Five years full-time (including one year work placement) or four years full-time What is animation? Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images to create an illusion of movement. It is a unique filmmaking and effects based technique that has been used within the industry for over 100 years. Today, the range of animation techniques and disciplines have grown due to technological advances, making it an exciting time to be involved in this creative industry. 3D CG, drawn, stop-motion animation and visual effects all have an important role within film making, adverts, games production and online interactive media. About this course Learn the creative skills and techniques of animation from tutors who are practising industry animators and effects artists. Members of the teaching team have worked on award-winning productions across all disciplines of animation and visual effects. To help create a stimulating environment and to ensure that you gain the latest industry knowledge, you attend animation festival trips, film seminars. We also run a programme of visiting guest lecturers. Our industry links include Aardman, Double Negative, Frame Store, McKinnon and Saunders and Finger Industries. Throughout the course you develop a portfolio of your project work to showcase your skills to potential employers. Your portfolio will include • stop-motion puppet animation • 2D drawn animation • 3D-CGI character animation • mixed media • set building • pre-production research and development. These techniques are explored using regularly updated industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, 3D Studio Max, Dragon Frame as well as the full Adobe Master Suite and Foundry’s NUKEX in dedicated workstation labs. Other facilities you use include a stop-motion studio, a green screen studio and a workshop including rapid prototype machines, such as 3D printers and laser cutters. On this course you have the option to take a one-year paid work placement in year three. Placements allow you to apply your learning, develop new and existing skills, increase your industry knowledge and experience and be more attractive to potential employers. All these skills prepare you for your final year project, creating and producing a professional short animated film. We aim to ensure that you graduate from this course as a creative, innovative individual with skills and knowledge to work in this exciting and vibrant industry. About the MArt This course runs parallel to the BA (Honours) Animation. The main difference begins in year three. The pace of work increases as you complete your undergraduate studies and begin your postgraduate studies. In the final year, self-directed study forms the main part of your learning. This is supported by taught modules, which are common to the masters programme. You also increase the professional activity in your specialist area. This improves your skills and develops career opportunities by building on links with external partners.

Animation involves developing skills and knowledge in a wide range of disciplines, which means that animation graduates are able to work in numerous roles. These include • stop-motion • 3D-CGI and 2D animator • set builder • puppet builder • lighting technician • texture artist • modeller • compositor • producer • editor • story board artist • character designer. Some of our graduates are currently working for such organisations as • Finger Industries • Frame Store • Double Negative • OG International • Just Add Water (Developments) Ltd • Fuzzy-Frog Games • Kettle Studios • Northern Creative Studio. Others have launched their own companies, such as Scrapbook Development and Oh Captain, My Space Captain. We also help graduates to set up their own business through our business incubator, which provides student entrepreneurs with a low risk environment to build a company.