Sound for Picture introduces you to the theory and practice associated with film sound and particularly post-production sound design. The module examines both the relevant theory and the technology necessary for successful capture of audio suitable for film. You will record all of the sound for a short digital movie, using only one microphone and a digital recorder. You will then have the opportunity to explore the perceptual properties of sound and manipulate it for dramatic effect with industry standard software. Keeping a production diary will encourage you to reflect upon the skills you gain.

What is Animation? History and Context places animation within an historical and contemporary context and explores the concept of animation as a form of communication within today’s creative and interdisciplinary visual environment. Through a combination of written and practical work, you will investigate a broad range of animation styles and approaches in European and international animation texts. This will develop your understanding and knowledge of animation production and enable you to place your own production design work within an appropriate contemporary context.

Design for Animation tests and explores key design concepts via practical application, examines creative approaches to animation production and investigates a range of design theories. Within this practice you will develop key skills in production design and art direction and learn to research, plan and articulate your ideas. You will develop techniques for designing visual treatments, storyboards and animatics for pre-production presentations. The study of human figures’ anatomy and movement will be central to the development of animation control skills and learning techniques for representing human movement. Drawing will be core to the development of visual material and will be applied in its broadest context to develop eye-to-hand coordination skills in both traditional and digital media contexts.

Animation Production provides you with a comprehensive overview of historical and contemporary animation production, including stop-motion, CGI and mixed media methods. Practical workshops will equip you with an essential foundation within which to establish connections and relationships between various animation processes and motivations as well as the techniques and procedures that underpin them, such as sound, editing, cinematography and a range of practical skills. The module also provides you with the opportunity to engage with fundamental concerns relating to the synergies that exist between design and animation production.

Drawing Practice encourages the development of a creative approach to traditional and non-traditional such as digital methods of drawing, with specific relation to the development of your studio practice. Through a series of studio-based workshops, you will analyse, explore and manipulate imagery and adopt an experimental approach to the practice and process of drawing and mark making. The module will look to foster a lexicon of visual tools centred around drawing to foster creativity and observation techniques. It will build your understanding of form, line, texture, colour and movement and lead onto a greater confidence of drawing technique across a broad set of media.

Experimental Animation explores the connections between innovation, experimentation and commercial application and assesses the implication of these approaches to the independent artist and the vocational practitioner. You will investigate how digital animation environments can adopt classic ways of working and how the study of traditional processes might provide lessons for animators working in today’s digital formats, providing a synergy between contemporary and traditional practices in your work. Redefining and re-applying conventions to contemporary practice, the module will establish aspects common to all animation production while identifying the elements and tools unique to each process.

Stop-Motion Studio Practice provides an introduction to the design principles, production processes and craft skills for stop-motion animation, as well as giving an overview of historical and contemporary animation production. Practical workshops in stop-motion animation will equip you with an essential foundation within which to establish connections between various animation processes and motivations. You will also engage with fundamental concerns relating to synergies that exist between design and animation production. For example, a proportion of the module will be dedicated to physical form and rudimentary anatomy, essential constituents in understanding movement through animation.

Creative Research Methods and Professional Ethics gives an overview of the main research methodologies used in communications. You will get a chance to identify, justify and implement different methods and techniques depending on the chosen topic and type of project. There is a focus on ethics in research and on ethics in the broader world of public relations. This focus includes the ethical codes of the various professional organisations and a look at corporate social responsibility.

Animation Studio Skills provides opportunities for specialist study across the three key practices of 3D CGI animation, 2D digital animation and 3D stop-motion animation. An integrated skills progression across these subjects will enable you to begin to nurture and define an individual signature or design style in an area of animation suited to your ambitions and interests. The module also combines and develops audio production design to further enhance your skills in animation communication production.

Animation Practice 1 enables you to attain skills in production research, pre-production processes, as well as the presentation, pitching and delivery of animation products. The notion of animation is now synonymous with a diverse range of related industries and as a result animators entering into the employment marketplace are expected to demonstrate a competency in managing a variety of roles across a range of media and exhibit the ability to transfer multiple skills and strategies for multi-functional practice. The media industry is renowned for a fast pace of change in skills and processes and as a result animators must adapt to both a fluctuating marketplace and an environment of evolving technologies. This module will therefore engage you in industry-relevant research and production processes identifying common, specific and individually-preferred working practices. You will have opportunities to explore platforms, routes and outputs for abstract and art-based animation products for festival film opportunities, installations and exhibitions, recognising potential applications for commercial and independent practice.

Animation Practice 2 develops your skills in production, production research, presentation, portfolio and showreel development. Through a structured approach to project development and workshops from practitioners in related disciplines, you will be given opportunities to discuss and present both personal and commercial project concepts to industry specialists. You will generate, analyse and formulate solutions for production relating to a variety of animation briefs, as well as formulating, executing and reporting responses to problems encountered during group or independent production work. The module culminates in the completion of an animation project which showcases effective production, research and animation skills.

Animation VFX provides a practical and theoretical insight into the use of visual special effects within animation, film and television. Through an exploration and analysis of practices and processes, from current VFX techniques to the camera tricks that were used by early filmmakers, you will produce theoretical and practice projects based on what can be described as the ‘grand illusion’ which has fascinated viewing audiences since the creation of the moving image. The module will discuss and contextualise the impact that visual effects has had on the film and moving image industry, including specifically animation, and assess how this has impacted on the social, economic and cultural fabric of society. The module also develops specific visual effects skills relating to moving image and animation production. These include green-screen techniques, compositing, colour correction and camera tracking.

Cinematography and Visual Design engages with the complex nature of light and cinematography in both physical and virtual environments. You will explore the practical and design effects of lighting, colour, lens dynamics and their relationship to picture and sound, develop studio lighting and camera dynamics in production, and consider the use of light and camera movement within the animation arena at a higher level of detail. You will also discover how to generate lighting and visual effects using a variety of techniques and develop art direction as an instruments of style within animated products.

Character Design and Performance focuses on the disciplines of character animation design. You will develop and utilise creative skills to analyse and implement narrative structures in your animation production. You will also be introduced to the importance of good character design, gesture, timing, performance, movement analysis and animation control developing strategies to apply this knowledge to various production planning and development. The module encourages you to recognise narrative development and the importance of character performance in driving and communicating narrative. You will learn to present industry standard design, studying gesture, pose, movement and timing, as well as problem solving for a variety of character animation challenges expected in a professional context. The module is designed to develop transferable skills for application across a range of animation media concepts, processes and technologies.

Spectacles, Bodies and Other Pleasures: Concepts in Television, Animation and Film is centred on how animation, television and film are in a constant process of change. This evolution is partially determined by new technologies which is reflected in contemporary media theory. The module brings these theories together by focusing on contemporary discourses grounded in the critical concepts of spectacle, postmodernism, affect and visuality. It will thus draw attention to the increased emphasis on aesthetics in film and television theory, the ideas of spectacle and the centrality of the body to the experience of different media. You will be introduced to a range of critical methodologies including textual analysis and theory-based close reading.

Transmedia Storytelling examines the development of transmedia storytelling within digital environments. Marketing and audience engagement with films and television programmes has changed dramatically over the last decade. The convergence of media, technologies and culture has heralded in a new age of audience engagement within media franchises. Audiences, who are constantly connected through smartphones and second screens expect to connect with content outside of the core film/television programme, when they want, where they want and on their own devices. The module will reflect on this enhanced two-way communication and engage you in new and innovative ways of connecting to the audience with extended narrative and content.

Personal Specialism (Pre-Production) offers you the opportunity to undertake in-depth personal research and develop the pre-production process for a substantial animation project. The module takes you through the development, pre-production design and scheduling phases of production and provides you with a professional framework in which to prepare to undertake a supervised large-scale animation-based production project. The module includes opportunities to develop advanced skills in pre-production design, process and management.

Personal Specialism (Production) offers you the opportunity to work under supervision, to develop a substantial animation project and undertake in-depth personal research relevant to your project. You will explore areas of interest, investigate topics and be able to familiarise yourself with a range of presentational forms explicitly linked to the project. The module takes you through the key processes of production and post-production and provides you with a professional framework in which to undertake a supervised large-scale animation-based production project.

Dissertation offers you the opportunity to undertake an in-depth personal research project, under supervision, and explore a range of research methodologies and presentational formats appropriate to the project. You will gain a thorough knowledge of your chosen subject area and will be expected to shape that knowledge to produce a final submission that demonstrates your ability to locate the material within the wider contexts of your discipline. The module will enable you to work independently, with a supervisor, to explore areas of contemporary academic interest, consider issues of current or historical industry practice, and critically analyse case studies or products within specific cultural and social contexts.

Advanced Sound for Animation enables you to work under supervision to develop a substantial audio project relating to an animation product. The project work will enable you to explore a breadth of audio production as well as investigate and apply a variety of production methods and effects. This module takes you through the two key stages of audio production (production and post production) and develops your audio skills within a professional and academic framework.

Creative Enterprise and Employment Portfolio is focused on the production of an industry standard showreel, or equivalent, which enables you to present your best work in formats suitable for potential employers to judge. The module is designed to provide you with a means of demonstrating your production skills to potential employers. Opportunities to engage with entrepreneurial routes to employment, including assistance in working with local and regional initiatives, employer mentoring, networking communities and small business set-up will be covered during this module. The module will also outline postgraduate study opportunities.

Studio Practice focuses on the real-life aspects of working to a live or simulated live brief. You will engage with industry professionals in the context of the studio and will be encouraged to find independent placements. You will be required to demonstrate your knowledge and skills of direction and production processes in response to, and in the execution of, a brief. Guest speakers will be a particularly important component of the module and industry professionals will work with you as animation directors and production managers. A practical project will provide a vehicle for the creative, technical aspects of direction and production to come together in a professional presentation. You will be encouraged to evaluate the realities of working within the animation industry, with key workshops on issues such as employment, interviews, networking, freelance work and finance offered throughout the module.

The programme is now accredited for September 2020 entry with ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the screen industries.

112-120 UCAS Tariff points are required to join this programme with effect from September 2020 entry.