Animation

UCAS code: W615

Here's what University of Salford says about its Animation course.

This course enables you to explore the creative potential of digital and traditional forms of animation and provides opportunities to engage with a live industry bro of live briefs to prepare you to work in commercial animation. You will produce a strong body of work that will enable you to develop your career in the animation industry. You will learn how to tell visual stories through performance and character developing industry leading skills in a specialised field.

Designed to boost your creative thinking and technical abilities, this course provides a structured pathway in digital animation practice. From the very start, you will be hands on and will learn traditional stop frame animation techniques as you are introduced to the principles of animation and the laws of motion. You will simultaneously learn industry leading 3D animation software.

From the very start, you will be working with animation professionals an introduced to industry standard 3D software, learn traditional stop frame animation techniques and delve into the concepts and processes required to create animation.

Encouraging creativity in the context of real world practice, animation modules promote the importance of team work within animation production and the larger industry. This intensive course allows you to identify and define your own career prospects with dedicated portfolio modules, which will help you in your preparation for employment within the animation industry.

Animation is one of the fastest growing areas within the UK creative industries providing multiple opportunities for graduates within the discipline. The course, based in Media City UK, Salford, is positioned right in the heart of this growing creative sector and is focused on developing highly skilled, industry ready creatives capable of successfully working in multiple specialisms adapting to the continuously changing landscape of the creative industries of the animation and moving image industry. Emphasis is placed on strong storytelling, development of visual language, the use of play and risk taking within creative production and a solid understanding of professional industry standard methods of production, planning and implementation with in animation.

Year 1: The first year introduces you to the basic principles of animation, the laws of motion and industry leading software. Traditional stop frame animation techniques will be explored, which will inform a number of challenging animation projects. You will learn about story and narrative and how camera and lighting techniques can be used to, create industry standard storyboards and explore the concepts and processes required to tell a story through animation.

Year 2: During your second year, you will work with other animation students on creative projects to further develop your animation production skills in a simulated industry environment. You’ll design, develop and animate a character, utilising both stop-frame and computer-generated 3D techniques. Work experience and placement opportunities are encouraged, building on the industry and external links the course provides. Placements are coordinated by students, in liaison with tutors and in close consultation with providers.

Year 3: In your final year, you will conduct research as you plan and develop your animation. Working in small production teams you will use your specialist skills to produce a high quality animation. The modules will be future oriented and will enable you to promote yourself to the animation and media related industries and animation festivals. There will be an emphasis on the production of show reel work, portfolio, and exhibition to industry.