MA (Animation)

Whether you want to be a 2d animator, cg rigger, or stop motion model maker, our course provides a comprehensive and immersive learning experience that will elevate your current skills and equip you with innovative tools to redefine the boundaries of storytelling and bring your artistic visions to life. 

Designed for

• Our MA Animation course is intended for a wide range of individuals, including animation graduates looking to specialise and expand their portfolio, graduates from related fields looking to transition into animation, industry professionals looking to upgrade their skills for career advancement and researchers and educators pursuing teaching roles or higher qualifications such as a PhD or research degree.

Career Paths

• Animator (2D, CG and Stop Motion) 
• Director/Producer 
• Layout Artist 
• Modeller and Rigger 
• Teacher/Lecturer

Skills taught

• Animation Production 
• Collaboration and Communication 
• Networking
• Project Management 
• Research and Innovation

Course Highlights

• Networking Opportunities- Students advance their careers by expanding their professional networks and mastering new and current skills. Teaching staff have strong connections in the animation industry, both in Wales and across the UK, and are in regular contact regarding internships and work placement opportunities.
• Find your Speciality- Students are kept up to date on industry trends and technological advancements, while also fulfilling the demand for specialised animation knowledge, allowing them to remain competitive and focused in a rapidly evolving field. Whether the student wants to be a character designer, storyboard artist or independent filmmaker, we allow them to specialise in an animation area of their choice and create
• Life-changing Research- Students work in a supportive environment where they explore their artistic interests and discover what kind of creative artist they want to be. As the animation industry thrives on innovation and individual creative expression, we encourage students to develop their ideas through in-depth research activity, experimenting with emerging technologies, and pushing the boundaries of animation as an ar

Module Overview
Year One

• From idea to final rendering, our MA Animation course equips students with in-depth knowledge and abilities in essential components of animation production. The course curriculum, which covers historical, practical and theoretical aspects of animation as an art form, is presented weekly on-campus to allow for hands-on learning, collaboration and support.

Animation Exploration

• This module assists students in establishing concepts that can target future career goals. Students are encouraged to develop their own distinct voice as they take their ideas through essential pre-production stages (e.g., script, character design, storyboard) culminating in an industry standard pitch proposal.

Professional Practice: Animation

• This module assists students in determining their position in the animation industry after graduation. Students will be exposed to current animation pipelines for a variety of projects and techniques, before deciding on a specific position to pursue professionally. Students develop a thorough understanding of their chosen profession, including current trends and skill requirements.

Animation Application

• This module assists students in discovering their own feasible production process for their chosen specialism (e.g., character design, modelling, rigging, storyboarding) and medium (2D, CG, and/or Stop Motion). Students will be introduced to crucial production stages (e.g., layout, live action reference, clean-up) before finishing a series of practical outcomes using industry-standard software and technology.

Animation Specialisation

• This module assists students in deepening their understanding of their chosen profession via in-depth research activity. Students are encouraged to communicate and network with industry professionals through internal and external events such as conferences, festivals, seminars, presentations and workshops. Research for this subject may also include arranging an internship, job placement or work shadowing opportunity.

Major Project: Animation

• This module assists students in fully exhibiting their aesthetic, technical and intellectual abilities in their chosen specialism (e.g., character animation, directing, environment design, producing) and medium (2D, CG, and/or Stop Motion). 

Students select one of the following outcomes to demonstrate their capabilities: 

• Portfolio – for students who want to display an image-based skill (e.g., concept art, character design, storyboarding). 
• Showreel – for students who want to display a specific moving-image skill (e.g., character animation, rigging, texturing, environment/prop design). 
• Short Film – for students who want to display a variety of skills (e.g., directing, producing, collaborating). This can include creating a documentary, music video, pilot, trailer, etc.

Animation Review

• This module assists students in fully contextualising their Major Project, focusing on the challenges that arose during its conception, development, and completion. Students will be able to critically assess a wide range of research activities that were carried out, while rationalising their involvement in the production and realisation of practical outcomes.