Exceptional Minds Academy
Exceptional Minds, 14144 Ventura Blvd, Ste 100, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
About
Exceptional Minds Academy is a nonprofit academy and studio that focuses on animation, visual effects, 3D gaming, and other digital arts fields for young adults on the autism spectrum. The program includes a full-time, three-year post-secondary track with small group instruction, private lessons, and part-time summer workshops. Graduates move into paid apprenticeship roles in in-house animation and VFX studios, where they work on real client projects and original intellectual property.
• Schedule: Full-time three-year program, with additional private lessons and part-time summer workshops
Classes at Exceptional Minds Academy are taught by industry experts, with student-teacher ratios below 6:1. The academy reports a 97% graduation rate, and graduates are paid for work in professional animation and VFX studios. The organization is comprised of a vocational academy, a post graduate program, and professional post-production studios, and it is now accepting applications for full-time students, including a new full-time Game Arts Program launching in Fall 2026.
Exceptional Minds Academy states that its mission is to cultivate the talents and skills of artists on the autism spectrum to facilitate their employment, self-advocacy, and sharing of stories. The program prepares young adults on the autism spectrum for careers in animation, visual effects, 3D gaming, and related entertainment fields, with technical and work readiness training customized to each student’s artistic and professional goals. It reports having completed hundreds of projects, including work on Oscar-winning films and every Marvel movie since 2015, and provides work for companies such as Disney, Sony, Netflix, NBCU, and Sesame Workshop.
The studio team has collaborated with Mitsubishi Electric on an animated short that highlights the talent and creativity of artists on the spectrum, and it maintains ongoing career guidance and partnerships with studios to support inclusive employment paths. Exceptional Minds Academy describes itself as breaking barriers for individuals on the autism spectrum so they can achieve independence through career development. It also states that it embraces new technology, including AI and virtual production, using hands-on, human-centered practice and guidance with emerging tools to support artists on the autism spectrum in shaping stories with confidence, care, and imagination.
Last updated March 23, 2026.
• Schedule: Full-time three-year program, with additional private lessons and part-time summer workshops
Classes at Exceptional Minds Academy are taught by industry experts, with student-teacher ratios below 6:1. The academy reports a 97% graduation rate, and graduates are paid for work in professional animation and VFX studios. The organization is comprised of a vocational academy, a post graduate program, and professional post-production studios, and it is now accepting applications for full-time students, including a new full-time Game Arts Program launching in Fall 2026.
Exceptional Minds Academy states that its mission is to cultivate the talents and skills of artists on the autism spectrum to facilitate their employment, self-advocacy, and sharing of stories. The program prepares young adults on the autism spectrum for careers in animation, visual effects, 3D gaming, and related entertainment fields, with technical and work readiness training customized to each student’s artistic and professional goals. It reports having completed hundreds of projects, including work on Oscar-winning films and every Marvel movie since 2015, and provides work for companies such as Disney, Sony, Netflix, NBCU, and Sesame Workshop.
The studio team has collaborated with Mitsubishi Electric on an animated short that highlights the talent and creativity of artists on the spectrum, and it maintains ongoing career guidance and partnerships with studios to support inclusive employment paths. Exceptional Minds Academy describes itself as breaking barriers for individuals on the autism spectrum so they can achieve independence through career development. It also states that it embraces new technology, including AI and virtual production, using hands-on, human-centered practice and guidance with emerging tools to support artists on the autism spectrum in shaping stories with confidence, care, and imagination.
Last updated March 23, 2026.
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