Course overview
MA Animation student showreel 2022
MA Animation student showreel 2022
Designed by staff with extensive industry experience in film, TV and games, the course supports the development of key professional skills in body mechanics, acting, and facial and performance capture. Gain insight into wider pre-production and production pipelines, and collaborate with students across other animation disciplines on industry-led briefs and short films, emulating real-world studio workflows. Access dedicated animation studios equipped with industry-standard software, performance capture facilities, a fully equipped sound stage, green screen and an LED wall.
Our graduates work at leading studios worldwide, including Sony Pictures, Industrial Light & Magic, Animal Logic, Blue Zoo, Imaginarium and Rockstar North.
You also get to spend a week at our Animex International Festival as part of your studies.
Ranked 20th in the world in the Animation Career Review International Animation School Rankings 2025. (Top 50 International Animation Colleges – formal degree. 207 colleges considered.) Find out more at tees.ac.uk/source.
Course details
Course structure
Core modules
Collaborate in a multi-disciplinary production team, working across MA Animation and MA Visual Effects. Contribute specialist skills to create a short film or VFX sequence, following a professional studio pipeline. The result is a high-quality showpiece for your portfolio.
You explore the art and science behind body mechanics in animation. You research and analyse the movement of both humans and other elements and apply this knowledge in the production of convincing animation in 3D.
You study the physics of movement, human anatomy, internal and external forces as well as a professional animation workflow.
You develop a deep knowledge of animation workflow through a number of body mechanics exercises, and study and critically analyse a variety of animation styles from realistic to cartoon.
Assessment is a portfolio of body mechanics shots (70%) and an illustrated, reflective, blog (30%).
You build a strong foundation in animated character performance using tools and workflows standard across the film, TV and games industries. Focus on lip sync, facial animation, acting theory and the use of reference, while developing your animation practice through continuous exploration of characters in varied scenarios. The continued practice of animating characters in different situations means you develop and improve your skills throughout the module.
Animated creatures can take many forms - from cartoon-styles with human personalities, to the recreation of realistic creatures in live action films.
You explore, use and critically analyse the techniques and tools available to today’s animators. You explore both the creative and technical skills required to produce creature (non-human) animation. This include areas such as weight, balance, anatomy and locomotion.
Assessment is a portfolio of creature animations, together with research and observations related to animal/creature behaviours and motions.
Industry Research and Development
Research and development are essential across animation, visual effects and games. Solving technical and creative problems through research and investigation to create stunning animation, effects and assets. Explore an area of specialist interest through a research-informed workflow, iterating through design, development and evaluation to produce a working prototype or proof of concept. Address technical and creative production challenges using advanced methods relevant to industry practice. This module tests your ability to solve industry-relevant production problems through research-informed design.
The Art of Performance Capture
Explore the performance-capture pipeline, plan and execute a capture shoot with actors, working with audio, facial and full-body capture systems. Edit, clean and transfer data onto fully rigged characters for use in a game engine or animation software, building a complete workflow from performance to output.
Advanced practice (2 year full-time MA only)
The internship options are:
Vocational: spend one semester working full-time in industry or on placement in the University. We have close links with a range of national and international companies who could offer you the chance to develop your knowledge and professional skills in the workplace through an internship. Although we cannot guarantee internships, we will provide you with practical support and advice on how to find and secure your own internship position. A vocational internship is a great way to gain work experience and give your CV a competitive edge.
Research: develop your research and academic skills by undertaking a research internship within the University. Experience working as part of a research team in an academic setting. Ideal for those who are interested in a career in research or academia.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn about concepts and methods primarily through keynote lectures and tutorials using case studies and examples. Lectures include presentations from guest speakers from industry. Critical reflection is key to successful problem solving and essential to the creative process. You develop your own reflective practice at an advanced level, then test and assess your solutions against criteria that you develop in the light of your research.
How you are assessed
The programme assessment strategy has been designed to assess your subject specific knowledge, cognitive and intellectual skills and transferable skills applicable to the workplace. The strategy ensures that you are provided with formative assessment opportunities throughout the programme which support your summative assessments. There is a mix of practical work (usually in the form of a portfolio of animation tasks), presentations, reflective blogs and written reports. Formative feedback is typically given during lectures, tutorials and summative feedback using on-line methods. The assessments can include individual or group work. The assessment criteria, where appropriate, will include assessment of presentation skills and report writing.
Entry requirements
At least a UK 2.2 honours degree in animation or equivalent.
Other first degree subjects may be accepted when combined with a portfolio of creative work at an acceptable standard.
Get some hints and tips on how to prepare a portfolio
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
Employability
Career opportunities
You have many opportunities to develop your professional skills, links with industry and meet with recruiters through ExpoTees, Animex Festival and Student Futures activities.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
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Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
