This course is ideal for students from a Graphic Design, Fine Art, Illustration, and Animation background who want to further develop their skills and career in animation. This course is also suited to designers, animators and illustrators who want to work in animation. This course is designed to meet the needs of the animation industry, enabling you to gain high-level technical skills while encouraging you to experiment and think creatively. Working in a studio-based environment with the latest technology and industry standard software, you will engage with live and research-led briefs, preparing you for roles in the creative industries. As a graduate you will be able to demonstrate advanced skills in contemporary animation and digital media that are in great demand within the creative industries. You will have access to a dedicated studio space, packed with high-end facilities and specialist hardware including computers, rendering facilities, stop-motion rigs and a colour 3D printer. And you will be working with industry standard animation software such as Maya, Houdini, Renderman, and Nuke. You will have access to an e-learning portal that provides lecture materials, creative and technical support resources and reading lists together with discussion boards and notices. You will be encouraged to use this and write blogs to document and communicate your research and design progress. Digital Tutors provide support for the design and technical software support you’ll be using during your course. Research based learning is built into your course as part of project briefs and workshop sessions. Your tutors are actively engaged in research which they bring into workshop sessions, reflecting contemporary animation practices and culture. You will get the chance to be involved in projects that help develop theory at the forefront of animation research. Your studies will equip you with the latest theoretical, practical and professional knowledge, skills and applied thinking to prepare you for a variety of roles within the creative industries. Guest talks, placements, live briefs, studio visits and the chance to showcase your work all help you to develop contacts and networks that will be valuable in your future career. Throughout your course you will develop social, communication, design and management skills that are desired by employers, including team working and production management.