MA Animation

Explore animation production, concepts and context on this dynamic and contemporary postgraduate degree. As an MA Animation student, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of topics to study, including:

• storyboard and pre-visualisation artistry
• character design
• environment and prop design
• 2D and 3D animation
• stop-motion and experimental animation

Key features

• Develop a project tailored to your own personal interests and career aspirations.
• Attend lectures held by industry professionals from leading animation studios.
• Visit animation festivals in the UK and Europe
• Take advantage of our extensive industry links
• Exhibit your work at New Designers in London
• Opt for an additional research module if you’re thinking of progressing to PhD or Professional Doctorate study
• Work with fellow students, practitioners and academic staff from different cultures and backgrounds

What you'll study

The main focus of the course will be on the exploration and refinement of your skills. Develop content specific to your research area, as well as attending contextual lectures in which you’ll investigate global animation history, theory and practice. This course will prepare you for a career in a commercial production studio, in games production or feature animation. Additionally, you may choose to work in visual effects production or as an independent filmmaker.

Assessment

Assessment is 100% by coursework and involves:

• a verbal presentation that articulates and summarizes your project
• a completed project proposal
• outcomes from experimentation and self-directed study
• a research and practice informed reflective journal
• a professionally produced portfolio
• professional development materials (e.g. an edited reel, CV, cover letter)
• an employability report
• the outcome from your personal project

Career Prospects

The course promotes industry research and networking to establish relationships with relevant animation companies. Students will leave with a body of work that reflects their skills and currency to potential employers.

This course leads to a wide range of potential careers that include storyboard artist; character designer; environment and prop designer; pre-visualisation artist; CG modeller; 2D and 3D animator; stop-motion animator; and experimental animator.

You also have the opportunity to enter into a diverse industry including feature and televisual production, advertising, games production and independent production, through to more peripheral digital media industries such as architectural pre-visualisation.

Some graduates also use this course to support careers in teaching, lecturing and journalism, or to progress on to MPhil or PhD study.