Animation BA (Hons)

This unit will introduce you to the fundamentals that underpin all areas of animation and visual effects. You’ll work in 2D drawn animation, 3D computer animation, and visual effects. Through hands on projects, you will cover a range of key production areas, including the principles of animation, ideation and concept development, drawing fundamentals and image manipulation. You’ll attend sessions on character design, film language and storytelling, the principles of animation, and an introduction to digital imaging and compositing software.

40 credits

In this unit you will explore and experiment with techniques, materials and media. You’ll build your knowledge of the animation pipeline and explore underpinning skills in drawing, design and techniques of film language, narrative structures and visual storytelling. You’ll consider the practical, conceptual, and theoretical pathways open to you as an animator and learn to use industry-standard software to support all areas of your work. You will bring animated characters and scenes to life, working from initial concept to final outcome, exploring skills in 2D, CG and stop motion character animation, CG modelling and digital compositing.

80 credits

The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.

An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.

Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.

This unit will enable you to expand your specialist knowledge and skills, taking you to the next level in your creative development. You will have the opportunity to improve your skills through software workshops, story art, and sound design. This will be done through project briefs that emulate a professional studio environment and challenge your visual language, narrative, evaluation, and problem-solving knowledge. You’ll explore materials and processes, including advanced character design workshops in puppet making, 2D puppet animation, and CG modelling and rigging. You’ll be encouraged to consider various contexts and audiences for your work, with sessions on pitching, personal branding, and marketing strategies.

80 credits

This unit focuses on how you work with your peers, or for a real-world client, to take ideas from concept to final presentation through stages of an industry-style production pipeline. This collaborative learning experience will expose you to a range of new processes and approaches that will develop your creative thinking. As the unit progresses, you will cover production pipeline processes, scheduling, casting and the management of contracts, clearances, and crediting work. Focusing on work-based learning, this unit will help you to consider your future career goals and the steps you need to take to achieve them. You’ll also be introduced to essential tools for professional presentations through tutorials and workshops.

40 credits

The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.

An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.

Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.

This unit aims to enhance your animation skills by integrating practical and theoretical components, preparing you for the industry. Weekly briefings and meetings with tutors provide guidance and progress check-ups, while creative workshops cover narrative building, performance animation, and fabrication tools. You will explore specific job roles in the industry and engage with sessions on how to present yourself professionally, such as CV’s and personal websites. You’ll gain hands-on experience that lets you connect with people in the animation industry and other creative fields, setting you up for success in your future career.

40 credits

Your final unit allows you to research, conceptualise and create a self-initiated final-year project(s), building on the skills, knowledge and understanding you have gathered throughout the programme. This gives you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in an aspect of animation you are most passionate about and enthuse others with your expert knowledge, skills and perspective. You will focus on your creative ambitions and develop a strategy for becoming a professional creative. You’ll be able to participate in competitions, attend conferences, and meet visiting professionals. You will focus on building a unique portfolio that reflects the skills you have to offer, setting you up for a successful career in the industry.

80 credits

The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.

An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.

Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.