BA (Hons)
Animation
Develop a technical and creative focus suitable for the animation industry
Course Overview
Why take this course?
If you fancy yourself as a concept creator, storyteller, designer, artist or animator with an eye for visual quality, then this course may be of interest.
It combines the artistic and creative aspects of animation with the required practical and technical expertise. Our course also enables you to specialise in an area of your choice.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Be involved in the production of the University’s own feature length film
- Go on visual research trips with the animation production team
- Benefit from the expertise of our staff who have had previous experience on a vast array of films from Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter and Narnia franchises
- Visit out course blog to find out more
What opportunities might it lead to?
On this course you will develop strong creative and technical abilities in character animation, visual storytelling, compositing and editing. These skills are specifically tailored to enable you to find employment within the entertainment sector, wherever your strengths lie.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- visual art
- modelling
- animation
- composing
- publishing
- directing
I enjoy the approach of introducing multiple disciplines of animation so you get the chance to try everything out before you specialise.
Billy Tupman Mpetha, BA (Hons) Animation student 2013
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- W615
- Duration
- 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry
240-300 points to include a minimum of 240 points from A Levels or equivalent, with 100 points from an A Level in an art and design subject. Or Foundation art and design or National Diploma in art and design. All applicants are subject to interview. A portfolio is essential.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a* International full-time students: £11,000 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- create.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 2421 - Department
- School of Creative Technologies
Subject:
Art and Design
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- The creative atmosphere that encourages students to explore their own interests and ideas
- The excellent facilities which you will have access to
- Exhibiting, curating and promoting your work, preparing you for future employment
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
In your first year you will study core elements of the animation production process and develop 2D and 3D software skills alongside the more traditional hand-drawn animation.
Core units in this year include:
- Animation Principles
- Animation Production
- Animation Production Process
- Introduction to Visual Research for Animation
- Meaning and Representation
- Narrative
Year two
As the course progresses, you will develop a more in-depth knowledge of particular skills in designing and producing character animation, visual storytelling, compositing and editing. Creative teamwork on projects also gives you the opportunity to identify your individual strengths.
Core units in this year include:
- Advanced Visual Research for Animation
- Character Animation and Performance
- Production Contexts
- Sound and Visualisation
- Group Project Production
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Cartoon Animation
- Music: Practice, Performance and Research
- Professional Experience
- Student Enterprise
Year three*
Your third year enables you to focus on specific aspects of the production process. You can also further develop your own particular strengths within a team project and a self-elected final project/dissertation combo allowing you to study an animation-related subject in depth.
Core units in this year include:
- Employment Preparation
- Major Project Animation
- Written Project
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Advanced 2D Animation
- Advanced 3D Animation
- Advanced Pre-Production Methods
- Create Worlds
- Motion Capture Applications
- Industry Work Placement
- Interdisciplinary Group Project
*This course is also available as a 4-year sandwich (work placement)
Teaching and Assessment
A variety of engaging teaching methods are offered – workshops, lectures, projects and seminars, as well as individual tutorials. There is also emphasis on production processes such as computer animation, modelling, rigging and rendering.
How are you assessed?
There are no exams on this course and learning becomes more independent as the course progresses. Here’s how we assess your work:
- written coursework
- creative design group projects
- self-led projects from initial concept to finished product
- showreel and portfolio
- a 10,000-word dissertation
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Specialist Software and Equipment
Learn invaluable industry skills
Our Film
Get the chance to work on Stina and the Wolf
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment
Specialist Software and Equipment
There is a strong practical element on this course and you will be constantly learning through doing and making. You will regularly work in a dedicated drawing room for animation as well as use our CG equipment and VFX facility FOAM\Digital. Learn invaluable industry skills with the latest software and production methods.
Our Film
Get the chance to work on Stina and the Wolf. The film is a full-length computer and 2D animated film, which features performance captured live actors, (similar to the process used in AVATAR) animated 2D and 3D characters and CG and matte painted environments.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
Our graduates are pursuing exciting careers in a variety of jobs. They are working in a range of roles as artists, modellers, animators, compositors, editors and directors in these creative and rewarding industries.
Graduates from this course have been successful in finding work with these big names:
- Climax
- Framestore
- The Mill
- Data Design Interactive
- Sony
- Kuju Games
- Centroid 3d in Pinewood Studios
Examples of what our graduates have gone on to do:
- James Roberts went straight to work as a visual artist for Framestore, a Bafta and Oscar-winning studio. His credits include The Dark Knight, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Quantum of Solace, Australia and Where the Wild Things Are. He was recently short-listed for the 2008 4Talent 'Multi-talented' award. He has just finished his new film called Dementia: Till Death Us Do Part.
- Mat Harrad won the Excellence Awards for 3D Design – Computer Arts Magazine 2007 and went on to work for Sony just after his graduation.
Work experience
Take advantage of each faculty’s Placements Office. Advertising a great variety of work placements, the experienced team is always on hand to offer advice on everything from producing high-quality applications through to preparation for a company assessment day.
Here at the CCI Placements Office we are committed to improving your employability. Whether it’s a year in industry, a summer internship or work shadowing, we will help you find valuable and relevant work experience to complement your degree.
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more