Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Animation

You’ll be involved in the development of animated content, with emphasis on critical, analytical and problem-solving skills. You will also gain production experience through industrial training as emphasis is placed on professional practice for greater employment prospects through animation. 

Animation is one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide. It has been a huge technological development in the last decade, from traditional 2D hand-drawn to digital 3D animation. In today’s digital world, the application of animation isn’t simply restricted to films. It facilitates exciting career opportunities in various sectors like Advertising, Print media, TV production and Gaming.

This programme aims to develop you as a creative animator. The animation route offers the opportunity to specialize in modeling, animating and compositing based applications in the creation of character filmmaking.

The programme focuses on the many aspects of the fundamental animation processes and design skillsets in the creative industry, while exploring on different animation techniques ranging from 2D traditional to CG animation.

Apu-dmu dual degree programme

• Students who are under Bachelor’s Degree Programme will have the option to opt-in for the APU-DMU Dual Degree Scheme. Under this Scheme, students will receive 2 Degree Certificates & Transcripts upon graduation: 1 from Asia Pacific University (APU), Malaysia and 1 from De Montfort University (DMU), UK.

Application Process

• As part of the entry requirements into the APU Design Degrees, it is mandatory for the applicant to submit either one of the following for evaluation together with complete educational documents:

Portfolio Submission
Interview

Programme outline
This programme is specifically designed to provide students with:

• Solid animation and design fundamentals, strong technical skills, critical, analytical thinking skills and good communication skills.

Degree level 1

• Year 1 focuses on many aspects of the fundamentals in animation and design skillsets in the creative industry, especially in the animation field. You will explore thoroughly on different animation techniques ranging from 2D traditional to CG animation.

Core modules

• Animation Principles
• Illustration for Concept Art
• 3D Pipeline
• Creative Project
• Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship
• Digital 2D Animation
• Digital 3D Animation
• Digital Illustration
• Motion Graphics

Degree level 2

• Year 2 involves the development of animated content in greater depth, that emphasise on critical and analytical thinking skills and problem-solving skills. This includes character creation, character performance, motion design, rigging, effects and simulation. You will also gain production experience through industrial training towards the end of the second year.

Core modules

• Film Shorts & Stings: Proposal
• Film Shorts & Stings: Production
• Character Creation
• Character Animation
• Rigging for Animation
• Set Design
• Effects and Simulation

Elective modules

• Visual Culture
• Production Planning and Management

Internship (16 weeks)

• Students will undertake a short Internship/ Industrial Training for a minimum period of 16 weeks to prepare them for a smooth transition from the classroom to the working environment.

Degree level 3

• In Year 3, you will be specialised in your area of interest to produce a series of animation project which showcases your significant talent and ability to work in a team. Emphasis is placed on professional practice in preparation for graduation and greater employment prospect through animation.

Core modules

• Team Animation Project: Proposal
• Team Animation Project: Production
• Animation Project: Proposal
• Animation Project: Production
• Research Project Report
• Venture Building
• Sound Design
• Exhibition Design
• Intellectual Property Basics

Mqa compulsory subjects

• Appreciation of Ethics and Civilisation (M’sian Students)
• Malay Communication Language (Int’l Students)
• Philosophy and Current Issues
• Workplace Professional Communication Skills
• Employee & Employment Trends
• Co-Curriculum

Collaborative industrial partners

• APU is recognised as the First Toon Boom Centre of Excellence (COE) in Malaysia! The Toon Boom Centre of Excellence program recognises key academic institutions that are contributing, at an exceptional level, to the teaching of the latest industry techniques and technology in storyboarding and animation. Under the COE Certification, our students are entitled to various privileges such as Free Desktop Subscription of the award-winning software and granted full assess to Toon Boom Learning Resources.

Career options

• 2D Animator
• 3D Animator
• Concept Artist
• Storyboard Artist
• 3D Modeller
• Production Designer
• Look Development Artist
• Set Designer
• 2D Rigging Artist
• 3D Technical Artist
• Visual Effect Artist
• Motion Graphic Designer
• Compositor
• Video Editor
• Script Writer
• Production Coordinator
• Animation Director
• Producer