BA (Hons) Animation with Year 0
Ravensbourne University London
Key Information
Campus location
Greenwich Peninsula, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Scholarships
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Introduction
Take your first steps in animation.
The year zero animation course is a preparatory year as part of a four-year BA (Hons) Animation degree and is aimed at students who require more time to develop their portfolio and skillset prior to year one of undergraduate study. This course will ignite your creativity and imagination, so you can discover new ways of making, thinking and documenting.
Why study this animation course as part of a four-year degree?
- Develop essential, practical, intellectual and transferable animation skills
- Develop hardware and software knowledge suitable for animation practice
- Gain an understanding of the cultural contexts of the creative industries
- Gain exposure to a range of media and technology related to animation
- Opportunities to collaborate on live briefs with industry
- Excellent teaching from experienced staff and industry practitioners
- Work on creative projects that will give you great foundational knowledge
The UK’s animation industry is a global success story. Visual communication has augmented in recent decades, with animators in high demand in sectors such as TV, film, gaming, corporate films, advertising and the media.
Animation Year 0 is not a standalone course; it is the first stage of a full four-year undergraduate degree. When you successfully complete your prep year, you will be able to progress smoothly into the first year of our BA (Hons) Animation degree in London.
Your tutors will nurture your creative potential and support you while you learn the essential practical, intellectual and transferable skills needed to confidently enter the undergraduate study.
As well as developing fundamental skills, you will also be given a broad grounding in your chosen specialist area, an understanding of the cultural contexts of the creative industries, and the ability to develop hardware and software suitable for animation practice.
This is your entry point into a thrilling academic journey and career in animation and related creative disciplines.
Ideal Students
Aspiring animators and visual creatives who wish to build up foundational knowledge prior to entering an undergraduate degree.
Curriculum
Year 0
Year 0, the first year of a 4-year degree, runs over one academic year during which students complete four units.
In term one, they will begin a unit in Explorative Media and Design studies. They will also complete a unit in the English Language. Which continues throughout Term 1 and 2 and provides the basic transferable skills necessary to underpin their practical and theoretical work.
In term two, students commence their Specialist Study unit and engage in a series of projects designed to broaden their chosen discipline knowledge and skills in Animation. These will become more challenging as they move into term three to start the Final Major Project.
Year 1
You will build fundamental skills in contemporary animation software and equipment and begin to learn the art of storytelling through the 12 animation principles, combining creative thinking and applied techniques.
We will encourage you to start thinking about your own reflective practice and contextual studies research.
Year 2
You will specialise in animation production, in areas such as visual effects and character performance.
This will allow you to enhance your practice and develop an approach to your personal creative output. We aim to set a variety of live project briefs, with some working with partners in the charity, health and education sectors.
Year 3
You will bring their learnings together in a final major animation project, with the aim of pitching your skills to other students on the course and eventually to the industry.
We will also ask you to show your contextual studies research and thinking through a long-form dissertation.
Finally, you will complete a personal portfolio of your skills, so you are ready for entry into your industry of choice.
Key study topics
- Contemporary culture
- Animation fundamentals
- Modelling to camera
- Human and creature mechanic
- Visual narrative
- Big ideas and philosophies
- Character modelling and rigging
- Animation industry
Admissions
Career Opportunities
Animation is an increasingly widespread form of media and good animators are becoming more sought after in film, television, visual effects (VFX), gaming and the web.
Animation graduates often go on to secure work as 3D/2D generalists or specialists in areas such as concept, modelling, animation and VFX production.
Past Ravensbourne University London animation graduates have been employed in roles within film and television, VFX, advertising, post-production, apps and games.