BA (Hons) Computer Animation

You’ll gain an introduction to 3D computer animation and 3D digital art principles, then progress to advanced 3D CG animation and 3D digital art for games, VFX, short films and commercials. You’ll specialise in areas that include character/creature animation, animated short film-making, 3D CG Art and CG for Games/VFX.

You’ll gain a broad knowledge of skills and have the opportunity to discover what it is you enjoy most. So, you’ll excel within 3D CG Art and Animation, while steering towards an industry-facing specialism, to become a “CG Student Expert”.

As the course progresses, you’ll be required to specialise as a 3D CG Animator or a 3D CG Artist, to concentrate your efforts on an appropriate industry-focussed area of 3D CG practice. You’ll undertake projects designed to develop your “specialism-related” CG-skills and creative abilities. During major projects, you’ll collaborate with your peers, in a work-simulation environment that mirrors studio practice.

USW's Computer Animation degree is part of Film and TV School Wales, which provides students with the up-to-date skills, opportunities and specialist training required by film, TV, commercials, VFX and games industries.

Year one: Computer Animation degree

• Introduction to Animation and 3D CG Art Techniques

Introduction to the fundamentals of 3D CG Animation, Modelling, Texturing and Lighting

• Body mechanics and The Human Form (3D CG)

Animating the human figure plus modelling, rigging, skinning and animating a human hand

• Creature Creation and Animation (3D CG)

Intro to the complete CG creature pipeline, from prep work to modelling, texturing, rigging and animation

• Characters and Scenes (3D CG)

Character-focused Acting and Animation, or Character and Environment modelling, texturing and lighting - depending on chosen specialism

• Visual Studies: Animation

Underpinning drawing skills and visual communication, human and creature drawing study.

• Contextual Studies: Animation

‘What is animation?’ We’ll look at story, character, genre and cinematography as they relate to animation, games and VFX.

Year two: Computer Animation degree

• Preparation and Previsualisation

Developing design and preparatory techniques for 3D CG Art or Animation, depending on chosen specialism

• Character Creation, Animation and Implementation for Games

Creating 3D CG Art or Animation assets for Games, integration with Games Engines and pipelines

• Creature Creation, Animation and Implementation for Film/TV/VFX

Creating 3D CG Art or Animation assets for VFX, integration with post-production techniques and pipelines

• Personal Project (3D CG)

Freedom to design and create your own ideas for 3D CG Art or Animation, depending on chosen specialism

• Collaborative Project (3D CG)

Opportunity to work with students in other years or related courses to create 3D CG Art or Animation assets, depending on chosen specialism

• Narrative Forms in Animation, Comics and Computer Games

Develop skills and further understanding in narrative theory, storytelling and scriptwriting practice for animation, comics, games and VFX

• Work Experience/Placement (optional)

Working in the industry, gaining experience to define your place in the animation, games or VFX industries, building networks in preparation for your final year

Year three: Computer Animation degree

• Minor Project (3D CG) 

A chance to further develop your specialist skills by getting involved in a Live Client project that includes mentoring from some of the UK's leading CG Animation, Games and VFX Studios.

• Final Major Project Pre-Production (3D CG) 

Developing design and preparatory work for your Final Major Project, depending on  chosen specialism 

• Final Major Project Production (3D CG) 

Freedom to develop your CG skills in relation to a final show reel, film, games or VFX-orientated project 

• Industry and Employability 

Developing your professional profile, building a personal brand, CV development, social media strategy, understanding industry opportunities and career planning 

• Critical Research: Computer Animation (optional) 

If you want to explore fantasy games through developing your own concept art work, or mythic storytelling in your favourite animation director’s work, use this module to research and write about a topic of your choice 

• Scriptwriting: Computer Animation (optional) 

Get to know your story, character, world and theme, and how to develop script ideas in industry, though animation and games writing 

• Work Experience/Placement (optional) 

Working in the industry, gaining experience to define your place in the animation, games or VFX industries, building networks in preparation for graduation 

Projects and assignments begin with a key lecture, supported with workshops, seminars and project supervision sessions. Group critiques follow the end of every project, for feedback and feed-forward advice.

Projects commence with an introduction or project brief. Tutors will communicate what they want to see in the final submission. Software workshops also take place to show students the processes required to achieve their goals.

Students will have either group tutorials or one-to-one support during the project, to ensure they achieve what the project is asking for, and to tackle any issues that occur. We have studio-based rooms for the computer animation degree, and we expect students to be in, using the facilities of their base rooms, during timetabled sessions.

All practical teaching staff have a relevant industry background, either working as freelancers, for independent small/medium companies or in larger studio environments.

Guest speakers and masterclasses

Guest speakers and masterclasses occur every few weeks. In recent years we’ve hosted industry visits from; Sony ImageWorks, Aardman Animations, Double Negative, Framestore Launchpad Internship, The Mill, Blue Zoo, Jellyfish Pictures, Cloth Cat Animation, PlayFusion, Wales Interactive, RunWild, Argon Effects, Bumpy Box, Painting Practice and Bomper Studio amongst others.

Continuous assessment occurs throughout the course and is weighted to reflect the effort students should place on the different elements of their work. So, you’ll develop a sense of responsibility for your learning, and an appreciation of the need to engage with open directed learning activities alongside taught sessions.

The assessment criteria vary for individual assignments. These are set out clearly as separate elements within the coursework briefs.

Also, there's a secondary assessment element for comments and feedback, integrated within the assessment sheets, to provide further feedback and for tutors to feed-forward.