Delia Jansen is an undergraduate animation student at Sheridan College. Animation creates the illusion of movement from a series of still images; it is often used in film, television, the video game industry, and medicine. Many people don’t realize that animation is part of the technology sector, with the work heavily reliant on digital tools and software, from initial concept to final rendering. It is also an industry in which women are underrepresented, comprising only 30% of workers in the sector.

Delia discovered animation at a CAGIS event at age 12, which set her on a path she “wouldn’t have known existed without CAGIS.”  At the event, “we toured Sheridan’s animation facilities, explored their technology, and worked with software to create a 2D rigged animation; I animated a digital puppet character and made it wave at me!”

The event was so impactful, Delia says “at that moment, I knew that that was what I wanted to do, and I shaped my entire educational journey around animation.” Delia was determined to get into Sheridan’s prestigious Bachelor of Animation program, known internationally with academy award winning alumni and companies like Disney and Pixar that recruit from its ranks. It is also very competitive, with an 8% acceptance rate.

Delia got to work right away: “I got my first drawing tablet right after the event, which allowed me to practice, get to know the technology better, and develop my skills.” As a teen, Delia got a part-time job and at age 16, used all of her earnings to buy an industry-standard drawing tablet, to take her skills to the next level. Delia shaped her approach to education with relevant courses and skills development, including two college programs that trained her in art fundamentals, 2D, and 3D design.

In 2023, Delia’s hard work paid off: she was accepted into Sheridan’s Bachelor of Animation program, and she returned to the location of that CAGIS event, 8 years later! Delia was also a recipient of Spin Master’s Future of Play Scholarship, valued at $50,000 over four years, with opportunities for industry mentorship.

When thinking back to her time in CAGIS, Delia reflects “CAGIS provided me with a community, a safe space to learn and ask questions, and exposed me to careers in STEM that I had no idea existed.”

What comes next for Delia? “Media and storytelling had such a massive impact on me as a child, and helped form my moral system and understanding of the world. I’m really, really excited to be able to do that for future generations and tell the story that I maybe was lacking as a child and really want to see on screen.”

Hear more about Delia’s journey in animation technology and her experiences with CAGIS in the video below.