MA 3D Animation for Professionals

Program Overview

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Are you interested in pursuing a career in 3D Animation? Whether you want to create animation for TV, film, the web, or games, this part-time, flexible course can help you develop the vital skills you need to succeed in this sector, while fitting around your current commitments. Aimed at animation professionals and those looking to advance their skills and develop their critical capacity, our MA 3D Animation degree is one of the world’s longest running online 3D Animation master’s degrees.

You’ll have the chance to engage with the latest trends and technological advances in 3D Animation, using cutting-edge software to enhance your portfolio. We partner with the online animation school Animation Apprentice and previous students and graduates have won many festival awards for their films, while others have gone on to work for leading animation and vfx houses such as MPC, DNEG, Framestore and Escape Studios. The showreel above consists of films created on the course in the last five years.

Program Outline

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our

Academic Advice section

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Year 1 Core Modules Credits

Animation 1 - Locomotion 20.00

Credits

20.00

You'll explore different animation styles & review the work of contemporary animators. You'll study topics including: principles of animation; planning & executing a scene; using cameras & cinematography; combining animation with audio, sound & music. You'll look at modelling, lighting, texturing & rendering techniques, and the pipeline structure.

Animation 2 - Mechanics 20.00

Credits

20.00

This module aims to teach you how to utilise camera & cinematography, how character & story underpin the creative process, and the ‘pipeline structure’ in the Animation, VFX and Games industries.

Animation 3 - Character Performance 20.00

Credits

20.00

You'll study character acting and performance, how to bring 3D characters to life and give them personality. You'll build on your existing knowledge of locomotion and body language, then look at animation dialogue and lipsync, making characters act, perform and talk. You'll review the work of contemporary digital artists/designers and explore visua...

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Animation 3 - Character Performance

Credits

20.00

You'll study character acting and performance, how to bring 3D characters to life and give them personality. You'll build on your existing knowledge of locomotion and body language, then look at animation dialogue and lipsync, making characters act, perform and talk. You'll review the work of contemporary digital artists/designers and explore visual culture in the context of digital animation and moving image work, including elements of animation theory.

Animation 4 - Animals & Creatures 20.00

Credits

20.00

You'll study animal and creature animation, including design, locomotion, behaviour and performance. You'll explore making creatures perform, act and talk and look at how to work with realistic animal locomotion by analysing real motion and applying it to create believable animations. You'll study how to give your creatures character & personality.

Professional Preparation 20.00

Credits

20.00

Through reviewing your work and reflecting on the needs of the industry, you'll assemble a demo reel to showcase your work to prospective employers. You'll also finalise a blog or website, prepare a professional CV and research and critically evaluate employment opportunities and current practitioners in the animation and visual effects industries.

Client Brief 20.00

Credits

20.00

You'll assemble a professional-standard animation for an external client, demonstrating your ability to respond to external briefs, pitch ideas, balance personal vision and aesthetic with the needs of a client and manage time and practical constraints. You'll also look at storytelling and film editing in the context of a compact visual narrative.

Research Project 60.00

Credits

60.00

You'll write a 10-12000 word dissertation. This involves extensive research and  analysis on your chosen subject. You'll refine your work through tutorials to compose a clear line of thought.