Bachelor of Creative Arts (Animation)

This degree allows you to learn the various creative aspects and techniques involved in animated filmmaking, visual effects and games by providing a solid grounding in the fundamental practices, theory, techniques and art of animation. 

If you have a passion for animation and a desire to create and tell stories through this exciting visual medium, then a career in animation is for you. With employment expected to grow by 21% by 2026 (Labour Market Insights), there has never been a better time to study animation at QUT.

Animation is an important part of filmmaking, TV production and creative advertising and marketing; it's also integral to games production.

You will graduate with a highly skilled degree with the ability to create, build worlds and animate characters which will open doors to a variety of exciting careers.

Real-world learning

• By choosing to study animation at QUT, you will be real-world ready for a creative career in a rapidly evolving cultural and professional landscape.
• From your first year, you'll collaborate with students and teaching staff from across other creative disciplines to reflect industry practice. This course is built around practical experience and hands-on learning, which means you'll build the confidence to succeed in your future career. You will work on real-world projects briefed by real clients, along with career planning assistance to help you on your creative journey.
• As your course progresses, you'll specialise in your animation major with opportunities to showcase your work, create meaningful industry connections, work integrated learning, internships, international study tours, public performances and exhibitions. You'll also participate in animation project-based learning experiences (Advanced Animation Practice unit) collaborating with other students and external partners.

Highlights

• Develop practical skills in motion graphics, 3D graphics, character animation,drawing and real-time modelling for virtual environments.
• Gain real-world experience and contacts in your industry through professional industry placements and projects.
• Choose independent study options where you can design and implement creative work.
• Tailor your animation degree to suit you with a second major, minors and/or extensions and electives.

What to Expect

• This degree allows you to learn the various creative aspects and techniques involved in animated filmmaking, visual effects, emerging digital mediums including immersive media, and games by providing a solid grounding in the fundamental practices, theory, techniques and art of animation. The course progresses from generalised to more specific allowing you to explore the broad areas and latest techniques involved in animated filmmaking and then develop a more advanced specialisation in your area of interest. 
• You will be encouraged to experiment with a range of animation styles, techniques and technologies while producing your own animations, graphics and visual effects. Studies in industry workflows, tools, process and skills will equip you with a strong understanding of current industry practices—from concept development to timelines and finished works. Your studies will also include CGI production in preparation for final-year projects and work integrated learning opportunities. 
• The new QUT Creative Arts degree helps you to curate your own career, with its built-in flexibility providing you with multiple opportunities to extend and expand your creative practice.  Tailor your animation degree for your future with a second major or a combination of other creative field majors, minors and course units across multiple subjects.   

Double degrees

• Combine your degree with a second degree to gain a broader range of skills and knowledge, a competitive advantage and enhanced career flexibility.  Choose a double degree with:  
• Behavioural science (psychology): combine your passion for creativity with psychology for an innovative career as a creative counsellor or practitioner
• Business: combine advanced technical and creative skills with highly developed business knowledge to run you own business or work in the corporate industry
• Law: gain knowledge of the law and key skills such as research, communication and dispute resolution.

Careers and outcomes

• The ability to create, build worlds and animate characters opens doors to a variety of careers. The Bachelor of Creative Arts (Animation) degree will develop your confidence to pursue a career in a variety of areas such as character animation, motion design, preproduction, and emerging fields such as virtual production for games and visual effects.
• Graduates of the animation major are employed in various industries and fields locally and globally ranging from film, games and education to architecture, engineering and medical research for assisting with product previsualisation.

QUT Animation graduates have worked on award-winning films including:

• Bluey
• Spider-Man: Far From Home
• Avengers: Endgame
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• I, Robot
• King Kong
• Godzilla
• How to Train Your Dragon

They have also been part of teams that developed games such as Hellblade and Disney Infinity 3.0 at major studios such as:

• Animal Logic
• Disney Animation
• Lucasfilm
• Double Negative
• Rising Sun Pictures
• Weta Digital.

Possible careers

• Advertising specialist
• Animator
• Artist
• Computer games developer
• Film/television producer
• Illustrator
• Media industry specialist
• Motion capture specialist
• Motion graphics designer
• Multimedia designer
• Post-production specialist
• Procurement specialist
• Producer
• Virtual production specialist
• Visual artist
• Web designer