This course is designed to provide budding animators and designers with the skills and experience needed to develop a successful career in the competitive field of animation. It deals with a wide range of contemporary media platforms and formats and is taught by tutors with current and relevant industry experience. Students complete the course with a combination of creative, technical and business skills, enabling them to think conceptually, generate ideas, carry out research, and solve technical problems. Through a series of studio projects, students generate and develop animation ideas which are executed professionally using industry-standard software. A series of guest lectures brings top creative practitioners into college to demonstrate current work and discuss their career paths in the animation world. There are many opportunities to produce work for particular target audiences through real-world briefs from external clients and organisations. Previous students have produced short films, motion graphics, interactive animations, DVDs and mobile content for commercial, public and community clients, including TV companies, record labels, art galleries and film festivals. There are also opportunities to enter work into national design competitions, to produce work for animation festivals, and to pursue individual self-directed projects. Students are also encouraged to undertake a work placement during year two and are required to stage a final exhibition of their work.

Students will be equipped to work directly in the design industry. Successful graduates will also have the opportunity to progress to final year undergraduate programmes (subject to funding and application) at other universities or The Manchester College.