In 2025, PIXL VISN was ranked #1 in the world for Visual Effects (VFX) education by The Rookies for its 18-month, production-focused training program.

Every year, The Rookies reviews thousands of student projects from around the world.
Judges from major VFX and animation studios review the work based purely on artistic and technical merit, looking for the strongest emerging artists.
This year, out of 486 schools across 104 countries, PIXL VISN ranked number one worldwide for Visual Effects. This achievement belongs first and foremost to the students whose work earned recognition on the world’s most respected platform for emerging digital artists. Here’s the story behind that milestone and what it means for anyone dreaming of a VFX, Animation, or Game art Career.
 

Here is an overview of the five highest-ranked VFX schools worldwide.
You can find the full list on The Rookies 2025 Ranking page.

We are proud to celebrate our students whose dedication and creativity have been recognised. Their achievements at The Rookies continue to help them earn studio attention, build industry networks, and unlock real career opportunities.
When the judging was done, nine PIXL VISN students earned spots as finalists in the Visual Effects category:

• Sofia Bonini
• Johannes Peper
• Niklas Schulte Osthoff
• Franz Gutjahr
• Jan Sieber
• Raphael Stiep
• Felix Riehle
• Phil Laschewski
• Julian Frank
 

These artists stood out among 6,577 global submissions, an achievement earned through discipline, focus, and a level of craft that judges notice.
Sofia continued her climb and became Runner-Up.
Johannes connected with viewers everywhere and won the People’s Choice award.
In 3D Animation, finalists Emma Beck and Lea Reichhart helped secure PIXL VISN a #7 global ranking.
These were not seasoned professionals. These are students who walked into PIXL VISN as beginners and, in just 18 months, built reels that earned global recognition.
 

• 9 finalists in The Rookies 2025 VFX category
• 1 Runner-Up: Sofia Bonini
• 1 People’s Choice Winner: Johannes Peper
• 2 finalists in 3D Animation, helping secure our #7 global ranking

 

These wins belong to the students. Their recognition shows what becomes possible when creativity, persistence, and teamwork come together. Every finalist represents the drive that defines PIXL VISN, and that collective spirit is what pushes us higher each year.
 

The finalist entries reveal the craftsmanship, problem-solving, and artistic decision-making that captured the attention of judges and audiences alike.
 

The Rookies is the global benchmark for emerging digital artists. Their rankings are trusted because they are based entirely on student work.
A few characteristics make it uniquely respected:

• Scale and diversity: This year, 6,577 student portfolios were submitted from 486 schools across 104 countries.
• Independent evaluation: Over 130 professional artists from leading studios serve as judges, reviewing work without regard for a school’s reputation or size.
• Portfolio-focused assessment: Rankings are based solely on student submissions. No marketing, branding, or institutional history influences results.
 
For aspiring artists, The Rookies is more than a competition; it’s a direct connection to the industry.
Judges at The Rookies don’t know your GPA, your age, or your background.
They look only at the work.
That’s why this year is special. It’s not one standout portfolio; it’s a wave of artists delivering consistently excellent work.
 

Most schools start with a business plan; PIXL VISN started with a Call of Duty session.

Between virtual battles, Andrei, a Lighting Supervisor in Vancouver, and Robb, an On-Set VFX Supervisor, realized there was a huge gap in Germany: no industry-led, production-focused VFX school existed.

What began as a passing thought quickly turned into a vision and then into a two-year, late-night marathon. After long workdays, the two founders spent countless evenings in front of screens, sketches, and notes, shaping an educational model Germany had never seen before.

In 2010, they made the kind of decision you only make when you’re driven by true passion: they quit their jobs, packed up their lives in Canada, invested their savings, and moved to Germany. There, they opened their very first campus: a modest 230 m², but filled with ambition, ideas, and the determination to reshape the industry.

The first class started in 2012 with just four students, who, together with Andrei and Robb, laid the foundation for what PIXL VISN would become.

Today, more than a decade later, the campus spans around 1,500 m² and stands as one of the leading training institutions for Visual Effects, 3D Animation, and Game Art. What began as a small vision between two VFX artists has grown into a place where careers are launched and talent thrives, ultimately paving the way for the first-place ranking in 2025.

At PIXL VISN, transformation is the real secret. Students arrive with curiosity and leave as confident artists ready for the studio floor. They learn to turn imagination into moving imagery, to take critique like pros, and to collaborate like real production teams. 

PIXL VISN stands apart by being:

Shorter: Complete your VFX course in Germany in just 18 months. Learn visual effects, 3D Animation, and Game Art faster through an intensive, production-focused program.

Sharper: Our VFX training program is built with direct feedback from industry professionals who know exactly what studios expect. Every project mirrors real production workflows to prepare you for your first job.

Affordable: Study VFX with lower costs than most top institutions at a school that still delivers world-class results recognized by The Rookies Global School Rankings 2025.

Focused: One goal, to make you hireable in VFX, Animation, or games through targeted, hands-on visual effects education that transforms curiosity into career success.

Thirteen years; One goal: Training the next generation of world-class artists who keep redefining what’s possible in visual storytelling.
 

The Rookies rankings have always been about the students. Every score, every placement, and every win comes from the work they create, not from the name on the building.

Our students didn’t just study VFX; they proved they could meet real industry expectations. Their achievements helped PIXL VISN earn the number one ranking worldwide in Visual Effects and the number seven ranking in 3D Animation. These results highlight the consistent quality of the work they produced.

For us, the 2025 recognition is an important moment in a 13-year journey. It reflects the dedication students bring to their craft, the guidance of the instructors who support them, and the value of hands-on, production-focused training. Our 18-month program is built to help beginners become studio-ready artists, and this year’s results show the impact of that approach.

Their success was earned through steady effort. Students spent 18 months training with working industry professionals and treated every project like a real studio assignment. They kept refining, improving, and pushing their work until it reached a professional level. That mindset is what made their Rookies results possible.

This ranking reflects of 13 years of steady growth, bold decisions, and the talent of the students who continue to raise the bar. It also sets a clear example for the artists who will follow in their footsteps.

If you’re searching for the best VFX course in Europe or want to study visual effects abroad, PIXL VISN offers a proven path to success.

Just like our alumni who started as curious beginners and are now creating visual magic for studios around the world, your journey can begin here. Imagine seeing your name in the credits of the next blockbuster or your designs shaping the look of a hit game. That’s the kind of transformation PIXL VISN makes possible.

With years of international VFX experience, Robb Innes, Co-Founder and Managing Director of PIXL VISN, is dedicated to empowering the next generation of creative professionals. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, he worked as an On-Set VFX Supervisor and contributed to major productions, including projects for the 2010 Winter Olympics. At PIXL VISN, he leads the academy’s creative vision and offers hands-on mentorship, guiding students to produce industry-ready demo reels that truly highlight their talents. Passionate about technology, storytelling, and education, he inspires tomorrow’s visual effects artists to leave their mark on the industry.