Art Degrees Online

Key features
The countries only purely Stop Motion Animation course

Strong industry ties at every stage of the animation process

At the front of the development of new technologies for the Stop Motion industry

What our students say

“Just to keep you informed as of the start of April i will be a full time paid member of the Cosgrove Hall costume dept……..got told today i was being offered a 3 month contract! i know its mad, working on Fifi and the Flower Tots.”

Lucy sturley Graduated 2005 Currently employed at Cosgrove Hall Manchester

What it’s about

The course aims to develop you as a creative Stop Motion animator or articulated puppet maker. This animation route offers the opportunity for you to specialise in modelling, animation and composite based applications in the creation of stop motion character film-making.

What you do

We offer a series of specialist lectures, demonstrations and seminars, introducing students to professional stop-frame animation, puppetry, camera, lighting and editing. Built on core animation principles you will develop a series of pilots and shorts for television.

Level 1 provides a structure for learning the major principles of animation. You will explore a range of techniques developing how to create puppets, armatures and sets for physical animation. Core visual skills such as sculpture, life drawing and materials development are integral to your practice and development.

Level 2 involves the development of Stop Motion Characters in greater depth. This includes advanced replacement puppet parts to enhance audio dialogue and body gesture, introduction to professional level blue screen composite and effects for live action integration and advanced lighting and camera work for greater shot composition. There are also options to study CGI or experimental animation as well as fine metal fabrication.

In Level 3 you will be expected to produce a series of short films which display excellent performance based animation. Personal tutorials support you through a negotiated programme of study, culminating in the exhibition of your work in the graduate presentation. Emphasis is placed on professional practice in preparation for graduation and greater employment prospects through Stop Motion Futures module and Stop Motion External brief.

Where next

Our animation graduates have gone onto internships at Aardman and a wide range of other companies within the animation industry in the UK and Europe.

The increased speed of production means that animated content has spread to interactive events, on-line games, business and educational presentations, as well as ‘shorts’ on mobiles and the web.

This course equips you with a comprehensive understanding, theoretical knowledge and the practical skills for creating products that have audience involvement through animation. Working within a wide range of communication media, you will gain the opportunity to attend film and animation festivals at home and abroad.

In Level 1, you will be immersed within the syllabus for Animation while undertaking specific introductory modules linked to interaction design. In Levels 2 and 3, the majority of your time will be in practical, interactive discipline-specific activities as they relate to animation. We also encourage industrial contact through working on live projects.

The course uses facilities in the University’s digital media production centre, which houses purpose-built production and animation studios. Guest and industry professionals will
visit regularly.

What you do

Interactive Animation produces graduates who create animated content for cross-media. You will gain a comprehensive, practical understanding of creating believability and audience involvement through animation.

At Level 1, you will develop a practical understanding of the cross-media production process and learn skills, issues, concepts and creative processes of animation. You will receive a structured practical grounding in aspects of two dimensional animation (2D), three dimensional (3D) Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), stop motion animation production techniques and interactive coding.

At Level 2, you further your technical knowledge and practical understanding of animation and can choose further coding, graphics, illustration, media production or sound modules.

Level 3 provides guided independent work involving major personal projects in areas of interactive production relevant to your career ambitions.

Where next

Graduates from this course will be able to seek employment in a variety of sectors of the media industry, in new media production and design companies and also games and broadcast companies. Former students have gone on to work at the BBC, Cosgrove Hall Animations, Ragdoll,
Rolls-Royce and Imagemetrix, whilst others are taking a producing route or working in education and training. The quality of the animation work produced within the faculty has been recognised nationally.