Our MA Animation course will enable you to enhance your animation skills under the supervision of industry professionals. Whether you’re looking to create brilliant character animation, an outstanding animated film, or develop amazing sound design skills, we’ll help you to master your craft.
This course is based in the School of Arts and Media located in the Faculty of Culture and Creative Industries
The animation industry is expanding. Animation is used in games design, advertising, special effects or to simply tell a story or a joke. It can be seen online, in a TV series, in a feature film or as part of a documentary.
Throughout this course you’ll be encouraged to unleash your creativity as you develop advanced practical skills and technical expertise in the areas you’re most interested in – from stop motion to 2D animation and 3D digital animation. You’ll work alongside industry professionals who will guide you towards creating a professional-standard body of work that will show off your skills and prepare you for a thriving career in the animation industry.
The design activities and tutorials you undertake will be geared towards identifying an area of interest that you’d like to explore in depth for the duration of the course – so you could opt to specialise in character design, digital animation, storyboarding, sound design or other areas. The area you choose to specialise in will form the backbone of the rest of the course.
Why study with us
- Opportunities to work on ‘live’ projects with industry connections and build up an impressive portfolio of professional-standard work.
- You’ll have access to extensive studio, workshop and computer facilities equipped with the very latest specialist software.
- Key facilities include stop motion studios with lighting rigs, computer suites, rostrum suites for traditional animation and stop motion, a recording studio, and 3D printing and scanning.
What you’ll do
- You’ll get the chance to take part in our unique cJAM employability event, where you can pitch to industry professionals offering placements and work opportunities.
- Regular visiting industry professionals and trips to animation festivals will help and encourage you to network with the animation industry and are a key part of this course.
Module overview
Compulsory modules
- AX4406: Animation Advanced Practice
- DE4401: Research Methodologies
- DE4402: Research in context
- DE4403: Reflective Practice
- DE4404: Experimental Practice
- DE4405: specialist Practice
Course delivery
This course is taught face-to-face at one of our UK campuses.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.
Academic expertise
This course is taught by a dedicated animation team who have extensive industry experience. Course leader Sarah Ann Kennedy, for instance, is also the voice of Mrs Rabbit in Peppa Pig and Nanny Plum in Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom. Mark Mason is an experienced 2D animation director who has worked in the industry for over 20 years. There are a number of other experienced animators and model makers on hand to give you advice and support.
During the course you’ll benefit from opportunities to hear from keynote industry speakers as they describe their career journey and offer their expert advice.
Through our unique cJAM employability event you’ll get to meet up to 30 successful industry professionals face-to-face and pitch for valuable work placement opportunities.
Future careers
Our Animation graduates have gone on to enjoy successful careers as animators, model-makers, editors, directors, scriptwriters, set designers and sound designers.
Others have gone on to work at major companies such as Nintendo, The factory, McKinnon and Saunders, Sony Pictures, TT Games, Soccer Manager, the BBC and many others.
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