Program Overview

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You’ll start the course by gaining a broad understanding of the animation process, while creating your first projects using digital and analogue techniques. You’ll take your personal practice further – expanding your knowledge and exploring the historical, theoretical and social context of your subject.

You’ll spend your time in specialist studios, using industry standard equipment to hone your technical skills in a broad range of disciplines, including:

Fundamentals of animation. Understanding the language of movement through diverse animation production techniques.

Storyboarding and film language for animation

Life drawing

Storytelling and direction

Camera, lighting and composition

Art direction; creating and designing characters and worlds

Characterization and acting for animation

Mixed media and experimental animation

Exploring new platforms, gaming, VR and installation

Traditional and digital production techniques and process; from idea development to delivery

Professional practice and business skills

You’ll have many other valuable experiences too – such as script writing exercises and opportunities to direct voice actors and puppeteers.

Through lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops you’ll gain a deep understanding of the principles and techniques that underpin animation, learning from a team of active animators, directors and producers.

Year One

Subject: Movement Transformation & Life - 40 credits

In your first term, the emphasis is on creative enquiry and knowledge acquisition, where you’ll explore the extent and diversity of contemporary animation practice, experimenting with techniques, practicing animation principles and developing digital skills. You’ll discover key concepts in film language, narrative and non-narrative structures, design, motion theory and team working.

Subject: Storytelling - 20 credits

The Storytelling module concentrates specifically on the ideation, narrative development and production of a short piece of character animation. Characters and worlds developed in previous modules will now be brought to life through the production of a short piece of character animation. Seminars, tutorials and workshops will introduce students to a range of narrative strategies. This module aims to refine and cohere student’s animation and design skills so they can effectively communicate ideas and stories to an audience.

Field one: collaborate - 20 credits*

Widen your horizons by joining students from other courses to collaborate on a project. You’ll take inspiration from other disciplines to build on your experience and expand your creativity – and use your skills and artistic insight to apply them to your work.

Constellation: concept - 40 credits

This module introduces you to the wider world of ideas, theory and contextual studies to help you develop your academic research skills and critical thinking. You’ll focus on particular areas of interest in study groups and you’ll become familiar with the exciting trans-disciplinary research and expertise in Cardiff School of Art & Design.

Year Two

Subject: Production - 40 credits

You’ll develop your skills and concepts within digital technology, building your understanding of the animation process and industry terminology. You’ll have opportunities to gain industry experience and pitch for live briefs with external clients. Your preconceptions will be challenged by exploring experimental techniques and concepts, and you’ll become accomplished at using key tools and processes.

Field two: explore - 40 credits*

You’ll expand your experiences with challenging projects designed to encourage you to explore and experiment outside your immediate discipline. This transformative opportunity leads to new thinking and innovation and opens up all kinds of future possibilities. You’ll take on exciting projects that challenge you in new ways. You can also choose to travel, take a work placement, start your own business or try something new.

Constellation: critique - 40 credits

By critiquing literature, journals and exhibitions, you’ll hone your ability to put your design practice into context. You’ll also have opportunities to interact with students and staff and delve deeper into your areas of interest.

Year Three

Subject: animation major project - 40 credits

This level focuses on individual student creative development, helping you to decide the path you want to take in the future. You’ll experiment with techniques, tools and structures – consolidating the skills you need to begin your professional career or take on further study. And you’ll bring everything together to produce an animated project that reflects your learning and professional goals.

Field three: Exposure - 40 credits

Your final term is dedicated to a major project and an exhibition of your work. This is where you draw together everything you’ve learned during the course and is the launch pad to your future career.

Constellation: contribution - 40 credits

Your practice is underpinned by your knowledge. Demonstrate your research and analysis skills in your final constellation submission, where you explore ideas in both written and practical forms.

*modules available through the medium of Welsh