You’ll be introduced to – and begin to develop – key concepts and critical debates in media, visual and cultural theory central to moving image and animation in particular.

You'll learn fundamentals of animation, encouraging you to experiment and find your voice within animation filmmaking.

We'll also teach you the technical and conceptual skills that will give you a solid foundation from which to explore your areas of specialist activity.

Animation: Context and Interpretation
This unit introduces and develops key concepts and critical debates in media, visual and cultural theory central to reading and thinking about moving image in general and animation in particular.

Digital Skills
This unit introduces digital practices and workflows in both 2D and 3D computer Animation. Fundamental principles are explored from the designing and creation of digital assets suitable for animation through to refining key framed movement.

Drawing for Animation
This unit is designed to complement the Animation Principles unit and will develop the essential drawing skills necessary for communicating ideas visually. You'll develop your observational skills with formal life-drawing sessions and the keeping of sketchbooks, drawing journals and the maintenance of a daily drawing blog.

Animation Principles
This unit will teach you the fundamental principles and techniques of animation and how to use them effectively in your own films. Through individual animation exercises and a group project, you will learn the importance of effective character design, staging and storyboarding when producing animation.

The second year focus is on finding your own specialist way of working and you’ll be encouraged and supported to start working more independently. During this year you may also have the opportunity to complete an industry work placement or even study abroad.

You will further develop the techniques you learned in the first year alongside a deeper understanding of animation’s cultural context. You’ll specialise in your chosen medium and create two of your own films.

Animated Cultures
This unit explores the diverse cultures of animation through key debates and the work of key practitioners. You will explore technological, social and aesthetic innovations in relevant critical contexts. We will also consider animation’s wider contexts in moving image, media culture and the visual arts.

Advanced Digital Techniques
This unit explores advanced 2D and 3D computer animation concepts and methodologies. In part one of the unit, through a series of seminars and workshops, you will look beyond the tools of the software and explore their creative use within the context of your own animated sequences. In part two of the unit you will work in small production teams, where roles and responsibilities reflect that of industry practice. Each team will produce an animated piece using a combination of 2D and 3D software.

Short Film
You'll produce a professionally finished film with the aim of having it screened at a competitive international animation festival before the end of your second year.

Research and Concept
The research you will undertake will be a continuation of the film making skills you acquired in the unit ‘Short Film’ and through feedback and tutorials, individual strengths, weaknesses and interests will be identified and students will be guided towards an individual course of study. Your research may include expanding your existing technical skills or experimenting with new techniques and to this end, you will examine a wide range of approaches to animation production. 

Study Abroad (optional)
This optional unit will allow you to spend a period of time in an overseas educational institution.

The third year will see you achieve a greater level of independence with self-managed research, study and practice.

You’ll undertake your final film and dissertation. You’ll have the opportunity to screen your film at the Graduation Show and you’ll be encouraged to submit to competitions and festivals internationally.

Destinations
This unit aims to equip you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to present yourself to potential employers in the best possible way. By evaluating your coursework so far and identifying your individual strengths, the unit aims to focus your ambition towards your chosen career path.

Proposal and Pitch
You'll take your first steps towards making your final animated film – proposing, developing and refining your ideas.

Final Film
This major piece of work will be the climax of your learning journey, drawing on all the creative, technical and theoretical knowledge you’ve developed.

Dissertation
You dissertation involves a substantial period of sustained, individually negotiated research on a subject related to the contextual and/or theoretical concerns of your discipline or chosen area of practice, towards the provision of structured written argument.

This course offers the opportunity to study abroad for part of your second year. To find out more about studying abroad as part of your course please see the Study Abroad section:

• Study abroad information

As a long-established degree course, we’ve built an extensive network of industry connections, giving us access to high-profile visiting lecturers, and to commissions, competitions and exciting work-placement opportunities. Our industry links include:

• Aardman Animation
• Studio AKA
• Cinesite
• The Mill
• Create and Make
• Stylorouge
• Agile Films
• Blackdog Films Limited
• HSI Film
• Blink Productions
• The Film Club
• National Film and TV School
• Passion Pictures (one of the leading studios in Europe)
• Nexus
• Moth Collective
• UsTwo
• Beakus
• Animade.

Animation is one of the most significant and rapidly expanding media fields. An enormous range of career opportunities exist in animation, from the traditional techniques of animation storytelling to drawn, model and CGI animation. Typical careers in the industry include:

• Directors
• Producers
• Animators (in commercials, films, broadcast, online media and games)
• Editors
• Character designers
• Production designers
• Pre-vis artists
• Compositors
• Storyboard artists
• Post-production.

As one of the pre-eminent animation courses in the world, our sought after alumni have landed many exciting, high profile roles across the industry. These include positions as:

• Animators
• CG animators
• CG riggers
• Designers
• Directors
• Model makers
• Producers
• Storyboard artists.

Many well-known studios have been set up by our alumni including:

• Animade
• Astley Baker Davies (makers of Peppa Pig)
• Film Fabrik
• Honeycomb Animation (makers of Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids)
• Mackinnon & Saunders
• Moth Collective
• Slurpy Studios
• Tandem Pictures.

This gives our course very solid links to a vibrant industry, and we enjoy connections with a range of creative talent, studios and potential employers.