BA (Hons) Animation

Ba (hons) animation is a practice-led course, enabling you to choose one of two specialist pathways: experimental and character. You’ll gain entrepreneurial skills, develop expertise across the production process, and learn how flexibility can help you deal with the challenges of being a professional animator. 

Why choose this course at London College of Communication

• You’ll learn core traditional skills and principles in animation to underpin your future specialism in areas such as 3D digital animation and modelling, or stop-motion animation, as well as 2D analogue and digital.
• Drawing is taught as a key skill that informs all aspects of your subject knowledge and technical expertise, underpinning strong animation and design skills while enabling you to express your creative ideas with skill and dexterity.
• Digital animation is taught intensively from Year 1 onwards, recognising the particular demands of this skillset and the levels of expertise expected of graduates by industry.
• ‘Live’ projects and competitions are delivered in collaboration with external industry partners, giving you the opportunity to practice your skills in a professional context while building a professional portfolio of work. Previous partners  include: Channel 4, MTV, National Trust, All Saints Records, Marmite and The Royal Society.

Open Days

• The next Open Day for this course will be announced soon.
• A recording of our latest Virtual Open Event for this course is available. Watch online.

Explore life at LCC with our interactive Virtual Open Day.
Course accredited by:

• Accredited Toon Boom Centre of Excellence
• Certified Nuke Training Centre

Course overview

• BA (Hons) Animation encourages you to explore formats and outcomes beyond traditional modes. In Year 1 you’ll learn core creative skills in idea development, design, pre-production and production techniques all of which underpins the wide range of contemporary animation practices.
• After discussion with tutors you will then choose a pathway that fits with your developing skills and specific creative interests and abilities.
• The Experimental pathway will encourage you to experiment with design, technique, content and format. You can explore a range of approaches and processes beyond conventional formats such as performance, installation, interactive, projection mapping, stop-motion, short film or documentary form.
• On the Character pathway, you’ll engage with a wide range of current and emerging technical skills and knowledge. Specialising in character animation, you will learn skills in 2D and stop-motion animation, character design, storyboarding, storytelling and creative writing while developing your understanding of the professional production pipeline.

What to expect

• You’ll look at animation in a broad context and develop your expertise across the whole production process while working both individually and in teams.
• You’ll be taught drawing as a key skill that informs your subject and technical knowledge, and learn how to deal with the challenges of being a professional creative practitioner, such as the importance of flexibility and the value of entrepreneurial skills.
• An emphasis on developing your communication and presentation skills, giving you the confidence to share your ideas to colleagues and clients in professional contexts.

Industry experience and opportunities

• The course is designed to ensure you’ll benefit from access to the specialist creative industries in London, as well as other Colleges within the University, a network of professionals, and key industry partners.
• Industry-led and mentored ‘live’ projects and competitions are delivered in collaboration with external industry partners, giving you the opportunity to practice your skills in a professional context and to build a professional portfolio of work. Previous industry partners include: Channel 4, MTV, National Trust, All Saints Records, Marmite, The Royal Society, Tate, V&A Museum of Childhood, Westfield, British Library, Hostelworld, Child Poverty Action Group, and Horniman Museum and Gardens.
• Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake the Diploma in Professional Studies or the UAL Diploma in Creative Computing between Years 2 and 3 to enhance your learning experience and employability skills.

Mode of study

• BA (Hons) Animation runs for 93 weeks in full time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage lasts 31 weeks.

Course units

• In response to the Climate Emergency, UAL has embedded responsible practices within the curriculum. We shaped our courses around principles of social and racial justice, and environmental sustainability that ensure learning outcomes reflect the urgent need to equip you with the understanding, skills, and values for ethical practice and empower you to work towards an equitable future.
• In common with all courses at University of the Arts London, this course is credit rated. The course is 3 years, levels 4-6. Each year requires you to achieve 120 credit points. To be awarded the BA (Hons) Animation qualification, you need to accumulate a total of 360 credits.

Year 1
All students take the same units in Year 1, although the projects will vary in the Visual Narrative unit focusing their proposed pathway specialism.

• Introduction to Animation (20 credits) With a focus on theoretical, critical and practical skills development, you’ll be introduced to the course and its subject specialism, as well as effective learning at undergraduate level.
• Production Principles (40 credits) This unit introduces you to the fundamental terminology, technology and craft skills that underpin all areas of animation across all pathways. You’ll work in 2D drawn animation (analogue and digital), 3D computer animation, and Visual Effects. The unit covers a range of key production areas including the principles of animation, observational drawing, design for animation, character design, storytelling, creative writing, sound and performance, and focuses on short projects developed through skills-based workshops.
• Visual Narrative (40 credits) An extension of Production Principles, this unit will provide a deeper understanding of how narrative is constructed visually. You’ll attend workshops aligned to the 4 pathway options and have the opportunity to select your preferred area of specialism.
• Informed Practice 1 (20 credits) You’ll be introduced to histories, theories and debates in relation to animation and visual and material culture. Focusing on the development of creative ideas, you’ll explore the common themes and relationships between theory and culture. You will explore a broad knowledge base around contemporary discussions in relation to sustainability, social justice, inclusivity and ethics in animation.

Year 2
Both pathways will follow the same unit structure to enable collaboration across the pathways, however the content and delivery will be differentiated to reflect the specialisms.

• Pathway Units – Principles (40 Credits) Building on Year 1, you’ll advance your learning through the technical and practical skills of your specialism.
• Principles of Experimental: If you follow the Experimental pathway, you’ll experiment with design, technique, content and format and have opportunities to explore a range of areas beyond conventional formats such as performance, installation, interactive, projection mapping, short film or documentary.
• Principles of Character: If you follow the Character Pathway then you’ll focus on developing your understanding of the fundamentals of animation such as character design, storyboarding, storytelling and creative writing.
• Professional Practices (20 credits) Focusing on work-based learning, this unit will help you to consider your future career goals and the steps you need to take to achieve them. You’ll also be introduced to essential tools for professional presentation through tutorials and workshops. If you’re interested in applying for the Diploma in Professional Studies, we’ll support you through the application process.
• Exploratory Practice: Experimental/ Character (40 Credits) Whichever pathway you take, you’ll explore the application of your skills through a selection of longer form projects. At this level, you’ll be encouraged to enquire about your own personal and unique approach to your subject area.

Technical skills workshops will continue on all pathways, these include:

• Experimental: After Effects and other Adobe Suite software, Resolume, production design, puppet-making, and lighting and cinematography for stop-motion.
• Character: Toon Boom Harmony, Storyboard Pro, After Effects and other Adobe Suite software, performance for animation, lip synch, and the animation production pipeline.
• Informed Practice 2 (20 credits)Following on from Informed Practice 1, this unit is a shared unit across all pathways and will expand upon histories, theories and debates in relation to animation, games, visual effects and visual and material culture. Continuing to focus on the development of creative ideas, you’ll explore the common themes and relationships between theory and culture and your place within it.

Year 3 – (Year 4 for students returning from an additional Diploma year)
All pathways will follow the same unit structure to provide the opportunity for collaboration across the pathways; however, the content and delivery will be differentiated to reflect the specialisms.

• Final Major Project: Experimental/ Character (60 credits) The Final Major Project is a collaborative project that will allow you to make a significant contribution to a major project in a specialist role within a small production team. Working with a carefully formed team based on your interests and specialisms, this is an opportunity for you to demonstrate the skills you've developed over the course.
• Professional Futures (40 credits) This unit builds on the experiences gained through Year 2 Professional Practices. There’s a focus on tailoring skills towards a specific role within the industry, and on developing professional methods and tools of presentation such as CV and personal website. The unit will contribute towards your portfolio of work. This experience will give you the opportunity to make introductions to contacts in the animation and creative industries.
• Informed Practice 3 (20 credits) This unit is a culmination of the ‘Informed Practice’ component of the course. The subject of your work will be based on a written proposal and research produced at the end of the second year, and can be directly linked to other Year 3 units.

Optional Diploma between Years 2 and 3

Between Years 2 and 3 of the course, you’ll also have the opportunity to undertake one of the following additional UAL qualifications:

• Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) (Optional) An optional, year-long learning opportunity which enables you to develop your professional skills by undertaking time out for industry experience. Supported throughout the year by academics, you’ll build on the knowledge gained on your course in a range of national or international locations, and graduate with an additional qualification of Diploma in Professional Studies.
• Diploma in Creative Computing (Optional) Between Years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Animation (with Creative Computing).

Learning and teaching methods

• Seminars
• Study visits
• Personal tutorials
• Group tutorials
• Lectures
• Guest lectures
• Workshops

Assessment methods

• Supervision 
• Tutorials 
• Peer review 
• Report 
• Presentation 
• Lectures 
• Seminar 
• Tutorials 
• Workshops supporting individual and group needs 
• Self-assessment document 
• Reflective diary 

Careers

• BA (Hons) Animation will prepare you for progression into jobs in animation or related time-based media production, usually in a freelance capacity.
• You can expect to enter a variety of production areas that use animation such as roles in production, direction, design and characterisation. Your portfolio will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate the relevant skills and knowledge required for successful employment in these fields.
• Additionally, some students may choose to progress to further study at postgraduate level on our MA Animation course.