What is the Senior High School Strand for Animation?

As the world becomes increasingly digital and visually oriented, the field of animation has been booming and becoming a sought-after career path. More and more Filipinos are choosing to enter the creative industry, and aspiring animators begin their journey through the SHS Animation strand.

If you’re a student with a passion for bringing characters and stories to life, Senior High School (SHS) is the first opportunity you can use to explore your creativity. Whether it’s online learning in the Philippines or attending traditional in-person classes, the track you choose for SHS sets the tone of your learning experience.

To help you decide on the best program for animation, this article sheds light on the available tracks and strands. We discuss the curriculum, career prospects within animation, and tips you can use as you choose the right educational track for your future.

But First, What is Animation?

Animation, in its essence, is a blend of art and technology that involves creating the illusion of motion through a sequence of images. These images, whether hand-drawn or digitally rendered, come together in rapid succession, giving life to characters, objects, and narratives.

Animation is not confined to one medium. It spans traditional hand-drawn animation, 3D computer animation, stop-motion, and more—making it a diverse and evolving field.

Senior High School Strands in the Philippines

The implementation of the K-12 educational system introduced several tracks available for students moving on in their high school education. The guide to all strands in senior high provides an in-depth description of all the tracks and strands available for study. However, some of the most common strands students take are:

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Emphasizes subjects related to the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It’s ideal if you’re interested in pursuing careers in the fields of science, research, engineering, and technology.
• Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM): Focuses on subjects related to accountancy, business, entrepreneurship, and management. This strand is best if you’re aspiring to work in business, finance, management, or pursue accountancy.
• Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS): Centers around subjects in the humanities, social sciences, literature, and the arts. It’s best taken if you have interests in literature, philosophy, history, sociology, and other liberal arts disciplines.
• General Academic Strand (GAS): Offers flexibility, allowing you to choose subjects from different tracks. It’s suitable if you want a more well-rounded education or if you’re still undecided about a specific career path.
• Technical-Vocational Livelihood-Information Communication and Technology (TVL-ICT): Focuses on providing you with concepts and skills in information technology. This strand aims to equip you with technical skills essential for fields related to technology, preparing you to join the workforce right after high school.

Each track is designed to provide a foundation for higher education and various career paths, enabling you to explore your interests and align your education with your future goals. So, among these tracks and strands, which one is the K12 strand for animation?

The SHS Strand for Animation

In the Philippines, the pursuit of animation as a career is often channeled through the General Academic Strand and the Technical-Vocational Livelihood. These educational programs offer curriculums that offer their own benefits in your pursuit of a career in animation.

General Academic Strand

While the General Academic Strand (GAS) in Senior High School has a broader curriculum than that of specialized strands, GAS can still add value to your education with its general subjects.

A few of the animation-related classes you can expect are:

• Communication
• Sciences
• Academic and Professional English
• Research in Daily Life
• Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking
• Media and Information Literacy
• Contemporary Philippine Arts

With these core subjects, some of the key advantages of taking the GAS are:

• Versatility: GAS allows you to explore a broad range of subjects, providing a well-rounded education. This versatility can be advantageous in various creative fields.
• Holistic Development: You can develop critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, which are valuable in any profession, including animation.
• Preparation for Further Studies: GAS prepares you for higher education, enabling you to pursue animation-related courses in college if you decide to specialize further.
• Adaptability: The flexibility of GAS allows you to adapt your education based on changing interests. If you discover a passion for animation, you can still pursue related courses in college.
• Portfolio Building: While not a direct focus, you can use your elective choices and extracurricular activities to build a diverse portfolio. Through this, you can showcase your interests and skills, including any animation-related projects.

Pursuing a career in animation through the GAS academic track is a great choice if you want to enroll in a more general program. This broadens your selection of courses as you move on to tertiary education, and is even one of the ideal graphic design strands. Just make sure to supplement your education with relevant extracurricular activities, courses, or workshops focused on animation and other creative expressions.

Technical-Vocational Livelihood-Information Communication and Technology

The TVL-ICT strand in senior high is designed to prepare you for careers in the Information Technology (IT) industry, and it includes a focus on animation. While it focuses on IT, the ICT strand subjects can be beneficial since animation deals with technology.

To give you an idea of the core subjects in TVL-ICT related to animation, here’s a list:

• Empowerment Technologies
• Programming
• Communication
• English for Academic and Professional Purposes
• Reading and Writing
• Media and Information Literacy
• Contemporary Philippine Arts

Based on the subjects from the TVL-ICT curriculum, the key advantages of taking this program are:

• Industry-Relevant Expertise: You gain expertise in animation technologies and software commonly used in the industry, making you job-ready upon graduation.
• Project-Based Learning: The curriculum often includes projects and real-world scenarios, allowing you to apply your animation skills in practical situations.
• Work Immersion Opportunities: You can have opportunities for work immersion, providing exposure to actual industry practices and building professional networks.
• Preparation for TESDA Certifications: The TVL-ICT Strand aligns with TESDA-backed certifications, enhancing your employability and qualification for specific roles in the technology sectors.
• Career Path Diversification: Graduates can pursue careers not only in animation but also in various IT-related roles, making the TVL-ICT strand a versatile option.

The TVL-ICT strand for animation combines technical skills with creative elements, offering a well-rounded education for you. The main advantage of taking the TVL strand is the opportunity to join the workforce immediately after SHS and still have the option to pursue tech voc college courses for further study.

Career Opportunities in Animation

The animation strand opens doors to a number of exciting career opportunities, both nationally and globally. You can explore diverse paths including:

• Animator: Create animated sequences for films, television shows, video games, and online content.
• 3D Modeler: Specialize in creating three-dimensional models and environments for animation and virtual experiences.
• Storyboard Artist: Develop visual narratives by creating storyboards that outline the sequence of scenes in an animation or film.
• Visual Effects (VFX) Artist: Contribute to the creation of visual effects for movies, television, and multimedia projects.
• Character Designer: Craft unique and memorable characters for animated films, games, and other visual media.
• Motion Graphics Designer: Design animated graphics and visual elements for commercials, presentations, and digital media.

How to Choose the Right Track for Animation

So, what is the right senior high school strand for animation? To put it simply, choosing the right track for animation in SHS is an important decision that must align with your interests and aspirations.

Begin by reflecting on your personal passion for animation and your desire to bring ideas to life through visual storytelling. Clarify your long-term career goals—whether you envision yourself as an animator, 3D modeler, or in another specialized role.

Explore different animation styles and techniques, such as traditional 2D animation or 3D modeling, to identify your preferred style. Then, assess the specific skills you wish to develop. For example, if you’re interested in digital animation, a track emphasizing software proficiency can be suitable.

Seek opportunities for industry exposure through workshops, webinars, or events to gain insights and network with professionals. Lastly, gather feedback and advice from teachers, career counselors, or animation professionals to guide your decision based on your unique goals and aspirations.

Ultimately, the choice is based on what your needs are and your plans for the future. Carefully considering your goals and interests is what can lead you to make a smart decision—empowering your success in animation.

Designing Your Future with OEd

If you’re aspiring to explore the world of animation, begin your creative journey with OEd. Here at our institution, we develop our courses specifically for high-quality education as an online senior high school in the Philippines. Our faculty of experienced teachers can guide you to achieve academic and professional excellence in the field of arts and design.

For more information about our course offerings, you can get in touch with us anytime!