Animation - BA (Hons)

University of the Arts London

BA (Hons) Animation is a practice-led course, enabling you to choose one of two specialist pathways: Experimental and Character. You’ll gain entrepreneurial skills, develop expertise across the production process, and learn how flexibility can help you deal with the challenges of being a professional animator.

You’ll learn core traditional skills and principles in animation to underpin your future specialism in areas such as 3D digital animation and modelling, or stop-motion animation, as well as 2D analogue and digital.Drawing is taught as a key skill that informs all aspects of your subject knowledge and technical expertise, underpinning strong animation and design skills while enabling you to express your creative ideas with skill and dexterity.Digital animation is taught intensively from Year 1 onwards, recognising the particular demands of this skillset and the levels of expertise expected of graduates by industry.‘Live’ projects and competitions are delivered in collaboration with external industry partners, giving you the opportunity to practice your skills in a professional context while building a professional portfolio of work. Previous partners include: Channel 4, MTV, National Trust, All Saints Records, Marmite and The Royal Society.Course accredited by:Accredited Toon Boom Centre of ExcellenceCertified Nuke Training Centre

BA (Hons) Animation encourages you to explore formats and outcomes beyond traditional modes. In Year 1 you’ll learn core creative skills in idea development, design, pre-production and production techniques all of which underpins the wide range of contemporary animation practices.After discussion with tutors you will then choose a pathway that fits with your developing skills and specific creative interests and abilities.The Experimental pathway will encourage you to experiment with design, technique, content and format. You can explore a range of approaches and processes beyond conventional formats such as performance, installation, interactive, projection mapping, stop-motion, short film or documentary form.On the Character pathway, you’ll engage with a wide range of current and emerging technical skills and knowledge. Specialising in character animation, you will learn skills in 2D and stop-motion animation, character design, storyboarding, storytelling and creative writing while developing your understanding of the professional production pipeline.

• You’ll look at animation in a broad context and develop your expertise across the whole production process while working both individually and in teams.
• You’ll be taught drawing as a key skill that informs your subject and technical knowledge, and learn how to deal with the challenges of being a professional creative practitioner, such as the importance of flexibility and the value of entrepreneurial skills.
• An emphasis on developing your communication and presentation skills, giving you the confidence to share your ideas to colleagues and clients in professional contexts.