BA (Hons) Computer Animation & Visual Effects

Program Overview

The curriculum includes core modules in modelling, texturing, animation, and visual effects, along with specialization pathways in visual effects, art and design, or technical arts. Industry guest speakers and access to industry-standard software enhance students' learning experience, preparing them for successful careers in the media and entertainment sector.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This cutting-edge course combines artistic and technical disciplines, encompassing art direction, animation, 3D sculpting, visual effects, and scripting. It aims to provide students with the expertise, skills, and portfolio necessary to excel in the visual effects, computer animation, and computer games industries.

Objectives:

• Develop skills to conceptualize, storyboard, and design original animations and visual effects to engage and captivate audiences.
• Master the technical facets of animation and visual effects production.
• Tailor studies with option units in the second and final years to specialize in 3D animation, visual effects, technical arts, or work across specialisms reflecting industry practices.
• Gain experience through projects simulating real-world challenges and scenarios.
• Benefit from supportive tutors providing tailored and personal reviews of work.
• Make invaluable contacts through industry guest speakers and BU's BFX Festival, featuring speakers, masterclasses, competitions, screenings, and networking events.
• Access specialist facilities including a green screen and motion capture studio, as well as animation labs equipped with industry-standard software.

Outline:

Foundation Year (Optional):

• Art & Design in Creative Industries: Develop drawing and design skills for creative industries.
• Algorithmic Thinking: Understand mathematical and logical concepts foundational to computer animation, games, and visual effects.
• Digital Tools: Gain fundamental knowledge of computers and digital tools for creative industries.
• Study Skills for Creative Industries: Develop practical skills in visual media production, manipulation, and editing.
• Principles of 3D Animation: Develop essential animation toolsets, production processes, and artistry.
• Procedural Content Creation: Apply computational thinking and mathematical concepts to animation and visual effects production.
• Lighting & Look Development: Develop skills in look development, principles, practice, and rendering for computer graphics.
• Concept & Story: Develop an understanding of narrative and storytelling, written development tools, and visual development tools.

Year 2:

• Group Project Research & Development (R&D): Conduct individual research and development projects focusing on a specific production practice within the CG pipeline.
• Group Project: Work as a team to produce a single, completed artefact to a high standard, choosing from options including a student-designed animation project, interactive project, or client brief.
• Professional Practice: Explore roles within the Creative Industries sector, develop professional skills, and define a personal area of practice.

Pathways (Choose one):

• Advanced Modelling & Sculpting: Deepen understanding of the modelling and texturing pipeline, focusing on advanced character and asset creation techniques.
• Art & Design Pathway:
• Environment & Character Design:
Develop advanced design skills with a focus on design for an audience, creating a complete pre-production pack for a game or animation production.
• Character & Creature Animation: Master the principles and techniques involved in animating human characters and creatures.
• Technical Arts Pathway:
• Procedural Modelling & Rendering:
Explore mathematical techniques used in modern computer graphics practice and develop programming skills.
• Programming Graphics: Develop technical computing skills for designing and implementing graphics tools and pipelines.
• Real-Time Graphics: Learn the principles of real-time graphics engines and their applications in the computer animation production pipeline.

Optional Placement Year:

• Students can undertake a minimum 30-week placement at the end of their second year.

Final Year:

• Major Project Research & Development (R&D): Plan and develop a design document for the Final Major Project, exploring advanced toolsets, processes, and artistry.
• Industry Brief: Work on a project set by an NCCA industry partner, applying techniques in the context of a professional production.
• Emerging Trends: Conduct a self-directed R&D project focusing on an academic, practice-based, or production-oriented topic.

Assessment:

• Assessment methods vary depending on the unit and may include practical projects, written assignments, presentations, and examinations.
• Practical projects are often group or team-based, simulating the collaborative nature of computer animation and games production.

Teaching:

• Teaching is delivered by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge, including senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, and research students.
• Regular guest lectures from industry professionals provide insights into current practices.

Careers:

• Graduates are highly sought after by the visual effects, computer animation, and computer games industries.
• Typical starting job roles include:
• Technical Director (in computer animation and digital effects)
• Technical Artist (in computer games)
• Visual Artist
• Software Producer
• Game Developer
• 3D Artist
• Visual Effects Tech Developer
• Graduates work all over the world, employed by leading animation and production houses, software houses, and computer game and digital media companies.
• Industries worked in include:
• Film special effects
• Computer game design
• Animation production
• Scientific visualization
• Graphics software implementation

Other:

• Bournemouth University is one of a small number of institutions worldwide granted Houdini Certified School status by Side Effects Software.
• The course provides access to industry-standard software, including Autodesk Maya, Mudbox, MotionBuilder, Pixologic ZBrush, Foundry Mari and Nuke, SideFX Houdini, Adobe Photoshop, Premiere, and Substance Suite, Unreal Engine, and Unity.
• The National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) is ranked as the UK's top animation school, second in Europe, and third internationally (Animation Career Review 2023 International Animation School Rankings).
• The course includes compulsory elements involving practical production activities, and students with disabilities or conditions are encouraged to contact the Additional Learning Support (ALS) service for support and adjustments.

September 2024 £9,250 (UK, ROI & CI) £18,800 (Int'l) per year Foundation year: £9,250 (UK, ROI & CI) £18,800 (Int'l) Placement year: £1,850