Illustration and Animation [with Placement year] BA (Hons)

Become a skilled and versatile animator, illustrator or interactive comic artist at Cambridge School of Art, and turn your creative ideas into a rewarding career as visual storyteller.Develop your distinctive visual language in our supportive and vibrant studio culture.Our BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation course explores the connections between illustration and animation, helping you to create sequential narratives using a variety of methods – from observational drawing and traditional handmade image-making, to the latest specialist digital animation software and cutting-edge interactive techniques.You’ll become an experienced creator of innovative, engaging visual content with training in both traditional processes and the latest digital technologies. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll get time, guidance and support from a team of illustrators, animators and visiting professionals who are dedicated to your creative development.At Cambridge School of Art, you’ll experiment and discover, make mistakes and find solutions, develop and create. Our Design & Crafts courses ranked 8th in the UK for 'Satisfied with Course' and 3rd for 'Satisfied with Teaching' in The Guardian University Guide 2020, reflecting how our students’ value their experience with us.While developing a unique visual style, you’ll also focus on the core foundations: studying the world around you, refining your drawing skills and learning to tell stories through moving images.You’ll go on group reportage drawing trips, with opportunities to visit museums, galleries and animation festivals in the UK and overseas. You’ll find lots of visual inspiration in Cambridge – from the Botanic Gardens to the art collection in the Fitzwilliam Museum, to the city’s architectural beauty and vibrant cultural and student life.On campus, you’ll have access to our dedicated animation production suites, which feature high-end 3D CGI and camera, lighting and sound recording equipment. They're full of the tools you need for traditional hand-drawn and stop-motion animation, experimental and industry-focused digital animation. As well as this, all our Illustration and Animation students have access to printmaking facilities and life drawing studios.As a student at ARU you’ll receive ongoing support to find placements and work experience and you can also take an optional placement year. You'll develop a professional showreel, and present your work at festivals and fairs, as well as on our Instagram page. You can also take advantage of our relationships with animators, illustrators and production studios such as Curveball Media and Allia Future Business Centre, to build a strong body of work ready for a professional career in the creative industry.