BA Animation and Visual Effects

Program Overview

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The University of Lincoln's BA (Hons) Animation and Visual Effects program provides a comprehensive foundation in animation principles, digital techniques, and storytelling. It equips students with the skills and knowledge to become creative animators, artists, and 3D artists in various industries, including animation, computer games, visual effects, and visualization. Through hands-on practice, industry collaborations, and specialized facilities, students develop their abilities in narrative, character design, animation, digital compositing, and professional portfolio development.

Program Outline

The course enables students to develop into creative animators and artists with the flexibility to practice their craft in a variety of media.

• To develop students into creative animators and artists with the flexibility to practice their craft in a variety of media.
• To equip graduates for careers in animation and computer games artistry, and as 3D artists who work in visual effects, broadcast, commercial production, and visualization.

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Outline:

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Foundation Year:

• This year is optional and provides an alternative route of entry onto the full degree program.

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First Year:

• Animation Principles (Core): This module introduces students to the basic principles of animation through exercises exploring techniques used to animate a basic sequence.
• CGI Principles (Core): This module introduces students to contemporary digital methods and software tools used for producing 3D CGI and animation.
• Design for Animation (Core): This module engages students in the design process for animation, including idea generation, character design, background design, prop design, and color systems.
• Drawing for Animation 1 (Core): This module delivers fundamental learning and skill development in drawing for animation.
Life drawing is an essential skill required for animation and will be used in this module to help develop proficiency in expressing movement, emotion, and gestures competently and effectively.
• Pioneers of Animation (Core): This module outlines the important developments that have occurred within the field of animation since its conception in the late 1800s and traces the theories, debates, and movements that have steered the medium, from early pioneers to current practitioners.
• Story & Film Language (Core): This module addresses three main aspects of animation production: story, character, and film language.
The module is based on a model of learning that enables students to explore past, contemporary, short, and long character-driven narratives, story format, structure, plot thrusts, and character development.

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Second Year:

• Animation Practice (Core): This module explores the creation of a narrative through a typical animation production workflow.
There will be focus on narrative elements to help with the construction of a short piece. Students will be introduced to a range of films within a chosen theme which are used to promote understanding of film language and the construction of a short scene or moment.
• CGI Production Methods (Core): This module addresses two important aspects of production design in 3D animation: character and set construction with an emphasis on visual storytelling.
The module is based on a model of learning that incorporates research on visual reference, artistic and technical skills, and design principles in problem-solving contexts.
• Character Animation (Core): This module develops a professional skill level in animation required for the production environment.
The emphasis of this module is on the tools of research, including primary and secondary forms, and how vital these are in informing a body of critical work. Students will apply the tools of research to an essay proposal, showing evidence of critical analysis and including a literature review, which will enable them to progress to their dissertation module.

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Third Year:

• Animation Dissertation (Core): This module underpins the theory already outlined at level 5 to enable students to research and write their own dissertation paper on an animation topic of their choice.
• Animation Pre-Production (Core): This module aims to prepare students for the creative and professional challenges of bringing a conceptual idea to the stage of a feasible project proposal, which can be presented to a client, employer, or commissioner.
• Animation Production and Team Practice (Core): Within this module, students have the opportunity to take forward the work created and developed in pre-production, to form the central element of the production.
Students may negotiate their time, referring to the plan produced in pre-production, to form small cohesive teams, reflective of how a production would be structured in a professional animation practice.
• Digital Compositing (Core): This module is based on a model of learning that incorporates knowledge, skills, and design principles in problem-solving contexts.
While maintaining a focus on the established techniques and processes of digital compositing using industry-standard compositing tools, asset handling practices, and how they may be used in specific animation processes and workflows, students will adopt a learning process which enables them to approach problems and offer solutions that are appropriate, distinctive, and adaptable.
• Showreel & Portfolio Development (Core): The aim of this module is for students to apply the skills and knowledge they have gained during their studies to create a final year professional portfolio to show future employers.

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Assessment:

• Assessment is 100% by coursework in each year.
• The way students are assessed on this course may vary for each module.
• Assessment methods include practical work, written assignments, and reviews of their own creative outputs.
• The weighting given to each assessment method may vary across each academic year.
• The University of Lincoln's policy is to ensure that staff return assessments to students promptly.
• Each term includes advisory progress reviews.
• All studio modules are assessed on both studio production and supporting research presentation, with varying weightings.

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Teaching:

• Industry practitioners are part of the teaching team on the course, including film, television, and video game animators.
• Life drawing forms an integral part of the program, combined with developing narrative, character design, and animation techniques.
• Students are encouraged to participate in various stages of production, such as character animation, art direction and lighting, digital compositing and effects, post-production techniques, and production management.
• In the final year, they can work as part of a team to produce a short film that sets the premise for their personal showreel.

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Careers:

• This degree aims to equip graduates for careers in animation and computer games artistry, and as 3D artists who work in visual effects, broadcast, commercial production, and visualization.
• Lincoln graduates have worked on films such as The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Ethel and Ernest, The Snowman and the Snowdog, The Jungle Book, Man of Steel, Inception, Wonder Woman, and the featurette We're Going on a Bear Hunt.

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Other:

• Students on this course have the opportunity to take part in study trips and overseas visits.
Recent destinations have included the Anime Festival in Tokyo; Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France; the Walt Disney Studios and Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles; NBC; the University of California; and Warner Bros. Studios.
• Those who choose to participate in optional field trips are expected to cover the cost of their travel, accommodation, and general living expenses.
Any trips included within a compulsory module, such as a visit to an animation or VFX studio in previous years, are fully-funded.
• Students can access specialist industry-standard facilities and equipment, including sound design and digital film production facilities, dedicated studios, workshops, Mac and PC suites, a render farm, and gallery space.
• All Animation and Visual Effects students currently have free access to Adobe Creative Cloud software for the duration of their studies via our media and design labs.
Additional material costs will depend on the mediums you choose to work in.