The top universities in the UK to launch your career in Animation or VFX

So you want to get into Animation or Visual effects but there are a minefield of options out there. Where do I study, what is the best path?

We set out to list the best university and college courses in the UK to launch your career in Animation or VFX all in one place. We aimed to not only have a brief overview of what each Uni offers but also find out the exciting details such as, have their graduates gone on to work on any block buster feature films?!

So we set them a few questions and almost all obliged with a variety of information.
The few universities that did not respond we have taken the info from the site for you, as they still are regarded as one of the best,but for some reason did not respond.

This list is in no particular order,

Choose a uni from the list below to view

Escape Studios
UCA – farnham
University of Falmouth
University of Hertfordshire
UWE Bristol
Teeside University
University of Dundee
Central St Martins
UAL London

Bournemouth
UCA – Rochester
Middlesex
Solent Southampton
Kingston
De Montfort University
University of Edinburgh
Ravensbourne University London

Escape Studios are a specialist VFX training facility in London.  They are an industry standard in the world of VFX’s I attended myself many years ago, but since the they were acquired by Pearson College London and offer undergraduate, postgraduate degrees and short-courses.

What animation courses do you offer?

BA (Honours)/MArt The Art of Visual Effects (Integrated Masters)
https://www.pearsoncollegelondon.ac.uk/find-a-course/undergraduate/ba-ma-the-art-of-visual-effects-integrated-masters.html 

MA Visual Effects Production (3D)
https://www.pearsoncollegelondon.ac.uk/find-a-course/postgraduate/ma-visual-effects-production-3d.html

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

Students from Escape go onto work at all the large post houses,
ILM
Bluebolt
Unit
Framestore
Climax
Pixar
The Mill
Double Negative
MPC
Cinestite
Read about success stories here:
https://www.pearsoncollegelondon.ac.uk/escape-studios/alumni.html

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

It can safely be said that any block buster you see at the cinema has had an “Escapee” work on it, spanning back years to today’s feature films and  Many TV shows, Commercials.
Recent features are:
Paddington
Thor Ragnarok
Fantastic Beasts
Coco

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

We have over 100 alumni that have worked on films that were nominated for at least one BAFTA, Oscar, VES or Golden Globe award in 2018.

We had many alumni working on the following winners;

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Golden Globe Best Motion Picture Drama, BAFTA Best film, BAFTA Outstanding British Film
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 – VES awards
Star Wars the Last Jedi – VES awards, BAFTA Special Visual Effects
Paddington 2 – BAFTA Outstanding British Film

How would you describe your courses?

We’ve been developing VFX talent since 2002 and we’ve helped thousands of students break into the industry.
Do you dream of working in the Visual Effects (VFX) industry on the latest commercial or next blockbuster? Our course is perfect for those looking to gain knowledge of 3D VFX and Compositing, the degree will provide you with the professional skills that the industry is looking for or even to start your own studio.
Learn to be a creative artist from day one – working in industry-style studio’s using the latest tools and techniques and working as part of a team on high quality creative projects. You’ll have intensive, hands-on tutorials with industry-trained tutors, who alongside practising professionals will provide regular feedback on your work.

You’ll graduate studio ready with a professional portfolio of work to show employers and a degree validated by the University of Kent – known as the UK’s European University, it is ranked 23rd in The Guardian University Guide 2017.

Student work and Showreels:

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA Hons – Computer Animation Art and Design
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/courses/ba-hons-computer-animation-art-design

BA Hons – Computer Animation Technical Arts
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/courses/ba-hons-computer-animation-technical-arts

BA (Hons) Visual Effects
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/courses/ba-hons-visual-effects

BSc (Hons) Games Design
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/courses/bsc-hons-games-design

BSc (Hons) Games Software Engineering
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/courses/bsc-hons-games-software-engineering

MA Computer Animation
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/courses/ma-3d-computer-animation

MA Digital Effects
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/courses/ma-digital-effects

MSc Computer Animation and Visual Effects
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/courses/msc-computer-animation-visual-effects

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

BU’s graduates work all over the world, and many are employed by the industry’s leading animation and production houses, software houses, and computer game and digital media companies. These companies include Blue Zoo (clients include Disney, Lego, BBC and Microsoft), MPC (movie credits include Godzilla, Guardians of the Galaxy, Harry Potter and X-Men) and Double Negative (winners of several Academy Awards and BAFTAs for animation).

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

BU’s NCCA graduates have gone on to work on some of the most successful films of the past decade, including Avatar, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Interstellar, Gravity and The Jungle Book.

You could follow in their footsteps and go on to work in leading computer animation studios, such as DreamWorks, Industrial Light and Magic and Framestore, contributing to the next big blockbuster to hit cinema screens.

As a games developer, you might find yourself emulating graduates who have worked for the likes of Microsoft Rare, Electronic Arts and Lionhead Studios.
 

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

BU graduates have worked on five of the nominated films in the visual effects category at the 2018 Academy Awards (Blade Runner 2049, War for the Planet of the Apes, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, Kong: Skull Island and Star Wars: The Last Jedi).
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/news/2018-01-24/bu-graduates-attend-90th-academy-awards

At The Visual Effects Society Awards in California in April 2018, five BU graduates, Chris McLaughlin, Andrew Lockley, Amir Bazazi, Gary Boyle and Robert Stipp were awarded for their work on Blade Runner 2049, Dunkirk, Samsung’s Ostrich, War for the Planet of the Apes and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, respectively.
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/news/2018-04-04/bu-s-national-centre-computer-animation-wins-big-ves-industry-awards

BU graduate Paul Kavanagh picked up the Best Special Visual Effects BAFTA for his work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/news/2016-02-15/bu-animation-graduate-wins-bafta-star-wars-force-awakens

How would you describe your courses?

Our computer animation degrees are delivered by The National Centre for Animation (NCCA) in the Faculty of Media and Communication. Our Games degrees are delivered by the award-winning Department of Creative Technology in the Faculty of Science and Technology. BU’s BSc (Hons) Digital Creative Industries is delivered jointly between the two faculties and offers the chance for students to gain a solid overview of the creative industries as a whole.

One of the reasons our graduates perform so well is that they have access to industry-standard equipment and software during their time with us. We have dedicated games labs, computer animation studios, green screen, acquisition studio and MoCap facilities where you can hone your skills.

You’ll also be taught by experts in the fields of computer animation and games, and will have the opportunity to undertake a work placement.

The NCCA has been shortlisted in the Educational Institution category for the 2018 Grads in Games awards, which recognises those who have made an impact in improving links between the games industry and education.

Find out more about our animation courses in this webinar: https://www.youtube.com/embed/ahD9bCMs-UI?rel=0

Student work and Showreels:

Student Testimonials

“I looked at Bournemouth’s course and saw that they were the best university for animation, so I only applied to Bournemouth …Bournemouth University is good because it has great links with industry so we always had great guest lecturers coming in and talking to us.”

BU graduate Izzy Burton, Concept Artist and Art Director at Blue Zoo

“If you want to go into animation or VFX, Bournemouth is, for my opinion, the best place to go, the number one place to go. Their show reels are always so much more polished…and ready for industry.”

BU graduate Mark Ardington, VFX Supervisor, Double Negative

“We always want to recruit NCCA people because we know we’re going to get something good.”

BU graduate Gabriel Arnold, Lead Groom TD, Moving Picture Company

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA (Hons) Animation
https://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/ba-animation/

BA (Hons) Games Art
https://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/ba-games-art/

BSc (Hons) Games Technology
https://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/bsc-games-technology/

Extended Diploma in Games & Animation
https://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/extended-diploma-games-animation-farnham/

MA Animation
https://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/ma-animation/

MA Animation
https://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/ma-animation/

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

Studio AKA (Hey Duggie!) – Grant Orchard and Emma Wakley
Cloth Cat Cardiff – Head of Animation, Adam Bailey
Aardman – Commercial Director, Rebecca Manley
The Line – Storyboard Artist, Francesca Adams
Animade, Slurpy Studios, Moth Collective

FrameStore (Fantastic Beasts 2) – Rob Shears

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Wes Anderson’s new feature film (Isle of Dogs) – Shelley Nichols

Scott Dawkins – Star Wars Rogue One and Avengers: Infinity War
Anthony Faulkner – Avengers: Infinity War and Pacific Rim: Uprising
Rob Shears – Fantastic Beasts 2

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

Three of our students were commissioned by Random Acts to make 2 short films whilst they were still undergraduates – the films then toured the country as part of the ICA’s Playback festival and the directors of those films Elmaz Ekrem, Dominika Ozynska and Gabbriella Ditton recently featured in an article by It’s Nice That about the best new female talent in British Animation. 

Guns Goats and Glory has bane shortlisted for the new TRANZFUSER Surrey dev hub (set up by the UK Games Fund) for the national competition, which will run for 3 months in June, July, August 2018. Their game will be showcased at the national games conference EGX at the Birmingham NEC.

How would you describe your courses?

Farnham supplied not just general information but about each coyurse individually!

BA (Hons) Animation
We’ve been developing VFX talent since 2002 and we’ve helped thousands of students break into the industry.
Do you dream of working in the Visual Effects (VFX) industry on the latest commercial or next blockbuster? Our course is perfect for those looking to gain knowledge of 3D VFX and Compositing, the degree will provide you with the professional skills that the industry is looking for or even to start your own studio.
Learn to be a creative artist from day one – working in industry-style studio’s using the latest tools and techniques and working as part of a team on high quality creative projects. You’ll have intensive, hands-on tutorials with industry-trained tutors, who alongside practising professionals will provide regular feedback on your work.

BA (Hons) Computer Animation Arts
With a focus on art and design, this course will allow you to bring characters and worlds to life and explore your imagination through 3D animation.
With an emphasis on production design, you’ll graduate from Computer Animation Arts as a skilled artist in both 2D and 3D production.

BA (Hons) Games Art
You’ll develop a deep grounding in 2D and 3D development through to production, current tools and technologies, games design disciplines, critical thinking practice and the widening context of gameplay.

You’ll also learn observational drawing and explore art styles, whilst concepting interactive and digital environments.

BA (Hons) Games Design
Our Games Design course will give you the opportunity to explore the growing indie games industry and how you can apply your creativity to develop a career in the field.

Using top-of-the-range software, you’ll be able to focus on your own individual approach to game design as you develop a broad range of skills and techniques that will enable you to launch into a career after you graduate.

BSc (Hons) Games Technology
You can be at the forefront of new gaming technology through this course, founded on the principle of User-Centred Design (UCD). You’ll learn how to consider users throughout each stage of the game design and development process.

Extended Diploma in Games and Animation
On this course, you’ll develop skills and knowledge in a variety of areas including drawing development, 2D animation, digital and motion graphics, 3D modelling, the games and animation industry and sound for game and animation.

Throughout the course, you’ll have the time to experiment with the different techniques and decide which area within the industry you’d like to specialise in when you come to choose your undergraduate degree.

MA Animation
This course has a long history of nurturing creative, innovative and challenging alumni. You’ll be supported in developing practical skills while fostering a high standard of diverse critical approaches.

Student work and Showreels:

Student Testimonials

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA (Hons) Computer Animation Arts
https://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/ba-computer-animation-arts/

BA (Hons) Games Design
https://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/ba-games-design/

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

FrameStore (Fantastic Beasts 2) – Rob Shears

TT Games (Lego) – Lewis Blythe
Supermassive Games (Until Dawn and Rush of Blood) – Charlie Scott
Two Point Studios – Prem Fatek
Splash Damage – Oskar Woinski
SEGA PlaySport
Playground Games – Razvan Pajanu
Lost Forest – James McAndrew

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Scott Dawkins – Star Wars Rogue One and Avengers: Infinity War
Anthony Faulkner – Avengers: Infinity War and Pacific Rim: Uprising
Rob Shears – Fantastic Beasts 2

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

Guns Goats & Glory has bane shortlisted for the new TRANZFUSER Surrey dev hub (set up by the UK Games Fund) for the national competition, which will run for 3 months in June, July, August 2018. Their game will be showcased at the national games conference EGX at the Birmingham NEC.

How would you describe your courses?

With a focus on art and design, this course will allow you to bring characters and worlds to life and explore your imagination through 3D animation.

With an emphasis on production design, you’ll graduate from Computer Animation Arts as a skilled artist in both 2D and 3D production.

Student work and Showreels:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTh2fKBMPkQ

Student Testimonials

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA Hons – Animation and Visual Effects
https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/animation

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

3D Animator: Aardman Animation and Double Negative
2D Animator: DHX Media
Character Designer: Spider Eye and Hello Games
VFX co-ordinator: Ubisoft, Framestore and Cinesite
3D Modeller: TT Fusion
Production Assistants: MPC Vancouver, Illion studios, Arthur Cox and Spider Eye

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Productions featuring Falmouth graduates include Dalmation Street (Disney/Passion Pictures), Captain America: Civil War, Spectre, Star Trek Beyond, Assassin’s Creed, F1 2016, The Jungle Book and The Legend of Tarzan.

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

Graduate Erin Morris was awarded the Best Short Film Award at the Miami Jewish Film Festival for her short animation Strings – https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/content/graduate-scoops-american-award

Graduates Mads Ogaard and Katie Wyman won the Undergraduate Craft Skills – Production Design award for their film, I Am Dyslexic, at the Royal Television Society (RTS) Student Television Awards 2017 – https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/content/animation-graduates-scoop-national-award

How would you describe your courses?

Students learn and develop animation skills using industry-standard software, working creatively across a range of subjects, from traditional art practices to the complex work of visual effects. Supported by academic and industry experts from all forms of animation and visual effects, you’ll experience a professional studio environment. Discover all forms of animation, trying your hand at 2D and 3D computer, stop
motion and experimental work. You’ll work in groups on projects that range from short assignments and live briefs through to films for festivals and competitions. You can also work on our in-house micro-budget feature film programme.

you can also find out more about what the students and graduates get up to on their blog – https://falmouthanimationvfx.wordpress.com

Student work and Showreels:

See a range of work at:https://falmouthanimationvfx.wordpress.com

Showreel:

Student Testimonials

“I came to Falmouth as a mature student. Three years later I had my first television credit, an agent, determination to succeed and the direction to get me there. Falmouth gave me that, no question.”

Pete Jordi Wood
BA(Hons) Digital Animation graduate who’s worked with BBC2, Channel 4 and E4”

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA Hons – Animation
http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/animation

BA Hons – 3D Animation & Games
http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/3d-animation-and-games

BA Hons – Visual effects
http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/visual-effects

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

Blink Ink
Studio AKA
Passion Pictures
BBC
RABANO studio – Director and Creative
Middlesex University – Senior Animation Technician

Natalia Biegaj
Charles Howarth – Art Director and Animator
The School of Life – Freelance Animator and Art Director – https://youtu.be/petg12b36UA
NB Animation – CEO

Kuba Ba Lu
Treatment Visual Productions Ltd – Junior Animator
Sherbet – Flash Animator

Luke Curtis
Brewery – 3D Visual Effects and Animation
Treat Studios – Animator

Lana Simanenkova
Animade – Senior Creative

Rebecca Balint
King Rollo Films – 2D Animator
Kavaleer Productions – Animator
Cloth Cat Animation – Animator

Harriet Titlow
Sherbet – Assistant animator
Cartoon Network – Design Assistant

Alex Crowley
Sweet Take Studio – Motion Graphics Animator
Aardman Animations

Eleonora Quario
Lupus Films – Assistant animator
Passion Pictures – Assistant animator
Blinkink – Assistant Animator
Studio Aka – Assistant Animator
IOD productions – 2D Assistant Animator on ‘Isle of dogs’

Greg Haworth
Hibbert Ralph Animation Ltd – Storyboard Artist
RM2 – Animator/ Creative Editor

Antonia Diakomopoulou
Brilliant PR – Creative and Motion Designer
Vivliokid – Project Manager, Animator and Illustrator

Adara Todd
Ladybird Films Ltd – Production Assistant
Tiger Aspect – Animation and Kids Department Assistant

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Sherbet – Animator on ‘The Banana Massacre’ https://vimeo.com/81230547
Freelance animator on music videos including ‘Hiatus – Night Jar’ https://vimeo.com/188667821

Rebecca Balint
2D Animator on ‘Poppy Cat’ children’s television series

Izabela Barszcz
Sherbet – Animator on ‘The Banana Massacre’ https://vimeo.com/81230547
Freelance animator on music videos including ‘Hiatus – Night Jar’ https://vimeo.com/188667821

Harriet Titlow
Assistant Animator on ‘The Hunger Strikes’
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/oct/11/guantanamo-bay-hunger-strikes-video-animation
Design Assistant working on ‘The Amazing World of Gumball’ children’s television series

Alex Crowley
Aardman Animations – Assistant Animator on feature film ‘Early Man’

Tom Jarrett
Worked on music videos for ‘Showtek & Moby – Natural Blues’ and ‘Age of L.U.N.A – Sweetness’

Eleonora Quario
Assistant animator on titles including ‘Ethel & Earnest’ and ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ http://www.ethelandernestthemovie.com/
Assistant animator on ‘Gorillaz – Saturnz Barz’
Assistant Animator on ‘Elton John – Rocket man’
2D Assistant Animator on ‘Isle of dogs’

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

Adara Todd’s graduation film ‘Twiddly Things’ was awarded the prestigious Best of the Fest award at TriForce short film festival.

Graduates Mads Ogaard and Katie Wyman won the Undergraduate Craft Skills – Production Design award for their film, I Am Dyslexic, at the Royal Television Society (RTS) Student Television Awards 2017 – https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/content/animation-graduates-scoop-national-award

Antonio Busto
Graduation film ‘The Day I Killed My Best Friend’ short listed for international animation festivals
https://vimeo.com/49182050

Lana Simanenkova
Graduation Film ‘Heads and Tails’ shortlisted in animation festivals internationally
http://animateka.si/2014/en/movie/id/eno-in-drugo-heads-and-tails.html

Adara Todd
Red Bee Media Competition – Winner of ‘TV Licencing Excuses’ https://vimeo.com/195500288
Graduation film ‘Twiddly Things’ has gone on to be very successful at animation and film festivals – recently won Best of Fest at Tri Force Short Film Festival 2017
‘Twiddly Things’ was also Nominated for Annie Awards in LA and British Animation Awards (BAA) 2017

Giulia Riva
2nd Year Film ‘Do you Remember’ – Short listed in international animation festivals
http://backup-festival.de/2017/en/film/do-you-remember-2/

How would you describe your courses?

You will hone your skills through demonstrations and practical work in our studios and workshops, as well as lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, visits and your own personal research. You will also have the opportunity to attend presentations by professional animators and interview them to learn more about their work. You will give presentations, take part in class discussions and work on group projects, essays and practical assignments.

We take pride in our approach to teaching on our BA Animation degree. In a 2016-17 external examination, we were praised for the use of clear language in our briefs, assessment criteria and learning outcomes, and for the way we support our students’ learning:

Student work and Showreels:

See a range of all student work here: https://mdxanimation.squarespace.com/

general BA showreel here:

Student Testimonials

“Being part of the course helped me to realise my potential and gave me some great work experience opportunities. I worked on the visuals for The Who’s US Tour 2011 and also went to Milan for the Design week in May 2012 to work on the live visuals for Bombay Sapphire Gin. After graduating, Kuba joined Treatment Studios, a collaborative association of designers, directors and content producers who create visuals for live music tours, concerts, events, award ceremonies, large-scale theatre productions and operas.”

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA (Hons) 2D Animation and Character for Digital Media
https://www.herts.ac.uk/courses/2d-animation-and-character-for-digital-media

BA (Hons) 3D Computer Animation and Modelling
https://www.herts.ac.uk/courses/3d-computer-animation-and-modelling

BA (Hons) 3D Games Art & Design
https://www.herts.ac.uk/courses/3d-games-art-and-design

BA (Hons) Visual Effects for Film and Television
https://www.herts.ac.uk/courses/visual-effects-for-film-and-television

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

2D, 3D and VFX
employed in over 300 companies worldwide
Industrial Light and Magic, Laika, Disney Production, Cinesite, Double Negative, Framestore, The Mill, Moving Picture Company, Third Floor Inc, Animated Storyboards, Blue Zoo, Glassworks, Jellyfish Pictures, Illumination Mac Guff, Lucasfilm, BBC, Method Studios, Nexus Productions, CNBC, Pixomondo, Prime Focus, Realtime UK, Rewind, Saddington & Baynes, Sherbert, Smoke and Mirrors, Studio AKA and many more…

Games Art
graduates employed in over 200 companies worldwide including: Epic Games (US), Square Enix, Electronic Arts, Activision, Frontier, Sony (London and Cambridge), Blitz Games, Creative Assembly, Space Ape Games, Rare-Microsoft Games ,Splash Damage, Eutechnyx Ltd, FreestyleGames, Jagex, Kuju, Nintendo, Outso, Real Time Worlds, Rebellion Games, Traveller’s Tales, Ubisoft (Singapore), Zoe Mode, Rockstar and many more…

Visualisation
Bentley Motors, McLaren F1, Taylor James, Foster and Partners, Uber, Burrows CGI, River Film Communication, Random 42.

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Grads have been working on all the recent set of Star Wars films, ready player one, fantastic beasts, the sequel to that film. The Lion king, pacific rim 2, Netflicks altered carbon, the TV show thunderbirds, the film Annihilation, Disney commercials for products and toys. The list is prey long but those are some of the highlights.

Students have worked on films such as Gravity, Inception, Avatar, Box Trolls, Dark Knight, Hellboy, Thor 2, Guardians of the Galaxy, Harry Potter films, Prometheus, Narnia films, John Carter, Total Recall, Hunger Games, Godzilla etc

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

In terms of awards our students have won Oscars at framestore, mpc and double negative for blade runner, gravity, and the jungle book.

And in World wide competitions (we were the only one in the UK to get in the top ten)
4th Place Best Game Design & Development School 2017
5th Place Best Feature Animation School 2017
10th Place Best Digital Illustration School 2017
Animation – Film of the Year – Runner Up 2017 (Lunette)
Console & PC – Game of the Year – Runner Up 2017 (Fringe)
Internships -Visual Effects – Double Negative Winner 2017 (Brad Healy)
2 students were Animation Finalists (Phoebe Warries and Jake Goode)
2 students were Next Gen Gaming Finalists (Callum Tweedie Walker and Jordan Moss)
Best Next Gen Gaming School 2016
Fourth Place Animation VFX School 2016
Fourth Place Motion Graphics School 2016
Fourth Place Illustration School 2016
The only British University featured in any of the 2016 awards

Shortlisted over 140 times in international animation competitions
Including Royal Television Society Awards, Virgin Media Shorts, Animex, Shanghai World Expo, Animamundi, KLIK!, British Animation Awards, BFI Future Film Festival, Anifest, Aniwow, Melbourne International Animation Festival, London International Animation Festival, Tricky Women, Brisbane International Animation Festival, Bradford Animation Festival, Anima Brusssels

How would you describe your courses?

All four degrees share a common first year where everyone gets a taster of each pathway. From the send year onwards each degree strand starts to specialize into their chosen pathway. Then in the final third year they can collaborate with whoever they want to make their final film.

There is a change for a sandwich year if they want as well.

The sum us up, while lots of training companies train you on software to create the art. Our thinking is to reverse that around. We teach them how to be creative as the first priority and how to achieve their visions.

Lots more information here: http://uhanimation.co.uk/

Student work and Showreels:

The VFX degree showreel is here:

https://vimeo.com/102407330

If you want to see what our current second year VFX are up to here is a link..
http://www.3dhit.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=29259&hl=%2Bwild+%2Broots

Student Testimonials

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA (Hons) – Animation
https://www.solent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/animation-ba?year=2018

BA (Hons) Digital Animation
https://www.solent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/digital-animation-ba?year=2018

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

Pretty much everywhere. Graduates have ended up in all the main houses in SOHO working on vfx, some have gone to Aardman, some worked with Sylvain Chomet, couple ended up in Weta in NZ.

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Basically everything you see in the cinema, you can be sure some of our grads have worked on it, but Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings etc

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

Various RTS awards, and screening a competition success round the world. Several films screened at Annecy etc.

How would you describe your courses?

BA Animation classically trains animators for the boutique industry, and or graduation as film making auteurs. BA Digital Animation is more targeted at producing people who want to work in the Big vfx houses on block buster projects. Both courses classically train them with sculpting, painting, and drawn animation on paper.

Student work and Showreels:

BA (Hons) animation showcase:

Student Testimonials

I am ever-grateful for the tuition and support received on the Southampton Solent animation degree. The course structure gave an insight into what is required as a professional and also focused on the fundamental principles needed to be an animator. Without this vital training I would have struggled to forward my career and pursue my ambition.

Ryan Herbert, Graduate

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA (Hons) – Animation
https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/W615/animation

MA Animation
https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/W92012/animation

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

blue zoo, framestore, Aardman, BDH, Lupus, cartoon network, brown bag, richard purdum, astley baker davies, cloth cat, a productions hello charlie

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Shaun the sheep, pirates, early man (aardman), frankenweenie, life of pi, isle of dogs, chuck steel night of the trampires,

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

many regional RTS student animation awards over the last 10 years. special awards for craft and audio.
representation at international animation festivals.

How would you describe your courses?

This practice-based production course not only develops your creative flair but also provides you with highly sought-after technical skills.

Learn through making using industry standard equipment. Practical work is balanced by theoretical study, work experience and research activities, all deigned to prepare you for work within a commercial environment. Live briefs, work based placements and networking events assist the transition from education into professional practice.

Join a long-established, highly creative animation community in which students are known and valued for their individual creative flair. You’ll be taught by a team with extensive commercial animation experience, with regular contributions from commercial practitioners. This, coupled with our strong links with the UK’s major animation companies, will ensure you benefit from professional expertise throughout the programme.

Student work and Showreels:

Lots of student work here: http://www.bristolschoolofanimation.co.uk/portfolio/films/

2016 showreel:

Student Testimonials

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What animation courses do you offer?

Digital Media Technology BSc(Hons)
http://www.kingston.ac.uk/undergraduate-course/digital-media-technology/

MA Animation
http://www.kingston.ac.uk/postgraduate-course/computer-animation-ma/

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

Double Negative
MPC
Framestore
Prime Focus
BBC
Many smaller tv and video production companies

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Avatar, Gravity, Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Guardians of the Galaxy, Mowgli, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, John Carter, Dunkirk, Star Trek …lots more mostly in composting.

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

Whilst at university – final year project and best academic achievement awards.

How would you describe your courses?

Due to restructuring we have merged several courses into new one, called Digital Media Technology starting Sept 2018 and so are able to offer more option modules through pathways. This course will teach specialist skills needed for this highly competitive media and VFX areas. These include fundamentals of media, 2D and 3D computer graphics, introduction to computer programming, motion graphics, UX design, visual effects and much more through the option modules such as digital games creation.
In addition to the formal teaching on the course, students will also have the opportunity to participate in industry visits in central London – the home of many digital media and creative companies.

Student work and Showreels:

Various student work here: http://www.kingston.ac.uk/undergraduate-course/digital-media-technology/student-work-videos.html

one of the projects by student Patrick Antczak:

Student Testimonials

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA(Hons) Computer Animation
http://www.tees.ac.uk/undergraduate_courses/Computer_Animation_&_Visual_Effects/BA_(Hons)_Computer_Animation.cfm

BA(Hons) Computer Character Animation
http://www.tees.ac.uk/undergraduate_courses/Computer_Animation_&_Visual_Effects/BA_(Hons)_Computer_Character_Animation.cfm

BA(Hons) 2D Animation
http://www.tees.ac.uk/undergraduate_courses/Computer_Animation_&_Visual_Effects/BA_(Hons)_2D_Animation.cfm

BA(Hons) Visual Effects
http://www.tees.ac.uk/undergraduate_courses/Computer_Animation_&_Visual_Effects/BA_(Hons)_Computer_Animation_and_Visual_Effects.cfm

Complete list: http://www.tees.ac.uk/undergraduate_courses/Computer_Animation_&_Visual_Effects/

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

We have a large number of graduates working the film and tv industries at companies which include
ILM, Double Negative, Framestore, MPC, the Mill, Passion Pictures, Glassworks, Jellyfish, Studio Soi, Prime Focus, Pixar, Disney, Cinesite, etc

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

You would be hard pressed to find any film or tv project in the last 10 years that did not have Teesside graduates working on it. We could give you a list but it would be massive and include every major motion picture utilising vfx, plus Tv series and documentaries.

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

Our students have contributed to Oscar and Bafta winning projects.

How would you describe your courses?

job prospects in the industry. We do this by having outstanding facilities, including animation studios, motion capture studio, green screen studio (including motion control cameras) and traditional animation facilities.

What we teach, the s/w and facilities we use reflects what we know the industry is doing. We host the Animex festival every year to bring together industry professionals from around the year along with our own students to exchange ideas, run workshops, present awards etc.

More info
http://animex.tees.ac.uk/

Student work and Showreels:

Showreel:

Student Testimonials

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA(Hons) Animation
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate-courses/animation-ba-degree/animation-ba-degree.aspx

BA(Hons) VFX
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate-courses/animation-visual-effects-ba-degree/animation-vfx-ba-degree.aspx

BSC (Hons) VFX
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate-courses/visual-effects-bsc-degree/visual-effects-bsc-degree.aspx

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

Walt Disney Animation Studio
Brown Bag Films
Studio Soi
Double Negative
Munk Studios

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Disney’s Frozen and Big Hero 6
The Amazing World of Gumball
Hercules
Avengers
Batman: The Dark Knight Rises

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

Some have worked on features which have won Oscars

How would you describe your courses?

BA Animation explores both 3D and 2D digital techniques fundamentally with character animation at its heart. Overall it aims for a holistic approach to its delivery. It covers a broad range of contextual studies, such as animation history, animation trends and the creative industries. It explores storytelling, character development and interpreting script into storyboards. We give the students the opportunity to improve key traditional art skills, both in the life room and out in the environment. They get to explore a range of stylistic approaches to improving their creative and design vocabulary.

We train are students in software such as TV Paint, Cell Action and Maya and other supporting industry related software. We teach 3D digital model making, focusing on efficient topology and effective texturing techniques. We embed animation principles through short experimental animation and explore story telling with longer projects.

Year 1 is a foundation in animation that introduces both 2D and 3D tools and techniques. Students have the choice in year 2 to focus on either 3D or 2D. Year 3 is driven by two independent projects producing creative and industry focused animations. To kick start a career in animation

Student work and Showreels:

Showreel:

Student Testimonials

“I was very certain I wanted to work in the film industry and the skills I learned on my course, even the ones I don’t use nowadays, helped me get to where I am today.”
Ben Carlson

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What animation courses do you offer?

MSc in Animation & VFX – 1 year study
https://www.dundee.ac.uk/study/pg/animation-vfx/

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

Students have gone onto work for studios such as Industrial Light & Magic, MPC, Double Negative, Cartoon Saloon, Animated Storyboards, Outplay Entertainment, One of Us and more.

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Recent graduates have worked on Star Wars The Force Awakens, Star Wars Rogue One, Ready Player One, Outlander, The Crown and more.

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

Mitigating Circumstances by Kieran Duncan, Tom Paxton & Stephanie Flynn (a film completed on the course) was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA

Bouy by Olly Blake and Natasha Dudley (a film completed on the course) won Best Combined Animation at Dingle 2016.

How would you describe your courses?

The MSc in Animation & VFX is a blend of creative and technical visual storytelling. We focus on teaching the professional production pipelines that you will utilise in this industry. You will engage with high-end production techniques and values, and you will create a narrative based film, showreel/breakdown reel, as part of your final expo. We also regard research, development and intellectual rigour very highly. You will investigate your practice, and reflect on your own creative journey through the duration of the course.

We have great connections to the animation, film, television, video-games and comics industries, and many of our graduates have gone on to work around the world, for some of the top studios and franchises. Other students have pursued further academic advancement, by continuing on to a PhD or work in education.

Student work and Showreels:

Showreel:

Student Testimonials

The MSc Animation & VFX course allowed me to further broaden my knowledge within the discipline.

It taught me the right tools that I needed to know and how to utilise them in a professional manner. By using the connections it has with major VFX houses in the UK I was able to land a job and take my first steps into the industry. I honestly don’t think I would be where I am today without the help of the course and the tutors.

AMIT DEV
JUNIOR MODELER INDUSTRIAL LIGHT AND MAGIC (STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE)

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA(Hons) Animation
https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/degrees/index.php?action=view&code=W615

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

Animation students from ECA have gone on to work for Laika, Tim Burton, Aardman, Ko-Lik Films, Cartoon Saloon, Mackinnon & Saunders, Rock Star North, Channel 4, BBC 4, CBBC and CBeebies.

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

Our students have previously won awards at Annecy, the Royal Television Society (RTS), the BAFTAs and the Emmys.

How would you describe your courses?

Our multiple award-winning programme differs radically from most animation programmes in that we teach the full spectrum of production methods. You will learn about 2D and 3D techniques, using both cameras and CGI, as well as puppet based stop-frame. You will work individually or in a team to make films, documentaries and installations.

Student work and Showreels:

Showreel:

Student Testimonials

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What animation courses do you offer?

MA Character Animation
http://www.arts.ac.uk/csm/courses/postgraduate/ma-character-animation/

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

Nexus, d-neg, MPC, Cinisite, Rushes, Passion Pictures, Lupus, Illuminated, Moth Collective, Blink, Blue Zoo, Framestore, Disney, DreamWorks, Blue Sky, The Mill, Milk, Picasso Pictures, Weta digital, Peerless, Sony.

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Jungle book, Ethel And Earnest, The Snowman And Snowdog, The Illusionist, Lord of the rings, Harry Potter, John Carter, Exodus, Blade Runner, Iron Man. Sherlock Gnomes, Paddington 1 and 2, War Horse, Fantastic Beasts, Gladiator, Alien Covenant, Frozen, Zootopia, Wreck-it Ralph, Big Hero 6, Kung Fu Panda. Etc, etc.

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

Audience award: Zagreb. “Leave A Print”.

How would you describe your courses?

We are an animation course that puts the emphasis on story and performance. We provide training and guidance for complete beginners and the very experienced. If you want to act with animation, come to us.

Student work and Showreels:

Showreel:

Student Testimonials

It has helped me to learn more about my craft, to really immerse myself in it for a year, and make several contacts that have been invaluable to my professional career after the course.

Carlos Fraiha, alum

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA(Hons) Animation
https://www.ravensbourne.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduate/school-of-media/department-of-content/ba-hons-animation/

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

We have students at: Framestore, Dneg, ILM, The Mill, Smoke and Mirrors, MPC, Bluezoo and JellyFish.

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Films: Star Wars The Last Jedi, Jungle Book, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-man into the Spider-Verse. TV: Dennis and Gnasher, Diggby Dragon, Floogals.

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

Most recent, Xanthe Sinclair, a level 3 student has come runners up in the “Search for a Star” competition hosted by the games industry. https://xsinclair.itch.io/pandora

How would you describe your courses?

Focusing on fundamental animation skills in both 2D and 3D software, students will also explore storytelling techniques through layout and cinematography, whilst exploring roles in modelling, rigging and basic code throughout the three levels.Primarily vocational, levels 4 and 5 will nurture students to integrate and collaborate with other disciplines both internally and externally, to help prepare students to advocate and apply their original thinking and ideas to a more personal approach in level 6.

Ravensbourne animation course has established strong ties and working relationships with some of the top animation companies, including Framestore, Double Negative, Blue Zoo and Jellyfish to name a few. With a growing alumnus in the animation industry, this has given the course further recognition and the opportunity to build new relationships. Students visit working studios, attend industry workshops, receive industry mentoring and feedback on their work, whilst working on live projects and briefs throughout their studies. The course aims to continue building on this success, by exploring new and upcoming sectors including, medicine, forensics, education and charity work, whilst building new internships and work placements within the industry. Alongside this, students are encouraged to enter competitions and attend industry events to gain recognition and build industry contacts early on in their education, to help prepare for life after Ravensbourne.

Student work and Showreels:

Showreel:

https://vimeo.com/188996129

Student Testimonials

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What animation courses do you offer?

BA(Hons) Animation
http://www.arts.ac.uk/lcc/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-animation/

With regards to success rate, can you name any big vfx or anim studios your students have gone on to work with?

Have any of your students gone on to work on any large projects or feature films?

Any achievements or awards any of your students have won, whilst on the course of after graduating?

How would you describe your courses?

BA (Hons) Animation is a practice-led course, enabling you to choose one of four specialist pathways that reflect industry specialisms: Animation Arts, 3D Computer Animation, Visual Effects (VFX) and Games Arts.

Learn the fundamental skills and principles of animation in an intensive and collaborative setting where you’ll develop knowledge and understanding of the whole production process.

After your first year you’ll choose one of four specialist pathways:

BA (Hons) Animation: Animation Arts
BA (Hons) Animation: 3D Computer Animation
BA (Hons) Animation: Visual Effects (VFX)
BA (Hons) Animation: Game Arts

Student work and Showreels:

Showreel:

https://vimeo.com/135455329

Student Testimonials

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