BA (Hons) Animation

Our award-winning animation degree course covers stop motion, 2d animation and 3d digital animation. These techniques will help you develop the practical skills and technical expertise you need to create your own film by the end of the course. 

Our animation course encourages creative thinking and self-expression. Accompanied by a good technical knowledge of current industry practices. You'll learn skills in scriptwriting, character design, storyboarding, animating and VFX. As well as compositing, editing and sound design.

Our lecturers are practising professionals and you'll have access to fantastic animation facilities. Catering for CGI, stop frame, 2D, illustrative, set building and model-making. As well as sound recording, editing and sound design. All supported with the latest animation software, including Toon Boom and Dragonframe.

Why study with us

• Each year, the Royal Television Society (RTS) organises a series of regional student awards which you will be able to enter. In addition, students will be encouraged to enter festivals like Annecy Animation Festival and Manchester Animation Festival.
• Our Animation students have been North West Royal Television Society Student Award winners nine times.
• We are one of only a few institutions in the country to provide Toon Boom training. Delivered by an accredited Toon Boom user.

What you’ll do

• Gain employability skills by working on client briefs for organisations such as the NHS and Preston City Council. Learn how to work with clients and overcome hurdles met by professional animators. 
• You'll be encouraged to enter the annual Royal Television Society (RTS) student awards. As well as festivals such as Annecy Animation Festival and Manchester Animation Festival.
• Our close links with employers will give you the chance to work on 'live' projects from the industry. Helping you to test your skills and become graduate work-ready.

Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules

These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.
Compulsory modules accordion items

• Contextual Studies in Animation
• Introduction to Animation
• Introduction to Model Making
• Skill Development & Software Training

Year 2
Compulsory modules

These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.
Compulsory modules accordion items

• Focus Studies
• Animation Practice
• Animation Production and VFX
• Advanced Model Making

Year 3
Compulsory modules

These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.

• Research and Preproduction
• Honours Project and Promotion
• Animated TV Series

Future careers in digital animation

• Animation is a flourishing industry due to recent government support. And thanks to the University’s proximity to MediaCityUK, there’s no better place to study animation.
• Our graduates enjoy careers as animators, model-makers, editors, directors, scriptwriters, set designers, and sound designers. They've gone on to work at companies such as Nintendo, The Factory, McKinnon and Saunders, Sony Pictures, TT Games, Soccer Manager, the BBC and many others.
• Graduate Charlotte Blacker won the RTS award for the best undergraduate film in the country. She has since worked for Loose Moose and now is teaching our course at Hebei University, China. Her graduation film The Little Red Plane has been shown at various film festivals, including The Children’s Festival in New York. She is much in demand in the USA for series work and short animated films.