Visual Creators Academy
Turn imagination into visual stories.
Visual Creators Academy teaches teens how to turn ideas into images, animation, visual effects, and short visual stories using modern Generative AI technologies, creative software, and coding.
Students learn through practical project-based classes. They start with guided creation and visual storytelling, then gradually build toward more advanced workflows where coding and creative technology help them control, refine, and expand what they make.
A world of creative possibility
See what generative AI can help you create.
From a spark of imagination to images, motion, and whole visual worlds.
Enrolling Now
Generative AI Art, Animation & Filmmaking I
From a spark of an idea to a mini-film made by you. Create original AI images, bring them to life with animation, and edit your shots into a cinematic trailer.
Leave with a 30–60 second mini-film animation trailer.
Choose one of two start options for this six-week course: January 2027 or February 2027. Request online or in-person participation in Metro Vancouver. Exact dates, class times, and the community-center location are still to be confirmed.
Example Demo Project
The Hidden World
Explore character and environment development, from early sketches to finished renders.
Courses
Skills students can learn
Generative AI Art, Animation & Filmmaking I is the only course currently open for registration. The other courses below are available by waitlist.
Each course teaches a connected series of creative skills through practical project work. Students learn how modern Generative AI technologies can help them tell visual stories, design characters and worlds, create motion, explore effects, and bring imagination into clear visual form.
The goal is not to memorize software. Students learn how to shape an idea, guide the result, make thoughtful choices, improve the work, and finish something they can explain and share.
Ages 13–17
Generative AI Art, Animation & Filmmaking I
Enrolling Now · Winter 2027
Create original AI images, animate them, and edit your shots into a short visual story.
Beginner -> Intermediate
Creative Studio
AI Image Making & Digital Art
Turn ideas into original images, characters, and visual worlds—and build a small collection of finished artwork.
Beginner -> Intermediate
Motion Studio
GenAI Video & Motion Design
Students learn how to create motion videos, cinematic trailers, and short-form visual stories using modern video workflows.
Intermediate -> Advanced
Director Studio
GenAI Filmmaking & Visual Storytelling
Students learn how to direct, edit, and shape narrative scenes using filmmaking, voice, sound, and editing workflows.
Intermediate
Immersive Worlds Studio
GenAI 3D Characters & World Building
Students learn how to create characters, 3D assets, environments, and immersive digital worlds for visual storytelling.
Intermediate -> Advanced
Production Lab
GenAI Short Film Production
Students learn how to combine image, video, editing, sound, and simple 3D workflows into one focused production project.
Advanced
Creative Tech Studio
Creative GenAI Workflows & Visual Coding
Students learn how to use advanced Generative AI systems, simple creative coding, and custom workflows for experimental visual projects.
Generative AI
How ideas become images, motion, and visual effects
Generative AI is a new kind of creative technology that helps people turn ideas, written directions, and visual references into images, moving shots, characters, environments, and effects. In film, animation, games, and digital media, it is becoming part of how artists explore ideas before a final piece is made.
Students do not just type a prompt and accept the first result. They learn how to explain an idea clearly, use references, compare options, improve weak results, and make creative decisions about mood, story, composition, lighting, and motion. The goal is to understand how modern visual work is changing while building the judgment needed to create stronger work.
Learning model
Connected skills, practical creative work
Each course is built around a sequence of practical skills that work together. Students follow a simplified version of how creative teams work in film, animation, games, and visual effects: review a reference, plan the shot or image, create a version, get feedback, refine it, and prepare it to share. This gives students a practical feel for future creative and technical careers without making the class too heavy or technical.
Reference
Students look at a strong example and discuss what makes it work: story idea, mood, composition, lighting, motion, or effect.
Production
Students use the skill right away to create their own image, motion test, effect, character, environment, or short visual sequence.
Review
Students receive feedback, improve the result, prepare a clean export, and learn how to explain the creative choices they made.
Parent visibility
Parents can see the progress, not just the final result
Parents will know what students are learning, what kind of work they are creating, and how the course is structured. The main class time stays focused on students. Details about any parent review or showcase opportunities will be shared once confirmed.
Students will develop a 30–60 second mini-film animation trailer over six weekly classes. Exact class dates and any showcase plans have not yet been confirmed.
Meet the people behind the academy
Learn from the people behind the work
Students won’t just hear about how films and visual effects are made. They’ll create original work using Generative AI, learn practical production workflows from people who use them professionally, and get guidance as they develop their ideas. Along the way, they can build creative confidence, useful skills, and a clearer sense of where those skills could take them.
- Learn real workflows Students use Generative AI in practical film, animation, and VFX workflows, from idea to finished visual.
- Get industry guidance Working professionals give students useful feedback, build their confidence, and help them improve each project.
- Build toward what’s next Students create original work and explore pathways into film, animation, and VFX. Parents can see the skills and progress behind each project.
Founder
Sanaz Sanayei
Sanaz is the founder of Visual Creators Academy and has worked as a Pipeline Technical Director at Cinesite, bringing professional production experience to the academy.
She holds an MBA and has experience working with children of different ages in educational settings. She brings that understanding of young learners into a creative program designed to help students feel supported as they explore and grow.
LinkedInSelected screen credits
Technology Lead & Lead Instructor
Hamed Yar
Hamed is a Lead Software Engineer at Eyeline Studios, a Netflix-powered visual effects studio. With more than 15 years of experience across VFX, games, and animation, he has worked as both a professional artist and developer.
Previously, he led VFX pipeline software development at Scanline VFX, building tools and workflows that support artists and production teams. He also teaches VFX scripting at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Bow Valley College, connecting real production technology with hands-on learning.
LinkedInSelected screen credits
See 23 more credits
Creative platforms
Selected platforms students may use by course
FAQ
Common questions before registering
Who is this for?
Teens ages 13-17 who are interested in visual storytelling, digital art, film, animation, games, editing, characters, worlds, effects, or creative technology. Students do not need to know exactly which direction they want yet.
What will students actually create?
Each course leads to practical creative work such as image collections, characters, environments, motion tests, short visual sequences, trailers, 3D worlds, or advanced Generative AI experiments, depending on the course selected.
How is Generative AI Art, Animation & Filmmaking I structured?
Generative AI Art, Animation & Filmmaking I is six weekly 90-minute classes. Families can choose a January 2027 or February 2027 start and request online or in-person participation in Metro Vancouver. Exact dates, class times, and the community-center venue are still to be confirmed.
What does the course cost, and are tools included?
Tuition for Generative AI Art, Animation & Filmmaking I is CAD $290 for the six-week course. Tuition covers instruction. Some Generative AI or cloud tools may charge for usage, credits, or compute time; any required extra cost will be explained before final confirmation.
How do I register for this course?
Submit the registration form for Generative AI Art, Animation & Filmmaking I and choose a January or February 2027 start. We’ll email to confirm exact dates, class times, delivery details, any in-person location, and payment steps. The form does not collect payment.
Is Generative AI safe and age-appropriate?
We understand that parents may have concerns about Generative AI tools. Classes are supervised, age-aware, and focused on creative learning, not uncontrolled browsing or random tool use. We choose tools and setup practices with the student age range in mind, including platform rules, account requirements, and appropriate use standards. Students are guided through responsible use, content boundaries, respectful creative choices, and safe setup practices.
What should students have ready?
Students should have access to a laptop or computer for remote classes. After registration, we confirm the exact software, accounts, and setup needed for the selected course.
Does my teen need coding experience?
No. Students can start with guided visual creation. Coding is introduced gradually only when it helps students control, customize, or extend what they are making.
Where are in-person classes held?
The community-center location has not been selected yet. Share your city or area and postal code so we can suggest a nearby community-center location if you request in-person participation. We’ll email the proposed venue and schedule for you to review before deciding whether to proceed; no payment is taken through the registration form.
How do you support different students?
The registration form includes an optional support note for learning needs, accessibility, language preference, comfort level, or anything else families want us to know. We use that information to make the class easier to participate in.
Registration
Choose your next step
The Generative AI Art, Animation & Filmmaking I course is open for registration. Other courses are not open yet, but you can join a waitlist for the ones you’re interested in.
After you register
We’ll follow up to confirm your course choice, exact dates, participation format, location (if in person), and payment steps. The registration form does not collect payment.
Future courses
What should we create next?
If a student is excited about gaming, XR/VR, 3D, animation, coding, visual effects, YouTube content, or another creative direction, we want to hear it. Course requests help us understand what families are looking for next.