What Makes This Course So Special?
Located between the two animation centres of Bristol and Cardiff, the course benefits from very impressive links with all the local studios, large and small, including major companies such as Aardman and Dinamo Studios.
Our programme is one of six UK Skillset accredited Animation programmes, and also benefits from being part of the Skillset Screen Academy Wales, which is one of nine UK government backed Centres of Media Training.
We enjoy continuous dialogue with Animation Industry members through studio visits, tutor masterclasses and visiting lecturers and can set up more or less guaranteed work placements.
The main philosophy of the course is one of commercial innovation. We believe our students should graduate as filmmakers rather than animators, and that they should see themselves as creative individuals who make meaningful statements through their work, and who stretch the boundaries of what animation is and how it is perceived.
Find out more about the subject of Film & Screen Media at Newport.
Course Intro
This well established course has been running for 15 years, and during this time has built up a strong reputation for producing professionally minded, talented and innovative animation filmmakers. Initially set up by Oscar-winning animator/filmmaker Joanna Quinn (who still supports the School through teaching visits and placements in her studio), the programme has gone from strength to strength and has fuelled the industry with ground breaking individuals, who can be found from Aardman through Framestore to WETA Digital.
We attribute our success to a well-balanced education, which combines a strong foundation in animation timing and movement, software training and an in-depth theoretical and critical study of the language of film and animation. We actively encourage our students to watch as many films as possible, through attendance at film festivals, our own extensive library of films, visiting speakers, and local screening events and exhibitions. They are also invited to explore, for example sound in film, scriptwriting, and non-narrative film texts. To this end, our students’ work is diverse, intelligent, sophisticated and mature.
What you study
Year 1/ Part 1: Human movement; Character Performance; Lip synching; software (Photoshop, Flash, Premiere, Maya, After Effects); Development of observational skills through Life Drawing; Taster sessions in 3D Stop Motion/CGi/Motion graphics; introduction to Photography; Introduction to design and Illustration; Film form – contextual animation; Narrative/anti-narrative; Realism and representation; Animation Pre-History and the emergence of the Studio System; Critical analysis; Scriptwriting.
Year 2/ Part 2: Life Drawing; Working with Sound; specialist options; Professional practice: group work, working to a client brief, time based design, presentation, studio practice, organisational skills/ production skills, compulsory work placements, film form, further contextual animation: postmodern film, digital visual culture.
Year 3/ Part 3: Completion of 3-minute films, created using any media. Pre-production, Post-production, Professional practice brief – show reel and work placement assignment and dissertation.
A programme specification is available for this course.
Where Next?
Our graduates have progressed to international success on the prestigious animation festival circuit – winning awards at Sundance, Annecy and the British Animation Awards. Graduates can also progress to postgraduate study including the MA/MFA Animation course at Newport.
The skills obtained by our students enable them to fill a range of creative positions, from junior animator at studios such as Aardman, Calon and Framestore CFC, to establishing themselves as animation directors in their own right for companies such as Arthur Cox and Tandem Films.
Interview Required
Yes. At the interview you will discuss the content of the course and your creative portfolio along with a written interview task. The Animation team will want to learn more about your previous learning experiences and how this course fits in with your future aspirations.
Assessment
Throughout this course you will be assessed through a combination of written assignments and practical work.
What Our Students Say
“Excellent course - we are given the freedom to express ourselves and be creative, by a team of tutors who share our enthusiasm.”