Course overview
Foundation year Work placement
2D Animation and Stop Motion Showreel
View our BA (Hons) 2D Animation and Stop Motion student showreel.
You learn essential animation skills including drawing and pre-visualisation, cinematography, hand drawn 2D animation and stop motion techniques.
Gain experience of the animation pre-production and production pipelines by working with other animation students on team projects as specialist 2D animators, stop motion animators, stop motion compositors, prop makers, set builders or character designers.
Our bespoke 2D animation studios featuring industry-standard software, dedicated workshops and stop motion studios equipped with lighting, cameras, and green screen offer you a real world technical experience.
Top reasons to study 2D animation and stop motion at Teesside
- International acclaim: ranked 18th in the world in the Animation Career Review International Animation School Rankings 2023. (Top 50 International Animation Colleges – formal degree. 195 colleges considered). (tees.ac.uk/source).
- Industry links: take part in Animex, our annual international animation and games festival featuring experts from Rockstar, Pixar, Disney and Sony.
- Career-ready: our ExpoSeries of events allow you to showcase your skills to industry professionals who are seeking to recruit new and rising talent.
- Quality teaching: 90% of BA (Hons) 2D Animation and Stop Motion students were satisfied overall with the quality of the course (National Student Survey 2022, tees.ac.uk/source).
Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
The principles of animation are the foundation stone for any animator. Originally created by Disney, they have been used by generations of animators to create convincing animation across movies, TV series, games and commercials.
Fundamentals of 2D animation
Learn the principles of 2D animation, using hand-drawn techniques to create animation exercises.
Fundamentals of 3D animation
Explore the principles of 3D animation using industry standard techniques and software using a range of methods including the layered method and pose to pose.
Animation in context
Delve into the history of animation and motion design, from its earliest beginnings to today’s diverse styles and applications.
This is a 30-credit module.
Whether designing characters, sketching thumbnails and environments, or creating storyboards, you gain a range of digital drawing skills. These can help you visualise and design original concepts using traditional drawing techniques for animation. You are guided through a series of creative tasks designed to improve your traditional and digital visualisation skills.
This is a 30-credit module.
You are introduced to the history, methods, materials and techniques used in stop motion animation. Use introductory techniques to create stop motion animation, exploring different lighting and camera setups. And animate short sequences using claymation, object animation, cut-out animation, puppet animation, object animation and pixilation.
This is a 30-credit module.
Visual Development for the Moving Image
When planning and visualising sequences for animation and live action, you need to understand the pre-production process and the tools and techniques you can use.
Cinematography and film language
You are introduced to cinematography and learn about film language, shot composition, camera moves and lighting.
Character and storyboard development
Develop your own visual interpretation of a script or narrative and produce a moving storyboard (animatic).
Digital compositing
You are introduced to a range of compositing techniques for live-action and 3D computer-generated imagery, 2D and stop-motion animation, lighting and digital 2D painted backgrounds.
This is a 30-credit module.
Year 2 core modules
Creating a believable animated performance using 2D character animation requires research and development. You need to determine who your character is and their place in the story landscape. Explore the process that gives your characters depth to engage your target audience. Use acting references and creative animation skills as you plan and create a convincing 2D character animated sequence.
This is a 30-credit module.
You work in a team to produce an animation or visual effects sequence based on an industry style brief. Experience working in a production environment with industry input and feedback, and target specific production skills in your chosen field of study.
This is a 30-credit module.
Professional Research and Development
You get the opportunity to experiment in a specialist area of your choice in animation, games and visual effects. Develop your independent learning skills and take ownership of your chosen direction through the assessment. You also research professional roles related to your specialism, identifying the graduate skills you need and developing an online presence.
This is a 30-credit module.
You continue to explore the methods, materials, techniques and principles used in stop motion animation productions using an industry pipeline and documentation. In the first part of the module, you create puppets, cutouts and sets for a stop motion animaton project. In the second part, you create an accurately lip-synched animation using dialogue, to complete a short stop motion animated story. You learn complex lighting setups, advanced techniques using Dragonframe, and digital camera image capture and storage.
This is a 30-credit module.
Optional work placement year
You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.
You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.
Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:
· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.
If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.
Final-year core modules
Work alongside your project supervisor to develop a large-scale piece of individual work relating to your chosen specialism and career aims.
This is a 60-credit module.
You choose from a selection of briefs which reflect specialist industry roles, such as realistic creature animation, effects simulation or puppet making. Explore your specialism and develop your professional skills such as pitching ideas, costing and scheduling, working to a tight brief and responding to client changes.
This is a 30-credit module.
You work in a team to produce a short film or visual effects sequence in a style of your choice. It could be a high-end visual effects sequence, a motion graphics title sequence or a short film. Each member takes on a production role to mimic the industry pipeline. You gain experience of teamwork, and a showpiece for your portfolio.
This is a 30-credit module.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You use industry-standard software including Toon Boom Harmony to design and animate characters and backgrounds for 2D, and Dragonframe to make stop motion. You graduate with an excellent and unique showreel of animated work.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
96-112 points points plus a portfolio if your Level 3 qualifications do not include a creative subject such as art, design, drawing, animation or games art/design. Your portfolio should demonstrate fundamental drawing skills, such as life drawing and observational drawing, alongside showing us your creativity. Get some hints and tips on how to prepare a portfolio
If you have gained credits at Level 4 or higher in a related subject from previous study at college or university then credit transfer towards your new course may be possible.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth using the UCAS tariff calculator. If your qualifications are not listed, contact our admissions team as we may accept alternatives.
We may also be able to help you meet the entry requirements through our Summer and Winter University modules.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Career opportunities
Our graduates find roles as 2D/stop motion animators, assistant animators and production designers for animation.
Our ExpoSeries of events are an opportunity for you to interact with employers. Each event is open to the public and industry guests, allowing you to showcase your work to peers and potential future placements or employers.
Work placement
Including work experience on your CV makes you a much more attractive applicant. You have a higher chance of improving your degree classification and the boost in confidence gives you the edge in job interviews.
Placements are not compulsory but are assessed and contribute to your final degree award.
Our placements team gives you help and support, including guidance on applications and interviews, to help you get a placement that suits you.
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.