp for high school students (age 14+) introducing 3D computer graphics, animation, and visual effects. Cost is $849 per week.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gnomon is a specialized digital arts college that delivers hands-on training in 3D computer graphics, visual effects, animation, and game art for entertainment industry careers. Core offerings include a 4-year BFA in Digital Production, a 2-year Certificate in Digital Production for Entertainment, standalone 10-week individual courses (on-campus and online), the Foundation in Art & Design program, a Digital Arts Summer Camp for high school students, and customized Training for Studios for corporate clients. All instruction is delivered using industry-standard tools and taught by working professionals from major studios.

Product overview

Gnomon is a specialized educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of computer graphics programs for entertainment industry careers. The core offerings include the 4-year BFA in Digital Production degree, the 2-year Certificate in Digital Production, standalone Individual Courses (10-week format available on-campus or online), the Foundation in Art & Design (FIAD) for portfolio development, and a Digital Arts Summer Camp for high school students. The institution is organized around six Areas of Study: 3D Generalist, Modeling & Texturing, Character & Creature Animation, VFX Animation, Game Art, and Virtual Production. Courses span tools and techniques across Visual Effects (19 courses), Games (18 courses), Art & Design (18 courses), Dynamic Effects (14 courses), Character Animation (12 courses), Modeling & Sculpting (11 courses), Compositing & Motion Graphics (8 courses), Texturing & Shading (8 courses), Character Rigging (6 courses), Lighting & Rendering (6 courses), Scripting & Programming (2 courses), and Virtual Production (1 course). Gnomon also offers Training for Studios providing customized corporate training programs. The institution partners with render farm services (RebusFarm, Chaos Cloud, GridMarkets) to support student rendering needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BFA in Digital Production A 4-year, full-time Bachelor of Fine Arts program covering multiple aspects of a 3D generalist skillset, providing an in-depth understanding of the 3D production pipeline, visual arts, and general education studies. Students can complete in 3 or 4 years depending on summer quarter participation.
• Certificate in Digital Production for Entertainment An intensive 2-year certificate program built on a 3D generalist foundation, offering emphasized studies in Game Art, Modeling and Texturing, Visual Effects Animation, or Character and Creature Animation. 79% placement rate for graduates.
• Individual Courses Standalone 10-week avocational courses covering a wide variety of subjects within film, game, and visual effects production, available both on-campus and online. Course prices range from approximately $699 to $2,133 per course plus enrollment fees.
• Foundation in Art & Design (FIAD) Portfolio development program for individuals 18 and over looking to become better artists and build a well-rounded portfolio, lasting up to one year of fundamental art education. Modular course enrollment with transferable credits (35 credits) to full programs.
• Digital Arts Summer Camp Summer program for high school students (age 14+) introducing 3D computer graphics, animation, and visual effects using industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya and ZBrush. Cost is $849 per week, with a two-week option available for $1,698.
• Training for Studios Customized training programs designed for entertainment industry studios to upskill their workforce in digital production techniques. B2B corporate training offering distinct from individual student programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% BFA Placement Rate (employment rates verified by external firm)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kapi ResidencesminorOthersOff-campus furnished student apartments partner. Gnomon has established relationship with Kapi Residences to provide students with housing options near campus in North Hollywood.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Full Sail University: Full Sail University is a private for-profit institution in Winter Park, Florida offering degrees and certificates in entertainment-focused fields including computer animation, game design, and film. Direct competitor to Gnomon for the same aspiring entertainment industry student segment with similar BFA/BS and certificate program structures.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): SCAD is a private non-profit art and design university with strong programs in visual effects, animation, and game design. Offers BFA, MA, and certificate programs that compete directly with Gnomon for students pursuing entertainment industry careers, though broader in scope (also covering fashion, graphic design, etc.).
• Vancouver Film School: Vancouver Film School is a Canadian private post-secondary institution offering intensive 1-year diploma programs in animation, VFX, and game design. Direct competitor with similar project-based, industry-instructor model and entertainment industry placement focus, though serving primarily the Vancouver/Canadian market.
• Ringling College of Art and Design: Ringling College is a private art and design college in Sarasota, Florida with highly regarded Computer Animation and Game Art BFA programs. Direct competitor for aspiring entertainment industry artists with strong industry placement at major studios including Disney and DreamWorks.
• CG Master Academy (CGMA): CGMA is an online-only platform offering specialized courses taught by industry professionals in 2D/3D animation, VFX, and game art. Direct competitor for individual course enrollment with similar instructor-from-industry model but purely online delivery and lower price points.
• Think Tank Training Centre: Think Tank Training Centre is a private VFX and animation school in Vancouver offering diploma programs in 3D animation, VFX, and game design. Direct competitor with similar intensive training model, industry instructors, and focus on studio placement.

Broad incumbents

• Academy of Art University: Academy of Art University is a large private for-profit art and design school in San Francisco offering degrees across many disciplines including animation, VFX, and game design. Broader incumbent with overlapping entertainment programs but much wider scope including fashion, advertising, and fine arts.

Emerging players

• Animation Mentor: Animation Mentor is an online animation school offering mentorship-based programs in character animation founded by DreamWorks animators. Emerging online competitor with strong industry pedigree that overlaps with Gnomon's character animation segment but is purely online and more focused.
• iAnimate: iAnimate is an online training platform offering workshops and mentorship in character animation taught by industry professionals from major studios. Emerging online competitor with similar instructor-from-industry model focused on animation, competing for the same student segment in the online channel.

Others

• Gnomon Online: Gnomon Online is the online learning extension of Gnomon offering live broadcast courses. Listed for context as the school's own digital channel, not an external competitor but represents the institution's expansion beyond the physical North Hollywood campus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Gnomon_School
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/gnomonschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/gnomonschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/gnomon-school-of-visual-effects
• Instagraminstagram.com/gnomon_school
• Pinterestpinterest.com/gnomon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Gnomon