BA (Hons) Animation
Ravensbourne University London
Key Information
Campus location
Greenwich Peninsula, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Scholarships
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Introduction
Bring characters and stories to life.
Can you push the boundaries of animation? In this BA honours animation course, you will develop creative techniques through a range of digital mediums including film, television, games, and online platforms. Utilising the skills of storytelling and forming narratives, you will develop your artistic communication skills and a strong rationale for your ideas. With opportunities for mentorships with top industry players, allow our experts to sharpen your natural talent and turn passion into a profession.
Why study this animation degree?
- Learn within one of the top academic institutions in London, UK
- Opportunities to collaborate on live briefs within the industry
- First-class teaching from experienced staff and industry experts
- Work on creative projects that nurture individuals to excel
- Excellent location with a host of animation studios on the doorstep
- Tap into exceptional industry connections
The UK’s animation industry is a global success story. In a world where visual communication is the norm, animators are in high demand whether in TV, film, gaming, corporate films, advertising or the media.
Through studying this exciting animation degree course, you will acquire the technical skills, insight and platform to apply your creative talent to a successful career in character animation. You will think on your feet, respond to live and self-initiated briefs and utilise a mix of practice and theory-based learning, including seminars, workshops, industry masterclasses, individual tutorials and self-directed study.
You will explore a range of character animation techniques, including the fundamentals, body mechanics and performance. You will also adopt digital development skills in asset and rigging creation, together with storytelling techniques, life drawing, physical prototyping, research and idea development, communication and presentation. You will also examine the medium using industry-standard software, including Maya and Adobe Suite.
Working in a creative environment, you will work collaboratively with other students to tackle creative briefs and bring ideas to life. You will be welcomed into a supportive community comprising industry experts and graduate mentors in a dynamic, creative hub.
During this three-year animation course in London, you will acquire the technical skills and insight to succeed in a career in animation. You will be granted access to industry-quality software and produce an assessed portfolio of work, so you’re ready to enter the professional world of animation with confidence and know-how.
Ideal Students
Creatives keen to harness their skills and connections to thrive in the world of character animation.
Curriculum
Year 1
In year 1, you will study fundamental animation skills, including timing, posing, movement and behaviour. Throughout year 1, you will be encouraged to experiment and improvise with your ideas.
You will gain industry insight from the outset; attending guest lectures, completing tasks set by practitioners and receiving direct feedback on the work you submit.
A blend of skills will be explored throughout the course, including visual language, storytelling techniques and drawing.
Year 2
In year 2, you will advance your skills in animation through acting workshops and exploration into dialogue and emotions. This will be teamed with the development of skills in rigging and preparation for industry. In your second year, you will be given the opportunity to work on live projects with mentors there to assist you.
You will also start to work independently, exploring your own individual area of interest and building an understanding of which sector your unique skill set is best placed within.
Industry guests will continue to support the modules in year 2 through a series of masterclasses and workshops. There will also be an opportunity to engage in either a live brief or work placement at the end of year 2.
Year 3
In year 3, you will focus on enhancing your chosen specialism in preparation for employment. You will focus on how to brand yourself, prepare for life as a freelancer and develop a showreel which is relevant to the sector of your choice.
You will be encouraged to collaborate with fellow coursemates and work alongside those in other courses such as Games Design, Illustration and Music and Sound Design.
Over the three years, you will be taught how to develop creative responses to all your modules, while integrating both theory and practical workflows to bring out a strong and individual creative vision.
You will also be taught the importance of building both personal and professional life skills, to adapt to the opportunities and the challenges of today’s world of work.
Key study topics
The course uses a mix of practice and theory-based learning. Students are introduced to a range of animation practices. These range from conceptualisation, digital development skills and asset creation to character animation techniques, scripting, storytelling techniques and life drawing. It also includes physical prototyping, communication and presentation, research and idea development.
Key study topics include:
- Contemporary culture
- Animation fundamentals
- Modelling to camera
- Human and creature mechanic
- Visual narrative
- Big ideas and philosophies
- Character modelling and rigging
- Animation industry
Admissions
Career Opportunities
Animation is an increasingly widespread form of media. Good animators are becoming increasingly sought after in film, television, VFX, gaming and the web.
Animation graduates often go on to secure work as 3D/2D generalists as well as specialists in areas including concept, modelling, animation and VFX production.
Past graduates have been employed in roles within film and television, visual effects, advertising, post-production, apps and games.