BA (Hons) Animation Bachelor's degree at Middlesex University

This module supports your creative development by introducing you to the principles and processes involved in your artistic discipline. You will learn practical information about the production cycle, as well as industry-standard techniques and software which form the basis of your creative practice. Along with this technical focus, you will be asked to consider the unique aesthetic properties of each technique by responding to creative briefs. You will also begin to develop your drawing skills,

This module develops your creative capabilities and instincts. You will be introduced to the foundational principles of visual communication, storytelling and image making; as well as the historical and theoretical context of animation and 3D graphics. You will also be taught the core tenets of cinematic language and taught how to use them to convey emotion, tone and narrative. The overall goal is to hone your communication and critical thinking skills in ways which build towards the development

Building on Techniques and Practices 1, this module continues to develop your skills with a wider array of tools involved in the composition and production of creative images. We will enhance your visual vocabulary and encourage experimentation in ways which can inform your practice. There is a focus on generating, compositing and manipulating images. You will continue to develop your observational skills and use of real-world reference through ongoing life drawing workshops.

In this module you will use your understanding of visual communication and the fundamental creative skills of the discipline to produce a short animation. You will consider both the principles of movement in animation and broader aesthetic properties to create an animation which conveys character and meaning. Throughout the module, you will gain knowledge and understanding of issues of representation in animation. At the end of the module, you will be able to apply the critical toolkit necessary

Storytelling and character performance are crucial skills for any animator interested in engaging an audience and tapping into their emotions. This module develops these abilities through a series of exercises and short productions which ask you to develop new and unique characters, before animating them in unusual and exciting situations. Continuous life drawing classes will focus on enhancing your understanding of anatomy and gesture, feeding directly into character work.

You will have learnt the fundamentals of animation in your first year. This module focuses on expanding your creative horizons and artistic capabilities. The core principles of movement are emphasised through a series of animation skills workshops which develop students' technical ability through a range of advanced exercises. You will also be exposed to a wider array of genres and forms of animation, studying films from the history of stop motion, animated documentary, video games and experimen

Commercial animation is one of the most collaborative artforms in the world. You will learn how to work as a team, assuming each of the core roles involved in the production of an animated films, including director, producer, storyboard artist, concept artist and key animator. You will also collaborate with musicians and performers to produce fully-fledged, high-quality animated films to a set brief.

This module will familiarise you with the realities of life in the animation industry, encouraging you to consider your future career path by introducing you to the roles, processes and hierarchies of a typical animation studio. By studying films and filmmakers from countries like the UK, Japan, the Czech Republic and Kenya, you will also learn about the ways in which historical and cultural contexts can impact the development of an animation industry and the art which it produces.

You will develop your animation practice in contexts which closely mirror real-world professional workflows. You will develop pre-production material for a major animation project using industry-standard processes and techniques, including independently producing pitches, storyboards, concepts and animatics to a strict timeline. You will also complete a 'live project', working to a brief set by an external, real-world client with whom you must engage throughout the process.

You will undertake a research project in which you conduct a thorough investigation into a subject of your choosing. You can focus on anything from the world of animation, film or art, while demonstrating your ability to work independently to a set schedule and brief. The goal is to develop a sophisticated understanding of the ways in which art can create meaning and to build up an invaluable bank of knowledge that will directly enhance animation practice.

You will bring together everything you've learned on the course in a major artistic project. This will serve as a showpiece to demonstrate your skills and abilities. For many students, this will be a substantial animated film of their own design and direction, allowing them to partake in all aspects of animation production. Other students may choose to specialise in a particular skill which matches their chosen career path, including storyboarding, character animation, concept art and model-maki

We want to make sure that you leave Middlesex with everything you need to succeed in the competitive animation industry. This module guides you through the process of compiling professional-quality portfolios, showreels, websites and other promotional tools through which you can pitch yourself to potential employers.