Course summary

Whether you are aiming to work on animated TV series, feature length or independent short films, children’s media, commercials or games, our course will provide you with a solid foundation to start your career in animation. Our BA (Hons) Animation course brings together key aspects of contemporary animation practice and storytelling, giving you the chance to explore a wide range of techniques, styles and approaches. You’ll delve into the practicalities of working in the creative industries, preparing you for an exciting and diverse career in animation. Our specialist animation staff will support and inspire you to craft engaging stories and create expressive and captivating character performances. Through hands-on projects that can be tailored to your individual artistic style, narrative voice and career goals, you’ll not only refine your technical skills but also deepen your understanding of emerging global trends and opportunities in the animation industry. Being part of the dynamic, interdisciplinary community at the School of Digital Arts will help you gain an understanding of what it means to work in the creative industries, while gaining access to cutting-edge studio spaces and resources for 2D, 3D, and stop-motion animation, motion capture, and our award-winning 3D printing facility. You’ll join an inclusive community that encourages collaboration, with strong industry links through guest speakers, live projects, and portfolio reviews to boost your employability. This course is available with the option of a foundation year. Features and benefits:

• You will be part of SODA, a £35m investment into specialist spaces with the latest technologies, award-winning teaching, research and networks that will drive the next generation of creative content.

• The programme has excellent links with industry, which offers opportunities to access industry professionals through varying means such as live briefs, panel events, portfolio reviews and/or university projects. These will vary.

• As part of the School of Digital Arts you will be encouraged to innovate through interdisciplinary study and collaboration to become a highly creative and employable professional to allow you to compete successfully in this rapidly growing field.

• You will be offered opportunities throughout the course, to contribute to the production of an animated film allowing you to develop core creative, design, narrative and cinematographic skills desired by potential employers in the animation industry.

• The course is designed to allow you to specialise, if you so wish, in one specialist area of the animation process allowing you to collaborate with others refining your individual artistry.

• You can, through the production of individual films, develop an understanding of authorship, in combination with collaborative partnerships across the school, in support of directorial skills.

• You will have access to professional creative studios containing industry standard software, hardware and making facilities supporting 2D hand-drawn and rigged, 3D and stop motion techniques. All students will be offered the opportunity to try each of these, prior to specialising.

• You'll be immersed in a dynamic, thriving creative community, where exciting events and opportunities are constantly unfolding— check out the latest happenings on our news page.