Side Academy

What Side Academy does

Side Academy is a privately held, operating creative education institution based in Verona, Italy. It serves aspiring creative professionals, career switchers, and individuals seeking advanced production skills through three-year programs, six-month Foundation Masters, and 18-month Studio Production Masters. The portfolio spans CGI and VFX, animation, videogame design and development, fashion and costume design, cinematography and directing, fine arts and digital production, concept art, illustration and comics, and content creation, AI, and digital marketing. Delivery is primarily campus-based in Verona, with hybrid online options, live streaming, recorded lectures, and in-person labs or workshops.

The academy's teaching emphasizes industry-standard software and production-style workflows, including Unreal Engine and Maya pipelines, motion capture, RealityCapture-based photogrammetry and 3D scanning, and an LED-wall virtual production studio. It is authorized to teach Pixar's RenderMan and is a Houdini Training Center and Certified School authorized by SideFX. Its curriculum also includes an AI Lab and AI-assisted CGI tasks for texturing, lighting, simulation, and compositing optimization, as well as generative visual and marketing workflows. The supplied material does not identify a proprietary software platform or proprietary AI model.

Revenue is tuition-based: students pay for three-year programs and six- or 18-month masters, while specific prices are not public and are handled through advisor consultations, orientation calls, campus visits, and applications. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and event-driven, supported by industry rankings, student success stories, social media, workshops, studio tours, and participation in creative-industry events. Intesa Sanpaolo provides student financing and payment plans. No parent company or external funding rounds are disclosed, and the input describes Side Animation Studio as an operational tie rather than a formal subsidiary.

Name

Side Academy

Legal name

Side Academy - Academy of Animation, Visual Effects, Arts and Game

Website

https://sideacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Side Academy is a private Verona-based creative education institution serving aspiring creative professionals through three-year, six-month, and 18-month programs in CGI, VFX, animation, game design, fashion, fine arts, concept art, AI, and digital marketing, delivered in person or hybrid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Animation, Game Art & Digital Arts Colleges (EDAHAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Film, Television & Media Arts Colleges (EDAHAJAE), Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)

Keywords

• Creative arts education
• CGI and VFX training
• Video game design courses
• Fashion design education
• Digital marketing training

Headquarters

HQ city

Verona, Veneto

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Three-year Program Tuition: Tuition fees for comprehensive 3-year academic programs in various creative disciplines including CGI, VFX, videogame design, fashion design, and digital marketing.
2. Master Program Tuition (6-18 months): Tuition fees for intensive master programs - 6-month Foundation courses and 18-month Studio Production programs.
3. Financing Partnerships: Partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo to offer student financing and payment plans, enabling revenue realization while providing flexible payment options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Side Academy is a private creative arts education institution in Verona, Italy, offering three-year academic programs and six- and 18-month master programs in CGI, VFX, animation, videogame design, fashion and costume design, cinematography and directing, fine arts and digital production, concept art, and content creation, AI and digital marketing.\nIt delivers classroom, lab, and live-streamed instruction with hands-on projects, portfolio and showreel development, and preparation for creative-industry careers.

Product overview

Side Academy is an educational institution offering a portfolio of creative arts programs, including three-year undergraduate degrees and six-month/18-month master's programs. The three-year programs cover Videogame Design & Development, CGI & VFX, Fashion & Costume Design, Content Creation with AI & Digital Marketing, Cinematography & Directing, Fine Arts & Digital Production, and Concept Art/Illustration/Comics. Short-term six-month Foundation Masters provide entry-level intensive training in CGI & VFX, Videogame Design, Concept Art, Animation, Compositing, and Digital Marketing with AI, while 18-month Studio Production Masters offer comprehensive advanced training with AI integration. All programs integrate AI tools into creative workflows and emphasize portfolio development for industry readiness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Triennale in Videogame Design & Development A three-year academic program for videogame design and production, integrating artistic, technical, and narrative skills through game design, 3D modeling, Unreal Engine, VFX, animation, and AI for games.
• Triennale in CGI & VFX A three-year academic program combining CGI disciplines with AI applications to train digital artists in modeling, 3D animation, photorealistic rendering, and VFX for film and advertising.
• Triennale in Fashion & Costume Design A three-year academic program blending Italian sartorial tradition with digital innovation and 3D technologies for fashion, film and theater costume, and digital fashion or virtual couture.
• Triennale in Content Creation, AI & Digital Marketing A three-year academic program for digital communication professionals, combining media strategy, content production, advertising, data analysis, and AI integration.
• Triennale in Cinematography & Directing A three-year academic program in cinematography and directing for digital cinema, covering film-production techniques and visual storytelling.
• Triennale in Fine Arts & Digital Production A three-year academic program combining fine-arts fundamentals with digital-production techniques.
• Triennale in Concept Art, Illustration & Comics A three-year academic program in concept art, illustration, and comics for cinema, animation, and videogame industries.
• Master Brevi (Foundation) - 6 months A six-month foundation program portfolio providing artistic, technical, and methodological foundations in CGI and VFX, videogame design, concept art, animation, compositing, digital marketing, and AI, serving as an entry point to 18-month Studio Production masters.
• Master Studio Production - 18 months An 18-month intensive program combining artistic research, technology, and production, with full Studio Production masters in CGI and VFX, videogame design, fashion and costume design, 3D animation, and concept art, including AI integration.
• Foundation of Concept Art (Master Breve) A six-month introductory program in concept art combining traditional drawing with advanced 3D techniques, teaching character, environment, and atmosphere design using Blender, ZBrush, Procreate, Photoshop, and Substance Painter.
• Foundation of CGI & VFX (Master Breve) A six-month introduction to computer graphics and visual effects for cinema and digital media, covering 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering, animation, rigging, and compositing, with an introduction to AI.
• CGI & VFX Master (18 months) An intensive 18-month master covering the complete CGI pipeline with AI integration, preparing 3D artists for film, advertising, and animation through modeling, shading, lighting, FX simulations, compositing, and thesis projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 20 Creative School globally (The Rookies 2025)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

AI capability9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pixar Animation StudioscoreTechnology or IntegrationSide Academy is one of the few schools in the world authorized to use and teach RenderMan, Pixar's rendering engine. Pixar provides licenses enabling students to learn professional rendering techniques used in Oscar-winning productions like Toy Story, Frozen, and other Hollywood films.
• SideFXcoreTechnology or IntegrationSide Academy is a Houdini Training Center and Certified School, officially authorized by SideFX. Students gain access to industry-standard FX, simulation, and procedural modeling tools. Student projects have been evaluated to standard and featured in Houdini 2025 reel.
• The RookiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rookies is an international competition and ranking organization for creative media students. Side Academy participates annually with students submitting projects for Film of the Year, Animation, VFX, and Game of the Year categories. The academy is a Certified School within the circuit and consistently ranks among top creative schools globally.
• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerILM has opened its doors to Side Academy students during London Studios Tours. Kevin Mannens, an ILM technical director, has conducted workshops at the academy. Alumni including Silvia Pasqualetto and Kevin Mannens have worked at ILM.
• FramestoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFramestore has participated in Side Academy's London Studios Tours, allowing students to visit their facilities and learn about production workflows.
• BlueZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlueZoo animation studio participated in the London Studios Tours program, providing students exposure to UK animation production.
• One of UsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVFX studio visited during London Studios Tours, providing insight into European VFX production workflows.
• DisneyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisney has employed Side Academy graduates and featured student work. Faculty member Sarah Arduini has worked on Disney productions including winning an Oscar for VFX on 'The Jungle Book'.
• MarvelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarvel has utilized work from Side Academy graduates in their productions.
• DucatiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDucati invited Side Animation Studio and Master CGI students to visit their factory and museum, providing industrial visual production experience.
• NetflixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetflix has been associated with Side Academy through student projects inspired by their content and potentially through graduate employment.
• Naughty DogminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaughty Dog representatives serve as judges in The Rookies Game of the Year competition, evaluating Side Academy student projects.
• Riot GamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiot Games representatives participate as judges in The Rookies competition, reviewing student game development projects from Side Academy.
• Blizzard EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlizzard Entertainment serves as a judging panel member for The Rookies competitions, evaluating student work including game development projects.
• Sony Santa MonicaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSony Santa Monica representatives participate as judges in The Rookies Game of the Year category, reviewing Side Academy student projects.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vancouver Film School: Vancouver Film School offers intensive training in animation, visual effects, game design, film, and related digital media. Its portfolio-driven programs and international creative-student audience are directly comparable to Side Academy.
• Gnomon: Gnomon is a specialized creative-technology school focused on visual effects, animation, games, and digital entertainment. Its industry-tool curriculum and career-oriented student base closely match Side Academy's CGI, VFX, and game-design positioning.
• Istituto Europeo di Design: Istituto Europeo di Design is an Italian creative-education group spanning design, fashion, visual arts, communication, and digital media. Its Italian footprint and broad arts-and-design portfolio make it a strong geographic and product peer.
• Think Tank Training Centre: Think Tank Training Centre specializes in concept art, visual effects, games, and related digital-production disciplines. Its small, specialist, portfolio-led model closely overlaps Side Academy's advanced creative training.
• Escape Studios: Escape Studios provides practical visual effects, animation, and games education using production-oriented tools and workflows. Its short and postgraduate programs serve a similar career-transition and professional-upskilling market.
• Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti: Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti offers higher-education programs in design, fashion, visual arts, media, and new technologies in Italy. It competes for many of the same Italian and international creative students as Side Academy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@side-academy
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Side-Academy-Accademia-CGI-GAME/61560320411789
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/side-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/sideacademy

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Side Academy