Computer Animation & Visual Effects

If you have a passion for designing and animating computer characters seen in film, advertising or games then this is the course for you.

Character animation involves creating the illusion of thought and emotion through a character’s physical actions. Without this the humour, eccentricity, energy, sadness or fear in a character wouldn’t be communicated.

We place great importance on drawing skills, observation and the principles of animation. You are also taught acting theory and body language as applied to animated characters. We develop your creative talent so you can also design, model and rig your own characters prior to making them move.

You learn using traditional character animation techniques as well as the latest state-of-the-art production tools. Disciplines covered in the course include:

• drawing and concept art
• 2D and 3D character animation
• character design and modelling
• acting for animation
• scriptwritting and storytelling
• professional portfolio development.

*This course has a Foundation Year for applicants who don’t meet the requirements for Year 1 entry.

More about the Foundation Year Games and Animation

How you learn

Each module is delivered through a structured series of lectures and tutorials. Lectures provide you with specific theoretical information related to the subject, while accompanying tutorials focus on developing practical skills and work on assessments. Tutorial sessions are also used for feedback and advice from tutors. Further support is offered online in the form of extra learning material where necessary. You are expected to manage your time to complete assignment work outside the tutorial sessions.

All animation students have the opportunity to attend keynote lectures throughout the year from industry speakers. Also, the animation department runs supplementary fortnightly feedback sessions where students from all years are encouraged to meet and demonstrate work-in-progress.

How you are assessed

We believe that it is essential for you to learn through the experience of doing. Assessment for the majority of modules is in the form of practical projects, which you work on throughout the academic year. You develop a portfolio of design, animation, modeling and visual effects work in years 1 and 2. In the final year you specialise in your chosen field through the production of two key pieces of work. The Final Year Project allows you the freedom to create your own brief based on your skills and interests. In the Group Animation module you will collaboratively with other students to develop essential team working skills to prepare you for employment.

Professional placement

You may apply to take a year-long supervised work placement between your second and final years. Placements provide an opportunity for you to improve your employment prospects by developing new skills and deepening your understanding of the subject.

The placement year is assessed and contributes to your final degree award. Students are selected by employers through interview and are normally paid by the host organisation during the placement. Our students have been placed in leading animation, games and visual effects companies such as Disney Interactive, Framestore and Ubisoft Reflections Ltd.

Career opportunities

Upon graduation you will be ideally suited to a career in the animation, visual effects or games industry. Graduates from our computer animation degrees have gone on to enjoy careers with a wide range of companies including Double Negative, Moving Picture Company, Glassworks, Cinesite, Passion Pictures, DreamWorks, Pixar and Framestore.

Entry requirements

A typical offer is 280 tariff points including at least two A levels (or equivalent). You're expected to come for an interview and present a portfolio of your artwork.

If you don't have an appropriated educational background for this course, you may receive an offer in a related but more suitable area.

More information

• Jessie's impossible thinks Student work for Animation, Games & Computer Graphics field of study (6mins)
• Computer Animation & Visual Effects
  More information and courses in Computer Animation & Visual Effects