Университет Западной Англии, BA (Hons), Animation

Year 1: Students take a series of introductory modules that include; principles of animation; introduction to animation forms; action analysis and design for animation; this period of exploration and investigation provides students with an understanding of the principles of animation and those technical skills and knowledge across a range of disciplines that enables students to better place their practice for further creative development during year 2. Year 2: Building on from the principles of animation and animation production the second year enables students to develop design related aspects of animation and film making including cinematography; producing; production design; directing and sound design and production; coupled with a module on professional practice this year enables students to begin to apply those transferable skills and knowledge that they gain during year 1 within a more creative framework and the context of contemporary professional practice; a range of option modules in semester 2 enables students to further develop their practice in line with their own area of specialist interest. Year 3: Undertake a major self-directed programme of study; this not only reflects students own individual area or research but allows them to test ideas and concepts in a completely professional environment in preparation for production; students final production is completed to industry standard and as part of their studies they are expected to prepare their portfolio and show reel within a format that enables them to further exploit the work within a broader commercial context; there is also an opportunity to work with Master's animation students and become involved in collaborative work with other institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music.

This programme is a creative animation course offering a broad range of skills designed to enable students to operate independently within the commercial environment after graduation; the contemporary animation industry requires creative thinkers who can operate flexibly within different aspects of animation production and associated activities; while animation has its roots within a cinematic and television environment its application now extends much further that these traditional formats; the challenge that animators now face is to address the application of new technologies and delivery systems such as interactive and hand held devices for games; narrative and none narrative forms and convergent media formats; during the course students are introduced to contemporary production processes and methodologies as well as those fundamental principles of animation that may be applied within classical two dimensional and three dimensional; stop frame and computer (CG) animation; film making; narrative and design for animation are central to the programme.