BA(Hons) Animation & Games Art

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Animation and Games Art at AAS College Thessaloniki is a 3-year program that provides students with a comprehensive education in the rapidly growing fields of animation and games art. The program emphasizes both traditional and digital techniques, and encourages creative freedom and flexibility. Students will develop their skills through hands-on projects, supplemented by lectures, seminars, and tutorials. Graduates will be prepared for careers as animators, games designers, and other related roles.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The BA (Hons) Animation and Games Art program at AAS College Thessaloniki is a 3-year, full-time program taught in English. It focuses on the rapidly growing animation and games art industries, preparing students for careers in these fields. The program emphasizes both traditional and digital animation techniques, including 2D and 3D animation, character-led animation, and game design. Students will learn the pre-production pipeline and gain a broad understanding of design principles and theories. The program also encourages creative freedom and flexibility, allowing students to develop their specific areas of interest. Teaching is primarily practical and studio-based, with lectures, seminars, and tutorials supplementing the hands-on experience. The program culminates in a final year Degree Show where students showcase their work to industry experts and potential employers.

Outline:

Year 1 (national level 4)

• Fundamentals of Animation and Games Art (60 credits): This module introduces students to the fundamental principles of animation using traditional studio practices in 2D drawn animation.
Students will complete weekly character-based exercises culminating in a short animated sequence using Toon Boom Harmony software. They will also be introduced to the Adobe Creative Suite through a separate creative brief related to game design. Weekly life drawing classes enhance figurative and imaginative drawing skills, and contextual and visual research supports practical work.
• Creative Exploration (40 credits): Students create short sequences as part of a team using various traditional techniques like Pixillation, Direct animation, Smudge ‘n Click, Cut-out, and Stop Motion.
They build on the principles and skills learned in semester 1 and explore visual storytelling further. Students produce a short film for a student-led competition and public screening to showcase their first year's work. Weekly life drawing classes focus on expressive and experimental drawing techniques. Students are introduced to 3D software and tools in creative workshops and have the opportunity to collaborate with BSc (Hons) Game Development students and participate in local Game Jams. Students study the context, development, and theories behind their chosen specialism, engaging in critical debate and discussion.

Year 2 (national level 5)

• Advanced 3D (40 credits): Students produce a collection of 3D animations culminating in an interactive, playable character.
They create a 3D digitally sculpted model and environment and produce a short, animated lip-sync performance sequence working to a pre-recorded soundtrack.
• Preproduction Practice (20 credits): Students follow the preproduction pipeline for creating either a pitch bible for a children’s tv series or a games document for a 7-PEGI game.
This involves visual and contextual research, concept art, story art, character design, environments, assets, linear and non-linear storytelling, and creating an animatic or walkthrough to demonstrate the concept's viability. Students pitch their ideas in a short presentation at the end of the module. They can work individually or as part of a creative team and collaborate further with BSc (Hons) Game Development students.
• Advanced Visual Effects and Motion Graphics (40 credits): Students create a music video for an artist of their choosing, either as part of a collaboration or working alone.
They study the application of advanced After Effects, including rotoscoping, tracking techniques, using green screen and keylight, and choose to apply any creative technique to their work. Students help organize a showcase of their work at a public screening at the end of the academic year.
• Global Issues and the Ethical Designer (20 credits): This module continues to study the context, development, and theories behind the chosen specialism, supporting practical work and helping students focus on their choice of dissertation topic in Stage 3.
Weekly life drawing classes focus on environment and figurative drawing practice.

Final year (national level 6)

• Professional Engagement (40 credits): Students work on a chosen live brief and a piece to showcase their skills and enhance their showreel/portfolio.
Employability Day enables students to meet successful alumni from this and other Design courses, hear about their experiences after graduating, and receive tips on employability. Students create a Professional Engagement Document, demonstrating their interaction with industry professionals over the past two years through placements, social media, visits to festivals and studios, or other networking events. The module focuses on CV writing and interview techniques, as well as the creative and technical skills required for the chosen specialism to enhance employability.
• Design Research project (20 credits): Students develop an in-depth investigation into a particular issue or topic relevant to them as a developing designer or an issue inspired by wider society.
They utilize and build on their knowledge of various design and theoretical disciplines and techniques gained in previous modules or from studying at other colleges. Students gain research and organizational skills through introductory lectures, tutorials, and discussion. The module culminates in a dissertation (3500 to 4500 words), supported by a clear central question and hypothesis relevant to the chosen topic. Research conducted in this module can be used as the foundations for the major final project in the module EXD300, although this is not compulsory.
• Final Major Project (60 credits): Students build on the skills and knowledge, both technical and creative, gained across all previous modules to create a piece of work that best reflects their specialism and will hopefully take them into professional employment.
They can choose to work individually or as part of a team. Students set up and exhibit their work in the final year Degree Show, which is open to the public and industry practitioners.

Assessment:

Assessment is 100% coursework and students are continually assessed throughout the course. Assessment methods include design briefs (project work), competitions, presentations, seminars, and group activities.

Teaching:

Teaching is primarily practical and studio-based, with lectures, seminars, and tutorials supplementing the hands-on experience. The academic team encourages students to express ideas and push the boundaries of creativity.

Careers:

The BA (Hons) Animation & Games Art program aims to produce animators capable of entering the industry in the creative department or working as artist animators, directors, and games designers, among other things. Many graduates have careers with major design consultancies and animation companies. Successful students may also wish to continue their studies on an MA Degree to further enhance their knowledge and skills base, exploring new and innovative areas of design.

Other:

The program is offered at AAS College Thessaloniki, which is set in a modern, purpose-built university campus. Students learn in specially designed lecture rooms and theaters, laboratories, design studios, and flexible teaching spaces. Individual and group study spaces allow students to work alone or collaborate on projects. The course has dedicated graphics studios for workshops, group and independent working, equipped with projectors and screens, Macs or PCs, or both. There are also campus digital media suites with software including Adobe Creative Suite.