BA (Hons) Animation
Duration
3 years
Institution code
L28
UCAS Code
W615
Duration
3 years
Institution code
L28
UCAS Code
W615
Our specialist course is designed for passionate students focussing on a career in animation production. Join others who share your ambition of becoming a professional animator across film, TV, games or other exciting industries.
You will study practical and technical skills across a range of traditional and digital animation. By gaining a solid grounding in animation and related theories and concepts, you can make an informed choice as you begin to specialise in a chosen area.
Learning is reinforced by practical experimentation. Our hands-on programme nurtures creative collaboration, both at course level and across subject areas at the University. This can include live briefs and international competitions, helping you develop your specialism within animation.
The professional practice elements of the course are vital in giving you a broad understanding of the sector. Visiting professionals provide career development and industry insights, alongside supported work experience opportunities and fascinating studio visits.
As a result of our established industry contacts, visiting experts include animators, model makers, sound designers, scriptwriters, producers, and directors. Representatives from global brands such as Aardman Animation, Mackinnon and Saunders, Factory, Warner Media, Golden Wolf as well as independent animators Joseph Wallace, Lizzie Hobbs, Bianca Ansems and Maryam Mohajer have inspired previous degree cohorts.
Wherever possible, we encourage you to gain real-world experiences. We support you to network, collaborate, and find new career opportunities and clients, giving you the edge when seeking employment in this rapidly evolving industry.
Develop a comprehensive understanding of the principles of animation, from idea generation to end production processes. Exploration of the animation cycle covers narrative development, worldbuilding, character design, storyboarding, background/layout, and innovative media and animation techniques. Learn skills across 2D, 3D computer-generated, and stop motion animation. You’ll consider the practical, conceptual, and theoretical pathways open to you as an animator.
Equipment for BA (Hons) Animation students includes industry-standard professional production equipment, comprising of high specification PCs and Wacom Cintiqs. Industry standard software for 2D, 3D and stop motion animation is provided and the course has a dedicated stop motion studio and equipment that includes stages, cameras, lenses, lighting and grip equipment.
Students will have access to a wide range of resources with a drop-in facility so work can be undertaken, provided resource inductions have been completed. For Animation students this could include 3D resources housed in dedicated workshops providing students with a hands-on experience over five main areas; wood, metal, laser-cutting and plastics, casting, ceramic and glass; professional-standard, large-format digital printing and print finishing.
Animation students will also be able to borrow a range of photography equipment including digital SLR cameras for still and moving image, lighting, and a range of support equipment, which can be used in our lighting studios or off-site. Computer suites house networks of Apple Mac computers featuring regularly updated, industry-standard software for a wide range of creative applications that support all our courses and a purpose-built specialist library which includes including special collections of artists’ books, photobooks and illustrated books as well as the University archive. Self service facilities are available throughout, supported by a dedicated and experienced team of library staff.
BA (Hons) Animation
Recent student successes include:
Royal Television Society - Student Award for Best Animation 2022
Royal Television Society - Student Award for Best Production Design 2022
Kodak/Nahemi Student Commercial Award – Craft Award for Animation 2021
Nahemi – Official Selection National Student Film Awards 2021
Royal Television Society - Student Award for Best Animation 2020
International Animation Challenge Winners 2020
Dogs of the Future – Winner of Andromeda Film Festival 2020 and selected Flickfair 2020
Our graduates work as industry professionals within animation companies and across the broader related industries. Graduate jobs include concept artist, character designer, production assistant, storyboard artist, animator, model maker, set designer, environment artist, 3D artist, CG, and visual effects designer. Graduates may also continue to postgraduate study.
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