BA (Hons) Animation Production

On BA (Hons) Animation Production, we’ll introduce you to the fundamental skills of drawing and painting which underpin animation in all forms. Along with training in industry-standard software, you’ll be able to apply your skills to hand-drawn, stop motion, and CGI work. Working as part of a team in an animation studio environment, you’ll develop your personal portfolio and produce graduate films.

We have industry-standard facilities, where you’ll have access to the following throughout your studies – PC workstations with WACOM Intuos Pro Tablets, Xencelabs drawing screens, a render management software, Adobe Creative Cloud, Toon Boom Harmony, Storyboard Pro, Dragon Frame, Maya, ZBrush, and Da Vinci Resolve.

Visits from industry practitioners and opportunities for studio placements will add to your knowledge and prepare you for a career that could see you work in film, commercials or even video game production. We’ll teach you skills to shape the future of the industry.

All undergraduate courses at AUB offer an optional placement year, to be taken between your second and third years of study.

If you’re unsure about this optional placement, you don’t need to decide now. Once you’re here and studying with us, the course team will discuss the placement options with you, so when the time comes, you can make a decision that’s right for you.

First year introduces you to the fundamental principles of animation. Through workshops, seminars and lectures, you’ll learn traditional animation techniques and how to use contemporary software. We’ll teach you the 12 Principles of Animation in theory and practice, using 2D animation exercises that are used by professionals. You’ll learn to use the industry-standard software, and study layout and background design. Using sketchbooks to explore a variety of media, you'll develop a more subtle understanding of character performance and cinematic storytelling.

You'll study critical theories, concepts and analysis, and develop an understanding of historical and contemporary practice within the specialism.

In second year, you’ll develop your individual role within animation production by working on team-based projects. From conception to post-production you'll enhance your understanding of animation through workshops.

You'll also advance in your drawing and painting skills and abilities in 2D, CG and stop-motion. You'll research and develop your own personal project as part of a pitching process in line with industry practices, and be given the opportunity for industry experience or overseas study – you may also look at completing an optional work placement.

In your third year, you’ll successfully demonstrate your commitment to the collective responsibility of production and post-production. You’ll identify your specialist role and develop a portfolio as part of a 2D, CGI or stop-motion film production.

A big focus will be communication, team-working skills and mentorship guidance. Enhancing your skills as an animation practitioner through exploration of theory and practice, you'll develop strategies for personal planning and self-reflection, consider career aspirations and produce a targeted portfolio.

You’ll have the opportunity to pitch your story idea and take part in the process of selecting which films go into full production.

2024

• Winner | Cinemagic "On the Pulse" Short Film Festival, 8+ Jury Prize – Les Château des Chats (2023)
• Winner | British Animation Awards, Best Undergraduate Film – Cortex (2022)
• Shortlisted | British Animation Awards, Best Undergraduate Film – Moonseeker (2023)
• Shortlisted | RTS Southern Centre Student Awards, Animation category – Knife Point (2023)

2023

• Winner | Purbeck Film Festival, Purbeck Shorts Competition – The Man Who Loved Flowers (2023)
• Winner | RTS Southern Awards, Best Student Animation – Dadaland (2023)
• Shortlisted | Purbeck Film Festival, Purbeck Shorts Competition – Les Château des Chats (2023), Nobody to Play With (2023), Train Ride (2023)
• Nominated | RTS Southern Awards, Best Student Animation – Moonseeker (2023), Undertaker (2023)
  

2022

• Shortlisted | Geelong Pride Festival Australia, Design Award and Student Filmmaker Award – Hiding (2021)
  

2021 World Film Carnival, Singapore

• Winner | Audience Choice Award – Checkpoint (2021)
• Winner | Outstanding Achievement Award – Heartwood (2021)
• Winner | Critics' Choice Award – Dreaming (2021), Noise Film, Toil and Trouble
• Winner | Audience Choice Award – Suburb

2021

• Winner | Florence Film Awards, Best Animated Film – Heartwood (2021)
• Winner | Lift-Off sessions, September – Checkpoint (2021)
  
• Winner | Monthly Indie Shorts, September, Best Student Animation – Hubris (2020)
• Winner | Screaming Room Film Festival, Jack-o'-Lantern Award – Spellbound (2020)
  
• Winner | RTS Student Television Awards, Category Winner – Spellbound (2020)
• Winner | Vesuvius International Film Fest, Category Winner – Spellbound (2020)
• Winner | Brazil International Film Festival, Best Student Film – Spellbound (2020)
• Winner | Monthly Indie Shorts, July, Best Student Animation – Spellbound (2020)
• Distinction | Athens Animfest, Student Competition – Arachnarche (2020)
  
• Honourable Mention | Florence Film Awards – Checkpoint (2021)
• Honourable Mention | Brazil International Film Festival – Out of my Depth (2020)
• Special Mention | LIMFF July Edition – Spellbound (2020)
  
• Special Mention | Monthly Indie Shorts, October – Checkpoint (2021)

We're very proud of our employability rate. Many BA (Hons) Animation Production graduates have gone to work in studios across the world, with students often being ‘snapped up’ ahead of graduation. Our students work in 2D traditional animation, 3D computer animation, stop-motion puppet animation, games art direction and many other areas of animation and film. Graduates from this course have gone on to work in studios including:

• Pixar (USA)
• Aardman Animation (UK)
• Electronic Arts Games (UK)
• Framestore CFC (UK)
  
• Locksmith Animation (UK)
• Studio Ghibli (UK)
• Industrial Light and Magic (UK/USA)
• Lupus (UK)
• Brown Bag (Ireland)
• Cartoon Saloon (Ireland)

We’ll give you the skills to shape the future of the industry. Graduates from this course have gone on to work in studios across the world, including Pixar, Aardman, Karrot, Lupus and LucasArts.