Norwich University of the Arts

BA (Hons) Animation and Visual Effects

Year 1

• Learn to see: study visual effects fundamentals about lenses, pixels and light to see differently
• Explore the major animation techniques including digital 2D and 3D
• Gain an understanding of the principles of animation and visual effects: dynamics; character design; storyboarding; production; skills of observation; editing; green screen/compositing; photorealism, perspective; theatrical stagecraft; showreel design
• Progress from making two-dimensional flat imagery toward testing 3D designs
• Have the opportunity to attend industry talks, presentations and discussions with key animation and visual effects companies and professionals
• Develop an understanding of media roles and practices.

Year 2

• Build on fundamental visual effects skills and practice animation principles with enhanced progression from 2D to 3D
• Focus on production areas of your choosing and continue to explore your chosen areas of specialisation and develop your skills, with the potential to combine techniques
• Learn about Look Development, lighting, texturing, rendering and all you'll need to build your environments
• Develop an understanding of audience, context, film language, and the elements of compelling storytelling
• Opportunities to engage with industry professionals through live briefs and conferences
• Collaborate in flexible, open-ended and innovative ways to build amazing showreels
• Attend industry talks, presentations and discussions with key animation and visual effects companies and professionals.

Year 3

• Develop a professional portfolio of work
• Gain powerful project management techniques to ensure you can lead animation and visual effects teams and increase job prospects
• Research, prepare and complete a final major production, and produce a Research Report in a field related to your final production
• Develop a plan to market and promote yourself, and show your 'creative edge' to sell yourself to employers
• Take part in industry talks, presentations and discussions with key animation and visual effects companies and professionals.

Preparing for Animation and Visual Effects careers

In this future-looking course, you will develop skills that prepare you for the increasing demand for animation and visual effects expertise: from film and TV to architecture and urban design; scientific visualisation to creative design and virtual reality.

Working side-by-side with BA (Hons) Animation students in your first year, you will acquire skills across the range of animation and visual effects expertise.

In recent years we have hosted a masterclass led by the VFX Supervisor of Avengers: Infinity War. We have heard from guest speakers from the studios behind:

• Solo: A Star Wars Story
• Ready Player One
• The Jungle Book
• The Lion King
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Blade Runner 2049.

Underlining the strength of our industry connections, double Oscar-winner Paul Franklin (Interstellar, Inception) became an Honorary Fellow at NUA in 2018.

Major studio software

You’ll also have access to a subsidised commercial version of Nuke, the industry standard software used in major studios, with a licence that even extends for one year after graduation.

Believable worlds

As you become an expert ‘world builder’, you’ll use visual effects to create character designs, enhance stories, work with directors or film your own shots, helping to develop a portfolio that could fast-track you into the animation or visual effects industries.

Typical career paths include:

• Animator
• Roto Artist
• Texture Artist
• 3D Generalist
• 3D Environment Artist
• Match Move Artist
• Character Designer
• Producer
• Lighting Supervisor
• Colour co-ordinator
• Compositor
• Art Director
• Matte Painter/Artist
• Modeller
• Architectural Visualiser
• Experiential Designer

You’ll also get specialist creative careers advice from our team in the Ideas FactoryNUA to help support you as you plan your career.