Caoimhe Rocks

I’ve always loved to draw and create visual stories. Animation’s potential for a rich storytelling really appealed to me. In college I did a BTEC in Animation, Games and Interface Design so that I could focus on telling stories through art.

I wasn’t sure I had what it took to do a degree. I put university off for a year, but as soon as I moved to Edge Hill I felt welcome and safe.

I love working in the animation labs. They’re really close to the accommodation and the 24-hour access is perfect if you can’t sleep and want to work on some ideas.

The facilities are of a professional standard. You’re using the same equipment that you’d use in the workplace. You’d never have this kind of equipment at home as it’s far too expensive, so it’s amazing to have access to it every day.

I’ve really liked experimenting with different techniques: stop motion, pixilation, rotoscoping, digital and 3D animation. It’s great that you get to test the waters to find your personal style and what you enjoy most. I’ve enjoyed learning about the history of Disney as that kind of hand-drawn 2D animation is what I love to create.

I was lucky enough to get an internship with a local animation studio. There’s a strong focus on employability throughout the course. The Employability module in the third year helps you put together your creative CV and showreel.

At Edge Hill I’ve discovered how adaptable and resilient I am. I’ve realised I can handle new situations, something that would previously have terrified me.