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BA (Hons) Animation (Online)

UCAS CODE: CMSD

TARIFF: 88 - 112

Overview
Course Details
Entry Requirements
Modules
Fees
Employability
Teaching Team

Study Mode: Full Time
Location: Distance Learning
Duration: Three Years
Start Date: September 2024

You can also study this course:

On campus

Do you have a passion for animation? Do you want to develop your skills ready for a career in this industry? On this very practical course you’ll cover a range of areas using up-to-date software, with the support and guidance from our experienced lecturers.

Our creative briefs and projects will help you bring to life stories through the form of animation and upon graduation make your portfolio shine.

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The processes I learnt at BNU, I now use every day at work. BNU is an amazing uni, which creates an easy environment to learn in. It just lets you focus on you and your development as a person before heading into the real world.

Alexandra Young

Why study this subject?

Whether it is 2D, stop-motion, 3D hand-drawn or computer-generated animation, a skilled animator can create the illusion of real life and all roles call for high levels of creativity and passion for storytelling. Digital animation is an established but continually evolving and growing discipline that is currently employed in many different areas of the media industry, including film, television, games and commercials. This course offers you an opportunity to study key concepts and technical skills in Animation with a strong focus on professional practice.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

At Buckinghamshire New University we focus on preparing you for work in the industry, helping you to stand out to employers when you graduate. With the right teaching and learning opportunities, it’s possible to turn your passion for animation into a rewarding and successful career.

Led by our enthusiastic and dedicated team of industry-savvy practitioners and experienced academics, you will have the freedom to explore all areas of animation. During your time with us you may also get access to guest lectures and could benefit from live project briefs and masterclasses.

You'll be studying a completely practical course – we focus on what you need to know for a career in animation; you’ll keep a reflective journal and learn to give presentations like the professionals. From expressiveness, to bringing a character to life you’ll be hands-on in gaining the skills you need.

At BNU we offer small classes across the board, meaning you gain a close-knit community and plenty of one-on-one contact and support with your tutor. Despite this course being delivered online, we offer various study channels and chat channels so you will be supported and feel a part of the wider BNU community when studying with us.

What facilities can I use?

You will use our AppsAnywhere web service to access to many of the software applications you’ll use for learning and studying. This includes:

Maya
Nuke
Adobe Creative Cloud
Renderman
Substance
ZBrush

You’ll also be able to remotely access our VDI, which is a powerful computer that will give you access to both sufficiently powered hardware and the software relevant to the course.

Most of our 3D animation is currently done in Maya. For modelling you’ll use ZBrush, Marvellous Designer and a range of other pieces of software commonly used in industry. We review the list every year.

You’ll also be invited to join additional online groups where you will be able to meet the other students taking our animation, visual effects, game art and visualisation courses, both MA and BA, online and attendance. These help to foster a sense of community and are also places where extra-curricular collaborative projects, such as game jams, take place. You will also be able to meet our alumni in these broader forums. All forums are moderated by the lecturers.

Computer suite with students looking at computer screens

Computer suites

Student with glasses looking at two computer screens

Computer suites

Specialist software

What will I study?

The course covers everything you need to know to be career-ready upon graduation. Starting with the fundamentals, you’ll learn the basics of animation, visual effects and games art. You will begin to animate in a believable manner and get a feel for pre-visual narrative and layout.

Throughout this course, you will also learn how to create detailed models from scratch through to lighting and rendering. You’ll also explore different aspects of the animator’s role. You’ll create stop motion sequences, experiment with different styles of animation and learn about 3D character acting.

Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in your first year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.

By your final year, you’ll be working on projects to build your showreel for entry into employment in this exciting industry. You will also have opportunities to collaborate with students on other creative courses at the university.

How will I be taught and assessed?

Our BNU teaching team are industry-professionals, with years of experience working in the sector and training future generations of animators. Through their support and the course you’ll gain the skills and knowledge you need within the industry.

You’ll spend time learning and practicing the skills required by each unit before undertaking summative assessments the form of projects which will enable you to apply and combine their newfound skills together in a meaningful way while tackling tasks commonly found in the industry.

You’ll be taught via online classes and 1:1s supported by a virtual learning environment (VLE) which will serve as a repository for course materials and other essential information such as assignment briefs, in line with university policy.

You will be given access to synchronous sessions each week of termtime with a lecturer who will be online throughout. During these sessions, you will also have the opportunity to ask questions and get real time responses and feedback from lecturers and other learners. Normally these will begin with a group seminar or demonstration and then break into 1:1s where you will have the opportunity to discuss your individual progress directly with their lecturer. Sometimes these seminars will be used for presentations and review in a manner that mimics the dailies process in industry.

In addition to this there will be video based lecture content focused on the demonstration of essential skills and clarification and expansion of key concepts and techniques. This will be facilitated via the online learning platform, where you will be able to access a set of recorded lectures which will be an average of 10 minutes in length. These will be delivered as appropriate to each individual module.

Other learning techniques that will be employed appropriately to the situation include:

Demonstrations for new techniques
Group work
Video feedback
Peer review
Use of books, magazines, video and online resources
Research methods

You will regularly be set formative tasks related to the weekly content or be working towards your own project objective as agreed with the lecturers. This will enable you to apply your learning in new contexts. You will also be able to submit your work for asynchronous formative review from the lecturer which will be delivered as a video commentary on your work.

You will also be expected to join a closed online group where you will be able to discuss the work and ask questions throughout the week. It is expected that both lecturers and students will contribute and answer questions. This will also be a place for you to post your work for peer discussion and review.

Assessments will be largely practical coursework along with critical analysis and evaluation which will come mainly in the form of essays and presentations. The practical elements will mimic the kind of work that junior artists will carry out in industry, as far as reasonably practicable.

BA (Hons) Animation (Online) Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112

UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.

A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required and a typical offer also requires GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4. Every application is considered on an individual basis.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the three-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a degree course, can apply for a four-year programme including a Foundation Year; find out more.

Applicants will need to demonstrate portfolio work, further guidance is given below

Portfolio requirements

What are we looking for?

We want to see your best work, as chosen by yourself. You should select your favourite pieces and present these a format we can easily access, such as a pdf or mp4 sequence. Alternatively, you can link us to your own webpage which must be clearly identifiable as your own. When selecting your work try to convey a sense of who you are and what your interests are.

What sort of things could you include?

We want to see the best of whatever you have done. While pieces of animation, visual effects and game art can be an advantage we are fundamentally looking for artistic sense / instinct which can be demonstrated in many other forms, including but not limited to:
3D Animation sequences
2D Animation sequences
VFX sequences (done e.g. in After Effects or other similar software)
A game level.
3D modelling – Renders or animated turnarounds of characters, environments, props etc.
Photography – either traditional or digital.
Life drawing
Paintings
Drawings / sketches.
Sculptures.
Digital art – e.g. created in Photoshop or other similar software.
Short live action films or documentaries.
Other - if you are in doubt contact the relevant course leaders.

How much should you include?

This depends on what you are submitting. If you have individual images / pictures / paintings, then no more than your favourite 12. If you have project work such as an animated sequence, a game level or short film then no more than your favourite 3 in mp4 format. If you wish to mix then 1 sequence = 4 images. So you could submit 1 mp4 sequence and 8 images on a pdf for example.

Any sequences should be preceded by titles showing your name and UCAS application number. Pdf should include the same at the top. Any physical formats should be carefully photographed or scanned and then compiled into a well presented pdf document. Remember how you present your work also says something about you so give this some thought and effort.

How to Submit your portfolio

Please send a link to your portfolio or email a PDF of your work to: steve.cassar@bucks.ac.uk.

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.

This course has Opportunity modules.

Year 1

Core Modules

Credits

Introduction to 3D Modelling

Credits: 20

You'll study how to make a 3D mesh, using the 3D modelling toolset from a modelling application. Through the process, you will also  develop your observation skills using real objects and / or reference material. You will be expected to keep and submit a reflective learning journal as supporting evidence for their project.

Texturing and Look Development

Credits: 20

You'll study how to texture a 3D model according to reference material, how to create the maps needed to accurately shade & render an object so that it will appear indistinguishable from the real thing, and how to recognise and replicate the properties of real-world materials. You'll be given models complete with UVs for workshops & practice.

Lighting and Rendering

Credits: 20

You'll discover how to set up a three-point lighting setup and replicate it in CG, techniques for on-set lighting in film production, why each technique might be used in different scenarios and how to match these in CG for visual effects elements. You'll study the role of lighters in the VFX industry, and managing your time and scenes efficiently.

Animation Principles and the Moving Figure

Credits: 20

This module aims to give you an understanding of the principles of animation & practical skills to animate simple 3D rigs with weight, force & expression. In the animation studio environment you'll cover essential topics and develop the skills to create animation using industry standard software and will analyse the workflows used in the industry.

Visual Narrative

Credits: 20

You'll study the core methods and principles of communicating a story with moving image. You'll have the chance to develop your understanding of cinematic techniques, using 3D software to experiment and test the creative possibilities of visual narrative. You'll also study the fundamentals of lighting and cameras.

Opportunity Modules

You must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 4 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue.

Year 2

Core Modules

Credits

Character Animation and Performance

Credits: 20

This module aims to give you an understanding of how to animate human characters using appropriate techniques, software and workflows. You'll aim to produce a solid, versatile sequence demonstrating high level competence in character animation adaptable to games, VFX, or animated feature work.

Motion Graphics

Credits: 20

You'll study how to produce effective and creative motion graphics. You'll develop your understanding of animation techniques and how they can be applied to various 2D and 3D designs, using industry standard software. You'll research and create your own motion graphics piece to an industry standard brief.

Stop Motion

Credits: 20

You'll study the techniques used in the design and creation of a stop motion animation sequence using industry-standard materials in puppet fabrication, prop & set design and creation, lighting & cameras and digital tools. You'll also look at aspects of filmmaking like narrative ideation, storyboards, performance and cinematography.

Creature Animation

Credits: 20

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the tools and workflows to animate non-human characters (quadrupeds, x-peds) using appropriate techniques, software and workflows. Throughout the practical workshop sessions you will be expected to keep and submit a reflective learning journal as supporting evidence for the project.

Optional Modules

Credits

Plan your showreel (placement)

Credits: 20

You'll consider your career objectives in both the short, medium & long term, then focus on your short to medium term goals. You'll produce an action plan of the path you intend to take to achieve your aims. You'll research job roles, analyse inspirational showreels of professionals, and look at how you can create a meaningful showreel of your own.

Rigging

Credits: 20

The rig is never seen by the audience but, for a computer generated character to be convincing, this is a critical aspect that has to work according to the brief. Rigging is a logical process, requiring strong organisation and problem solving skills. You’ll learn to create a rig for a humanoid character and bind the mesh to the rig.

Simulated FX

Credits: 20

You'll explore the simulation processes used in creating animated destruction, looking closely at how particles and rigid/dynamic bodies behave & interact with each other. You'll study key techniques like simulating dust, debris and how to shatter & collapse objects. Destruction is often accompanied by other simulations such as particles & smoke.

Character FX

Credits: 20

You'll study 2 aspects of Character FX work: groom and clothing. You'll look at how to set up, render and style clothes and digital hair on a humanoid character, as well as how to make a basic test simulation. You'll then render outputs into a short animated sequence and write a 2000 word evaluative learning journal of your character FX project.

Year 3

Core Modules

Credits

Industry Production Project

Credits: 20

You'll complete an industry style brief, fulfilling one or more roles (modeler, animator, compositor, groom artist and others) in an appropriate pipeline. The brief will be set and approved by the lecturers in conjunction with industry advice.

Portfolio

Credits: 20

In this module you will complete a piece of work for use in your portfolio. This unit is an opportunity to produce a piece of work at the standard of a junior professional. You will be expected to maintain an annotated learning journal which will demonstrate how you have reflected on your work, leading to improvements and refinements.

Showreel

Credits: 20

Complete your showreel & develop a work-oriented online presence. You'll research similar showreels to help determine how to make your own stand out then evaluate your existing work and choose a piece which can be significantly improved to bring it up to the standard of a junior industry professional. You'll make minor improvements to other pieces.

Optional Modules

Credits

Creative Project Preproduction

Credits: 20

You'll attempt a cutting-edge project, focusing on using up-to-date technologies & techniques in animation, film & game art production, or related content. You'll research your topic and use this to contribute to a project proposal/pitch. You'll receive feedback on the pitch and then be expected to implement it using your own judgement as a guide.

Creative Project Production

Credits: 20

This module follows on from Creative Project: Preproduction which is a pre-requisite. You will produce the project that you have planned using the assets that have been created and gathered for this purpose. You'll need to adjust your plan as it encounters reality and apply appropriate postproduction techniques.

What are the tuition fees

Home

Home, Academic Year 2024 - 2025: £7,700 per year

International

Overseas/International, Academic Year 2024 - 2025: £7,700 per year

Additional course costs and financial support

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

What are my career prospects?

Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.

Our BA (Hons) Animation course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities in any sector which requires the animator role. Our recent alumni have gone onto work for:

DNEG
ILM
Framestore
TT Games. (Warner Bros)
Mediatonic Games
FST
Ubisoft
Cinesite
The Mill
Airship Images
Mediatonic

Graduates can also choose to study for a postgraduate course, such as our MA Advanced 3D Animation.

Graduates from BNU’s animation courses have gone on to work in all six of the major VFX houses in the UK, as well as a number of major games houses and smaller companies. We have had winners and runners up in the Grads In Games Competition, which have then led to jobs. Our learners have worked on major films, games and TV productions, including Avengers Endgame.