This is a highly successful practice based course that provides a broad-based approach to digital moving image and animation technologies. You are encouraged to explore the growing range of genres and applications of work from within the arts and industry.
The course addresses both the needs of fine art and commercial imperatives, and will help you develop a wide range of skills. The course aims to foster innovation, visual creativity, experimentation, intellectual enquiry married to a high level of professional production values. We encourage you to discover and exploit innovative uses of the technology. You can specialise in 3D or 2D animation. The fusion of digital animation, blue screen, live action, rotoscoping and other techniques to produce 'hybrid' film forms is also encouraged.
The course also provides a practical understanding of the principles of managing a small desktop digital studio. You gain a thorough technological grounding and develop an awareness of the critical, cultural and contextual implications of the digital moving image in all its forms. Throughout the course students produce several short digital films, many of which have won film competitions and been screened at international festivals.
Students on the MA in Audio Visual Production (AVP) and the MA Digital Film and Animation (DFA) courses are encouraged to have a creative and supportive working relationship with each other.
This synergy is reflected in the sharing of three modules across both courses. The MA AVP and DFA courses are located in two adjacent dedicated studios equipped with high definition editing and animation workstations.
The course is intensively taught on two days a week. The modules in Semester 1 provide a thorough technical and conceptual grounding in the relevant techniques, technologies and software skills required for realising 2D and/or 3D animation and digital film projects for broadcast. The Project modules in Semester 2 enable you to work within a specific genre such as:
Digital Character Animation (3D and/or 2D)
Music Video (Digital Moving Image and Sound)
Experimental Digital Film Production
Animation for the Marketplace
In addition there are Visiting Lecturers from prominent production house, artists and freelances from across the sector.
In the Major Project Module you produce a final film based on a Major Project Proposal developed during semester 2. This film is produced through independent study supported by regular group crits at the University, tutorials with staff and meetings with 'producers' who are mentors from industry usually over the summer study period.
Applicants would normally be expected to possess an Honours degree in fine arts, applied arts or design, or have equivalent experience. Graduates from related disciplines who can demonstrate a suitable level of visual literacy may, in some circumstances, be considered. All candidates must submit a portfolio and/or showreel.
Successful applicants may be eligible to apply for an AHRC award. Deadline for applications is 1 May each year. See www.ahrb.ac.uk
Students are also required to have their own PCs at home. Guidance and specification are given to successful applicants and regular 'surgeries' are held to help students maintain their own digital animation studio.
For an explanation of qualifications, have a look at our IAG page on this site www.creativeway.org.uk/quals.
A Progression Agreement is a formal arrangement between two or more
education providers. It spells out what a learner needs to do to be
considered for a place on a named programme of study. Progression Agreements
may vary in the conditions they specify but they all aim to give guaranteed
pathways into higher education.
Advice on courses and careers:-
The Creative Way IAG team provides a specialist service for anyone
interested in finding out about courses and careers in the creative and
cultural industries. We can provide information direct to Students,
Parents/ Carers, Tutors and Careers Advisers via email, phone or organised
workshops and 1 to 1 sessions.
To find out more, visit our IAG page on this site on
http://www.creativeway.org.uk/IAG Or contact one of our career advisers: Matt Ball 07889 001764
m.ball@uel.ac.uk or Sarah
Comerford 07515 051509
s.comerford@uel.ac.uk