NMA Animation - background photo of a screenshot from the 3D animated student film Chasing Paradise of the main character running on a path as a local musician plays a ukulele

Spring 2026 Classes Available Now

Ready to take the next step in your creative career? Start by taking a NMA class today.

Enroll Now
KCC New Media Arts - background photo of a Student Working on a Visual Design on a Computer Monitor

Art + Technology = NMA

New Media Art is a convergence of art and technology, with a twist of fun.

Learn More about NMA
NMA Animation - background photo of a screenshot from the 3D animated student film Chasing Paradise of the main character running on a path as a local musician plays a ukulele

Study Animation

Pursue a career in 3D computer animation, digital post-production, and special effects.

Animation Info
NMA Interface Design - background image of three students working collaboratively on a project pointing to a computer monitor

Study Interface Design

Pursue a career in design, web design, & front-end web development.

Interface Design Info

What is NMA?

Animation & Interface Design

The New Media Arts (NMA) program is a two year AS degree program located at Kapi‘olani Community College (KCC) in Honolulu, Hawaii. The NMA mission is to prepare students for employment in the fields of interface design and animation.

Hands-on learning at NMA - background photo of a teacher helping a student working on an After Effects animation on a computer in a computer lab classroom

Hands On Applied Learning

NMA students learn the latest technologies in an applied, project-based curriculum.

NMA Degree Info

One A.S. degree, two specializations:

NMA Animation - screenshot image of the 3D rendered main character doing a shaka with his hand - taken from the student film Chasing Paradise

Animation

The Animation track prepares students for careers in 3D computer animation, video game development, and emerging industries employing 3D computer graphics. Topics include the full CG pipeline, film analysis and storytelling, digital painting, and demo reel development.

NMA Animation Related Careers
  • 3D Modeler
  • Animator
  • Character Rigger
  • Storyboard Artist
  • Concept Artist
  • Texture Artist
  • Compositing Artist
  • Digital Painter
  • VFX Artist
NMA Animation Concepts
  • Principles of Animation
  • Storyboarding
  • Modeling
  • Surfacing
  • Rigging
  • Lighting
  • Rendering
  • Compositing
  • Editing
  • Sound Design
  • Motion Design
  • Visual Effects (VFX)
  • Principles of Motion Design
NMA Animation Technologies
  • Maya
  • Mudbox
  • Mental Ray
  • Nuke
  • Houdini
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
    • Photoshop
    • Illustrator
    • Premiere
    • After Effects
NMA Animation Curriculum
NMA Interface Design - photo of student sitting behind a computer working on a web design user interface project

Interface Design

The Interface Design track prepares students for careers as interface designers with a focus on web design. Topics include graphic design, typography, graphic symbolism, user interface design, front-end web development, and motion graphic design. Additional courses include digital imaging, design history, and portfolio development.

NMA Interface Design Related Careers
  • Web Designer
  • Front-end Web Developer
  • Information Architect (IA)
  • User Interface Designer (UI)
  • User Experience Designer (UX)
  • Print Designer
NMA Interface Design Concepts
  • Elements & Principles of Design
  • Typography
  • Identity Design
  • Package Design
  • Layout Design
  • Information Architecture (IA)
  • User Interface Design (UI)
  • User Experience Design (UX)
  • Front-end Web Development
  • Principles of Motion Design
NMA Interface Design Technologies
  • HTML
  • CSS
  • Javascript
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
    • Photoshop
    • Illustrator
    • InDesign
    • Premiere
    • After Effects
NMA Interface Design Curriculum

"A" for Art

The New Media Arts program begins with foundation studies in Fine Arts. Prior to entering the program, many students take Art courses that include studies in art history, drawing, design, and photography. The core principles from these foundation fine arts courses are built upon and reinforced throughout the curriculum for both specializations.

NMA Foundation Concepts
  • Studio Fine Arts & Art History
  • Principles of Drawing
  • Principles of Photography
  • Elements & Principles of Design
  • Principles of Animation & Motion Design

Get a Job

Who's hired NMA grads or interns? These companies:

Logos of Companies - Ikayzo, MVNP, Apple, Wall-to-Wall Studios, Upspring Media, Sudokrew, Hyperspective Media, Clarence Lee Design, Digital Mediums, Sae Design, Nitrogen Studios, Revacomm, PBS Hawaii, NOAA, Reel EFX, Zero
Real world projects at NMA - background photo of a student taking a photo of a packaging product in a small, in-class studio environment

Real World Real Projects

Real client work requires real skills to make real products. Get real at NMA.

Collaborate with peers at NMA - background photo of five students sitting around a table looking at printouts of logo designs

Let's Collaborate

Meet new friends working in a team environment on group projects at NMA.

Admissions

How to Enroll

Applying to the New Media Arts program or taking a NMA course is currently quick and easy: simply fill out the online form below and someone will be in touch to provide academic counseling. NMA offers courses online and on campus and accepts both full-time and part-time applicants on a year-round basis.

NMA Online Application Form
Fill out my online form.

For questions or help regarding the NMA application process:

Contact an NMA Counselor
NMA Student Show 2017 - background photo of a crowd of people in attendance at a student show

Annual NMA Student Show

Check out the student portfolios & demo reels from recent NMA graduates.

2025 NMA Student Show

News & Events

NMA Computer Labs

KOA RENOVATIONS UPDATE

NMA Koa Labs Are OPEN

Mahalo to the generous support from the University of Hawaii's Academy for Creative Media, the Koa lab renovations are complete! NMA computer labs are currently open with open hours in Koa 102 & 103 during the following days and times:

  • Mondays: 2pm-6pm
  • Wednesdays: 2pm-6pm
  • Fridays: 10am-6pm

All NMA students planning to work in the NMA labs will be required to check-in with the lab monitor on duty before using a lab computer. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know and we will do our best to help.

Current NMA Labs Schedule Contact Us

 

Want to keep up with the latest NMA news? Follow us via social media:

NMA Facebook NMA Instagram NMA Animation Instagram

 

Contact us at NMA - background photo of a NMA student standing near a wall wearing a backpack

Interested? Contact Us

Get in touch to learn more about NMA.

Contact Info

For more general information about New Media Arts program at Kapiā€˜olani Community College, the Associates degree, and the admissions process to become a student, please contact:

Steve Harris

Steve Harris

NMA Faculty

Chris Gargiulo
Chris Gargiulo

Chris Gargiulo is a designer with experience in graphic design, front-end programming, motion graphics, and animation for various film, web, multimedia, and print projects. He received his MFA in Design and Technology from Parsons School of Design and his BA in Fine Art from Amherst College. Prior to teaching at KCC, he worked as an art director for Cheil Communications America and Samsung Electronics USA; as a designer and animator for KPE (a web agency); and as a graphic designer for Hula Girl Design. Some of his client work includes Samsung, ABC, Warner Brothers, Six Flags, Hasbro, Marvel Comics, Princess Cruises, and others.

Web Site
Emily Moody
Emily Moody

Emily attended The Delaware College of Art and Design, a sister school of Pratt and Corcoran followed by a 2 year program at The Portfolio Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Shortly after graduation, Emily worked as a designer at an Atlanta Advertising and Design agency. There she worked with big name clients such as The Coca-Cola Company and The McDonald's Group. A move to the Philadelphia area brought her to be an in-house designer at the British bank Barclays' US credit card division. After working in a corporate setting, she decided to branch off and start her own freelance business. Since its' creation in January of 2007, SuperFine Design has moved all over the country and even the world. Finally, Emily landed in Hawai'i and is hoping to share her passion for typography and print design with the New Media students of KCC.

Web Site
Adam Moura
Adam Moura

Adam Moura is a visual effects artist and filmmaker with a 15 year background in feature films and computer graphics. Mr. Moura has supervised art teams at facilities in Canada and Asia, as well as in Los Angeles. He has a thorough knowledge of the industry and over the years has acted as liaison between artists, developers, and production management. Before working at studios including Rhythm & Hues, Disney Animation, Digital Domain and Sony Imageworks, Adam studied Communications and Art at UH Manoa, and was part of the first Hawaii based CG film studio, SquareUSA. At KCC he will be playing an integral role in the development of articulated courses and pathways to baccalaureate-level programs of study at UH partner institutions including the new Creative Media concentration at UH West Oahu.

Jake Shimabuku
Jake Shimabuku
Steve Harris
Steve Harris
Joe Mahi
Joe Mahi
Chris Magpoc
Chris Magpoc
Marcie Moura
Marcie Moura
Jae Stableford
Jae Stableford
Tyler Eng
Tyler Eng

Further Study

UH Academy for Creative Media

UH Academy for Creative Media

NMA is an academic pathway option for the University of Hawaii's Academy for Creative Media System. Upon completion, NMA students can continue their studies at UH West Oahu toward a Bachelor's Degree in Humanites with a concentration in Creative Media or a Bachelor's of Applied Science degree in Creative Media.

Visit the ACM Creative Media Web Site
WP