Program Overview

In this course, you will study practical and technical skills across traditional and digital animation. By gaining a solid grounding in animation and related theories and concepts, you can make an informed choice as you begin to specialize in a chosen area.

Learning is reinforced by practical experimentation. Our hands-on program nurtures creative collaboration, both at the course level and across subject areas at the University. This can include live briefs and international competitions, helping you develop your specialism within an animation.

The professional practice elements of the course are vital in giving you a broad understanding of the sector. Visiting professionals provides career development and industry insights, alongside supported work experience opportunities and fascinating studio visits.

As a result of our established industry contacts, visiting experts include animators, modelmakers, sound designers, scriptwriters, producers, and directors. Representatives from global brands such as CBBC, Aardman Animations, Mackinnon and Saunders, Factory, Warner Media, and Golden Wolf as well as independent animators Lizzie Hobbs, Bianca Ansems and Maryam Mohajer have inspired previous degree cohorts. Wherever possible, we encourage you to gain real-world experiences. We support you to network, collaborate, and find new career opportunities and clients, giving you the edge when seeking employment in this rapidly evolving industry.

What You'll Study

Year One – Develop a comprehensive understanding of the principles of animation, from idea generation to end production processes. Exploration of the animation cycle covers narrative development, worldbuilding, character design, storyboarding, background/layout, and innovative media and animation techniques. Learn skills across 2D, 3D computer-generated, and stop-motion animation. You’ll consider the practical, conceptual, and theoretical pathways open to you as an animator.

Year Two – Collaborate with others to develop your own specialist practice using briefs and self-identified projects. You will focus on pre-production, animation, or post-production techniques as you progress. This enables you to understand further job roles and your interests within the animation production pipeline. Competitions live briefs, and teamwork teaches you essential social, communication, professional, and entrepreneurial skills.

Year Three – Using your new knowledge, you will focus on your own creative ambitions and develop a strategy for becoming a professional animator. You’ll negotiate your own projects, participate in competitions, attend conferences, and meet visiting professionals. Year three focuses on building an impressive and unique portfolio that reflects the skills you have to offer any future employer or client, setting you up for a successful career in the industry.

Work Experience

Work experience covers a broad range of activities and students are encouraged to undertake work placements during their time at the university. As well as guidance from the course team our Careers, Employability, and Enterprise teams offer support that enhances employability skills and supports engagement with the industry. In the past, our students have made links with companies such as Kilogramme, Mackinnon and Saunders, Brown Bag Animation, Beryl Productions, Framestore, Disney Europe, Factory Create, Turner Broadcasting, and BlueZoo.

Destination Careers

Our graduates work as industry professionals within animation companies and across the broader related industries. Graduate jobs include concept artist, character designer, production assistant, storyboard artist, animator, model maker, set designer, environment artist, 3D artist, CG, and visual effects designer. Graduates may also continue to postgraduate study.