BA (Hons) Animation

"This was an incredible opportunity for me as I didn't expect to get such a great position on a Harry Potter film straight out of university, and particularly on such a high-profile movie! I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. "

Animation Graduate Darren Rodriguez

Worked on the Harry Potter movie, The Prisoner of Azkaban at Framestore, London

Level One

Animation Principles

This module introduces students to the basic principles of animation. Through a series of exercises that explore the techniques used to animate a basic sequence, the learner is introduced to the fundamental concepts behind all animation.

Historical & Contextual Practice

Central core module to Level One, which establishes animation within its historical, developmental, and social context. The topics explored range from its mainstream roots, to more diverse uses of the medium, and its international presence. Students gain awareness of their chosen subject matter and understanding of its meaning as an art form.

Representation & Animation Design

A key module to aid the development within Animation Principles, allowing the student to experiment in a variety of methods and materials within mark making, painting and sculpting. Life drawing, colour theory, basic design for communication and composition (layout) are also explored within this module.

Narrative Design & Development

This Module develops an understanding of the importance of narrative in animation. It concentrates on the storyboard as a communication tool, from basic cave painting origins to comic books to pre-visualisation. Students are required to develop simple narrative structures to depict a theme centred on producing a ‘sting’ or short animated sequence to be used within the fabric of the 3rd Year Degree Show; encompassing the use of archetypes, styles and genre, together with an introduction to the principles of filmic language.

Animation Practice 01 & Personal Development Plan

A final module allowing an output for the developed skills within the practical modules run within this level. The short film places students in small groups, focusing on using the varied uses of animation, from traditional and computer generated process. The content of the film is generated via the storyboard realisation of the Narrative Design & Development module, and each project will involve collaboration between Year 1 and Year 3, to platform the work generated within this module to be aired at the 3rd Year Degree show screening.

Level Two

Sound Design

The sound design module introduces students to the key companion of animation, the soundtrack. Students explore a range of processes and techniques dealing with the construction, recording, design, layering and implementation of sound and music. The key component of this module will be image & picture synchronisation, lip-syncing and the contextual meaning inherent to understanding the connection between sound & image.

The Animation Business Case Study

This Module offers the choice to explore the business side of animation production internationally, and focus their study within one its related disciplines such as Feature Animation, Commercials, Effects, Architectural Visualisation, Games Design to Avant Garde Expression.

Digital Layout Design & Character Animation 01

This Module builds upon skills acquired in Level One, to platform new skills associated with creation of an environment for a series of animations to take place. Animation, like film / TV production needs an area to ‘happen’ in. In animation these areas are often crafted from nothing, meaning they are built, drawn or visualized virtually. This is a necessary skill within animation production, and a newly found method open to other subject areas such as Architecture. Students will explore the practice of set design and basis of spatial awareness in the creation of a virtual set. The second proportion of this unit will further skills acquired within Level One’s practical animation tasks. Characterisation will be explored, within the context of acting, emotion and motion dynamics, in the form of a series of exercises, which take place within the virtual environment, realised within the first proportion of the unit. Use of design, texture and light will be explored, together with developing filmic skills in the rendering of each short animated sequence.

Animation Practice 02 & Personal Development Plan

Students develop a short animated scene, centred on the performance of two opposing character. Narrative drive and & script are explored, focusing on characterization within the construct of a scene. This module draws from skills and contexts explored within the Characterisation & Creature Animation module.

Digital Layout Design & Creature Animation 02

This module builds upon the development and skills acquired in Digital Layout Design & Character Animation 01, allowing the student to define a pathway within either Layout or Animation. At this stage students are expected to demonstrate a clear focus to their study.

While this module is flexible, allowing students to study a combination of animation and layout development, their focus will be distinctively bias to one of the two key areas. This will become the core pathway of exploration for their PDP development plan. (As part of the Animation Practice 02 & PDP Module).

The module invites students to consider professional working methods, communication of ideas and responsibility for self recorded development; as such key transferable skills are further enhanced. The module introduces the working practice of digital techniques in Layout and Character animation, and the use of software to design, develop and craft short projects reflecting an environment or character piece. This is underpinned by the study of traditional techniques and a series of life drawing classes, to further develop observational skills.

Level Three

Animation Pre-Production

The Module prepares students for the creative and professional challenges of bringing a conceptual idea to the stage of feasible project proposal, which can be presented to a client, employer or commissioner.

Dissertation

Students engage in a detailed, in-depth study of research and argument, meeting the merit of a Thesis within their chosen subject (relating in part to their study and external interests), is it social, political, cultural and diverse in nature.

Animation Production & Team Practice

Within this module, students take forward the work created and developed in pre-production, to form the central element of the production.

Students negotiate their time, referring to the plan produced in pre-production, to form small cohesive teams, reflective of how a production would be structured in a professional animation practice.

Animation Post Production & Personal Development Plan

The Post Production module serves as the final element of the production process, aiding students to develop their showreel and or group together on one of the film proposals, taking an equal proportion of the entire production through the to final completion.

Level One

Students gain a thorough grounding in classical animation principles and are introduced to digital techniques. Life drawing forms an integral part of the first year combined with developing narrative and character design and animation techniques. Storyboarding and the process of composition & layout conclude the year to form a series of collaborated short films for exhibition as part of the 3rd Year Degree show.

Level Two

Students develop a focus toward either animation or artistry. You may choose to work in one medium, such as digital or traditional animation, yet have the freedom to mix mediums to satisfy the outcomes of a project. Core elements of level 2 focus on environment / set design for virtual application, character and creature performance and furthered digital techniques. The year concludes with the production of a short narrative character piece, with emphasis on performance, while students create either humanoid or fantastical character designs to explore not only bipedal motion, but wing cycles, animalistic / creature (insectoid) movements and advanced techniques in understanding realistic to stylised actions.

Level Three

Students will work within teams to produce a series of exhibition films or visualized projects, such as the design of a game level. You will be allocated contracted time to spend working on each others projects in set roles, as well as authoring your own production from script to final production. The identified roles of a modern production that you may choose to engage in include; Advanced Character Animation technique, Digital Environmental Design, Game Artistry, Art Direction & Lighting, Digital compositing and effects, Post Production Techniques, and Production management.

Students will develop a sense of the industry and are free to explore other skills to develop their own show reel. A dissertation forms a large part of the final level, as well as preparation for the degree show exhibition and career planning.

Throughout the programme there is a strong emphasis upon ideas and innovation, especially in developing alternative mechanics and methodologies for broadcast, commercial, scientific / historical simulation to games visualisation, reflecting the enthusiasm and expertise of the tutors.

Applicants will require one of the following:

• 280 UCAS points, with a minimum of 100 points (grade C or above at A Level) in a relevant art/design subject
• Foundation Art and Design (Pass)
• Equivalent Scottish, Irish or Overseas qualifications
• An equivalent qualification to those listed above i.e. Access to Higher Education Certificate.

All applicants will be required to have at least five GCSEs, including a pass in GCSE English Language and evidence of an art/design subject. Mature students with relevant experience and/or portfolio of work are selected on individual merit.

You will need an aptitude for illustration and design. Inquisitiveness and a sense of humour will also aid you in developing narrative.

The course will prepare you for entry into the world of professional animation including specialist areas such as:

• Computer games artists & Animators

• Simulation / Pre-Visualisation

• Freelance animators and 3D artists

• Visual effects

• Broadcast and commercial production

• Visualisation

• Internet communications and mobile technologies.

Continual assessment takes place through student/staff contact. Each semester there are advisory progress reviews and at the end of each unit students present their portfolio and studio work, as well as submitting any appropriate theatrical work. The programme culminates in the final year Degree Show.

All studio units are assessed on both studio production and supporting research presentation, with varying weightings according to unit specification.

By digital portfolio submission (see above)

Employment prospects are excellent and graduates in recent years have achieved positions with leading practitioners across the broad spectrum of the animation industry. Many of our students have moved on to careers with top animation studios including Disney, Lionhead, Ubisoft, Framestore-CFC and Channel 4 TV.

For further information and funding your study please see our Fees & Funding pages.

Fees and Funding