Program Overview

Postgraduate Expert Program in Character Design

Description

Our staff of industry professionals will train you to work in one of the most exciting and highly valued professions in the animation film industry.

You will dive deep into anatomy, volume, interpretation, style, aesthetics, clear communication, speed and productive strategies in drawing, character psychology, narrative, color language, production systems… And all that theoretical investment will have a tangible practical reflection as a portfolio that will clearly show the potential you offer as a professional seeking employment.

You will leave with a portfolio that will be your ideal letter of recommendation, granting you access to top companies such as Ánima Kitchent, SPA, Mikros, Skydance Animation, Cartoon Saloon, Brown Bag Films and Jellyfish Pictures, among others.

Career Opportunities

• Character designer
• Visual development artist
• Storyboard artist
• Illustrator
• Comic book artist

Paths to Entry

Student Entry Profile:

• This program is aimed at people with creative passion, interested in drawing for the entertainment industry or for audiovisual communication.
• Students or university graduates, especially in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Audiovisual Communication, Illustration and other areas related to the creation of graphic material.
• 3D modelers, animators, illustrators or advertisers, among others.
• Professionals in the field of animation who wish to broaden their knowledge.
• People with a tendency to create, with a natural ability in drawing and an interest in improving their skills and specializing.

Where Our Alumni Work

The students of this master’s program are prepped to contribute to first-class productions and are working in top companies around the world.

Partner Companies

• Ánima Kitchent
• SPA
• Mikros
• Skydance Animation
• Cartoon Saloon
• Brown Bag Films
• Jellyfish Pictures

Study Plan

• Location: U-tad
• Hours: Fridays from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. CET.
• ECTS: October-June. 300 hours
• Language: Spanish
• Modality: In campus or online
• Center Attached to: Camilo José Cela University

Course 1

• COURSE NAME
  • DRAWINGS AND CHARACTERS
    • Fundamentals of drawing
    • Drawing applied to character design
  • CONCEPT AND DEVELOPMENT
    • Interpretation and style
    • Color
    • Narrative and Storyboarding
    • Psychology and personality
  • VOLUME
    • Volume Fundamentals
    • Three-dimensional conception of form
    • Digital sculpting techniques
  • CHARACTER DESIGN AND INDUSTRY
    • Pre-production and production designs
    • Character and media
  • MASTER’S THESIS

Faculty

Borja Montoro Cavero

• Director of the Character Design Expert Program
• Character Design at Netflix Animation

Guillermo Ramírez

• Color and Character Design (Concept and Production Art) teacher
• Character Art Director at Skydance Animation

Teresa Valero Sánchez

• the Drawing applied to character design, Psychology and personality teacher
• Graphic Novel Artist at Editions Dupuis

Guillermo García Carsi

• Interpretation and style teacher
• Creative Director at Lingokids

Students' Projects and Awards

Your Project: your best letter of recommendation

You will learn by doing. From your first year onwards, you will work on projects, with applying all that you’ve learned and working in teams, practicing skills that will be vital for your future employability. Your projects will prove your worth to employers and act as an ideal letter of recommendation.

Talent Awards

U-tad students have received more than 100 awards in national and international competitions in the last three years, which speaks to our students’ ability and the quality of their education.

Students' Feedback

• I have been working in the animation industry for more than 20 years and I needed to take my studio to the next level. I've taken two courses at U-tad, and it's the best investment I've ever made. The Expert Program in Character Design is extremely good. The professors are industry professionals, and as such, they have a very high expectations and expect you to meet them. They are equally as attentive as they are demanding. I recommend the in-person modality.
  • Jonathan Cortés, Animal Studios
• The teaching staff, headed by Borja Montoro, are all professional and personable. Teresa Valero, Juan Pablo López Arenas, Tony Navarro, David Romero Utrero, Guillermo Ramírez... I have worked and still work on projects for Sony Pictures and Tresemmé, on 'Buñuel en el laberinto de las tortugas', and for Boulder Media in Dublin on ‘Micronauts'. I’m contracted to work from home in Madrid on videogames for Pewter Games. B.water, Ánima Kitchent, Hampa Studios, Aupa Studios, Capcub. If it weren't for Borja Montoro, I wouldn't have valued my work enough to succeed the way so quickly.
  • Pablo Miró Román, Storyboarder and animator