Animation BA(Hons)

Areas of study 

• Animation fundamentals, experimental image making and visual effects.
• Storytelling through a range of imaginative projects using linear and non-linear narratives.
• Screen-based kinetic typography and its applications across a range of creative environments such as title sequences and music videos.
• Exploration of animation in response to contemporary culture and society.
• Applied animation for immersive technology including AR and VR.
• Design for interactivity, tablets, apps, installations and expanded cinema.
• Collaboration with other disciplines including music, sound art and design.

Year 1 

In year 1, you will explore animation through a series of creative projects. These projects will develop your skills in storytelling through a variety of experimental artistic techniques. 

Your work will be nurtured and developed through both group and personal tutorials, and inspired by a series of lectures from visiting industry professionals.

Under the guidance of expert teaching staff, you will immerse yourself in an exciting programme of lectures and workshops, shaping your projects and building your portfolio as you progress through the year.

In year 1 you will work alongside Design for Digital Media and Games Art and Design students, sharing modules and collaborating on projects.

Modules

• Animation Principles and Practice

  This module introduces students to the basic concepts, components and practices of animation focusing on practice that is underpinned by research and imaginative experimentation. You will investigate fundamental animation principles through projects that will explore and define working methods and studio practices. 

• Sequence and Narrative

  This module introduces the basic concepts and components of sequence and narrative within illustration, graphic design animation and games art. Project briefs enable you to explore story telling, form, pacing, play, presentation and audience interaction. You'll also be introduced to basic working methods and studio practices whilst exploring emerging digital delivery formats.

• Introduction to Animation

  This module introduces the core skills needed to plan and create simple animated sequences. You'll develop creative thinking skills and explore experimental and creative approaches to animation.

• Historical and Critical Studies

  This module includes a broad history of visual communication. You'll focusing on new technologies and digital media, the impact the digital revolution has on the culture of graphic design, illustration, art, film, as well as the development of animation, games art, and social media.

Year 2 

In year 2, you will focus on developing your creative potential, building on knowledge gained during your first year.

The projects you will be set have strong links with industry, so that the skills you learn and practise reflect those that employers are looking for.

During your Animation degree BA(Hons) you will be encouraged to work collaboratively with your fellow students to develop ambitious projects within the local and wider professional community. Your research and analytical skills will be developed through group discussion and documentation of project outcomes.

Modules

• Virtual Studio
• Visual Language and Personal Voice
• Advanced Animation
• Historical and Critical Studies 2
• Option module programme

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year 

In your final year, the knowledge and skills that you have developed so far come together as you work on a final personal project. You will also write a dissertation in conjunction with Historical and Critical Studies.

Final year lectures and tutorials are taught by teaching staff and by visiting industry professionals. They include practical information about professional development, preparing you for your professional or academic life after university, and one-to one personal tutorials offering in-depth, personalised support for your continued development.

Modules

• Context and Consolidation
• Virtual Studio – Animation
• Professional Practice
• Extended Research Project

Meet the team

Professionals from the animation world support the course, keeping the curriculum at the forefront of modern practice and ensuring you develop relevant technological, artistic and communication skills.

Judith Ricketts, course leader

Judith is a new media artist and lecturer in digital media, specialising in mobile, screen-based and real-world immersive games. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a STEM Ambassador, member of Brighton & Hove Heritage Network, Crossing Cultures Decolonising the Curriculum, and Board member Centre for Digital Media Cultures at the University of Brighton and Lighthouse, an arts charity specialising in connecting art, technology, science and society. Read Judith's full profile.

Ewan Kirkland, senior lecturer

Ewan is a specialist in animation history and a videogame scholar focussing on horror gaming. He is the author of Children’s Media and Modernity exploring children’s film, television and videogames. He is a frequent guest speaker at fan conventions and the lead academic on Historical and Critical Studies and Extended Research Project.

Since joining the University in 2010, Ewan has taught extensively in film, media and cultural studies, including popular television, screen histories, new media, merchandising and fantasy cinema. In addition. Read Ewan's full profile.

Kate Jessop, senior lecturer

Kate Jessop is a multi-award-winning animation filmmaker who has had hundreds of international exhibits and has 5 international distribution deals including Shorts International and Amazon Prime.

She represented the UK in the Best of Women in Film and TV and was selected for the Berlinale Talent Lab both with her portfolio as a director and her comedy series chosen for development in the Project Lab. She enjoyed her first retrospective at the Gilbert Baker Film festival in USA 2019 and then in Anifilm in Czech Republic in 2021.

She has worked across narrative film, comedy, illustration, live visuals, music video and documentary and undertaken artist residencies in Berlin, Istanbul and Reykjavik.

She is also the director of the Brighton International Animation Festival and a regular speaker and jury member on international animation festivals. Read Kate's full profile.

Micheal Chidubem, lecturer

Michael is a multimedia and creative artist with a background in visual arts, graphics design, painting, mixed media, 2D/3D animation, motion graphics, VFX and music. His research interests include the impact of AI on the arts and the creative industries and exploring animation as a vehicle for inclusivity and dynamism in higher education. Read Michael's full profile.

Judith Ricketts, course leader Animation BA(Hons)

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Portfolio advice 

Portfolio

This course requires you to submit an online portfolio. In this, we would like to see:

• examples of work that demonstrates how you develop ideas. The work can be in any medium or combination of media, for example drawing, typography, collage, photography, animation or video
• evidence of personal work including drawing, use of type, collage, photography, and other mediums. It would be great to see how this reflects your personal interests
• your ability to develop an idea from concept through to a finished project
• at least one sketchbook showing how you experiment and explore different techniques and media
• any completed moving image, animation or interactive work (best shown on Vimeo)
• several examples of your finished outcomes in either 2D design, illustration, animation or moving image if you have them
• your potential to experiment and explore ideas, using different techniques and media
• a passion for image-making and design.

We recommend using Flickr, Tumblr or making a pdf to create a simple portfolio and Vimeo or YouTube for embedding video. Please note that you do not need to show work that moves or interacts within a digital environment, as we will support you to develop that. At this stage we are looking for an exciting and creative portfolio and a genuine passion to learn.

Find out more about how to create and submit your portfolio.

Course fees

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2023–24.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and govt funding info for UK and international undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf)

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Local area

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Support and wellbeing

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