Animation BA (Hons) drafted

Program Overview

Nottingham Trent University's BA (Hons) Animation program equips students with the critical and technical skills to become successful animators. Covering both 2D and 3D techniques, the program emphasizes animation history, studio practice, and creative identity development. Students are prepared for careers in various fields, including feature film animation, VFX, and advertising, through industry-standard equipment, guest lectures, and work experience opportunities.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The BA (Hons) Animation program at Nottingham Trent University is designed to equip students with the critical and technical skills needed to become successful animators. The program emphasizes both 2D and 3D animation techniques, covering all aspects of animation production, from pre-production to post-production. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of animation history and context, and will have the opportunity to develop their own creative identity through hands-on projects and studio practice. The program aims to prepare students for a career in the vibrant and ever-changing field of animation.

Outline:

The BA (Hons) Animation program is a three-year (or four-year with a sandwich year) full-time program. The program is structured into three years, with each year focusing on different aspects of animation.

Year One:

• Principles of Animation (40 credit points): This module introduces the core concepts and foundational skills of animation through studio-based seminars, tutorials, and self-directed research.
Students will engage in hands-on investigative exercises to develop their creative identity and prepare for animation production.
• Animation Workflow (40 credit points): This module enhances students' knowledge and ability to apply animation's fundamental concepts, principles, and skills in a studio setting.
Students will attend seminars, receive tutorials, and conduct personal research to further develop their creative identity. The module culminates in the production of a first animated short film.
• Introducing 3D Digital Art (20 credit points): This module teaches students how to create digital models and develop lookdev skills.
Students will learn about polygonal modeling, surfacing, and lighting. Workshops focusing on life drawing will enhance their understanding of the human form.

Year Two:

• Animation Production (40 credit points): This module builds upon the skills and knowledge acquired in Year One.
Students will choose a specialist teaching and learning area in either 2D or 3D techniques and create a short animated film. They will also have the opportunity to improve their character animation skills by focusing on acting and performance.
• Animation Studio (40 credit points): This module further develops students' skills and knowledge from Animation Principles.
Students will choose specialist teaching and learning in either 2D or 3D techniques and create a body of work that demonstrates their understanding of animation studio practice. They will also work on client-led live briefs that simulate collaborative teamwork in a production environment.
• CoLab: Research, Exploration and Risk-taking (20 credit points): This module encourages students to work together in mixed teams on a project that explores how creativity can make an impact in society.
Students will choose a theme of sustainability, social justice, enterprise and innovation, or community.
• Optional module (20 credit points): Students can choose one optional module from the following:
• Storyboarding
• Model Making: Object and Narrative
• Character Ideation
• Experimental Animation
• Telling Stories
• Motion Graphics
• Digital Matte Painting
• Performance for Motion Capture

Year Three:

• Optional Placement Year: Students have the option to undertake a placement year in industry, gaining valuable work experience and potentially earning an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice.
• Animation Specialist Project (60 credit points): This specialist project allows students to work independently or as a team to create substantial original work that showcases their skills.
They can either develop a short film or an industry-ready body of work in an animation specialization.
• Animation Futures (20 credit points): This module helps students evaluate their past learning and specialized direction to prepare for their final year and graduate successfully.
Students will develop their own unique and innovative voice within the short animated film form.
• OR Screen Arts Collaboration (40 credit points): This module offers students the opportunity to work with other screen arts students to fully develop a group project with a negotiated outcome or with an industry partner.

Assessment:

Assessment is 100% through coursework. Students will receive feedback throughout each module and will be awarded a grade. Assessment methods may include:

• Drawing development
• 2D and 3D animation exercises
• 2D visual research and design development
• 3D development work
• Animation pre-production and production
• Collaborative working
• Portfolio work
• Reports and evaluations
• Essays

Teaching:

Teaching and learning experiences will include:

• Lectures and briefings
• Studio workshops
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Peer and self-evaluations
• Verbal and visual presentations
• Teamwork
• Live projects
• Study trips
• Personal development planning

Careers:

The BA (Hons) Animation program prepares students for a broad range of careers in the digital media field, including:

• Feature film animation
• VFX
• Children’s television
• Heritage interpretation
• Advertising
• Games production
Recent graduate destinations and roles include:
• Character Animator
• Production Coordinator
• 2D Effects Animator
• Animator/Producer
• 3D Motion Graphics Designer
• Animator
• Layout Artist
• Background Painter
• 2D Animator
• Motion Graphics Designer
Students will also develop transferable skills for alternative careers in media, freelance design, illustration, motion graphics, teaching, and academia.

Other:

• The program is industry recognized by ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK's screen-based industries, and carries the ScreenSkills Select quality-mark.
• Students will have access to industry-standard equipment and software such as Maya, TVPaint, CelAction2D, ZBrush, and Adobe CC.
• NTU is in the UK’s Top 15 for Art & Design in the Complete University Guide 2023 (Ranked 15th).
• The program offers a new innovative collaboration module that allows students to work with contemporaries from a range of different art and design subjects.
• The program offers exchange agreements with a number of institutions around the world.
• Industry professionals will visit the course to guest lecture and share their experiences.
• Students are encouraged to undertake short periods of work experience alongside their studies.
• The program is based in the new Design & Digital Arts Building, which will place Nottingham as a UK hub for film, television, animation, UX design, games design, graphic design, and more.
• The building features industry-standard facilities, including a virtual production studio, an in-camera VFX studio, a black box studio, collaborative studio spaces, future technology suites, and exhibition spaces.