Course overview
What does this course offer?
- Creates a professional studio environment
- Teaches computer graphic fundamentals, leading to a better grasp of the subject matter, and ultimately the transferable skills required to pursue your career path
- Teaches best practice and techniques found in industry
- Provides each student with their own workstation
- Accreditation from the NCCA which involves students having regular presentations and master classes from invited industry speakers
- Exposure to real-world projects and state-of-the-art techniques from professional practitioners
Where could this lead to?
- Character Animators
- Technical Animators
- Technical Directors
- Character Riggers
- Concept Designers
- Effects Artists
- Texture Artists
- Modellers
- Lighters
- Compositors
- Games Animators
- Motion Editors
- Researchers
- Educationalists and Instructors
Who should do this course?
- A graduate with a 2:1 or above honours degree in the fields of art, media or design
- An applicant with a professional qualification or diploma recognised to be equivalent to an honours degree
- An applicant with Industrial experience deemed to be equivalent to an honours degree
- Exceptionally well-qualified applicants from other disciplines may be considered at the discretion of the interviewing panel.
Tell me more.....
View an article by The Independent as to why you should study Animation.
Computer animation is probably the most successful application of digital technology in the creative arts.
It complements the work of traditional animators by providing an exciting, flexible medium for undertaking more ambitious and imaginative animated films. It has revolutionised the world of film special effects and has created a totally new leisure activity - computer games, which at a global level is a billion-dollar industry.
Computer animation is seen in television productions, films, animated feature films, computer games, training videos, scientific visualisation, flight simulation, virtual environments, the Internet, and interactive media applications. All of these sectors offer exciting and rewarding career prospects, which can be accessed by anyone with the appropriate skills.
This Masters course has been specifically designed for students who wish to pursue a career in the field of computer animation, and is the prefect launch-pad for a career in a wide range of disciplines, including concept design, character and creature animation, modelling, lighting, rigging, texturing, compositing and simulation.
Students who enrol on the MA3D course come from a broad background and age group. Applicants in the past have studied or worked in the field of fine art, illustration, painting, sculpture, graphic design, architecture, traditional animation, 3D visualisation, script writing, performance arts and photography. Computer knowledge is not a pre-requisite, neither is having worked in 3D before. The course tutors are more concerned with your aesthetic and/or technical abilities.
The MA 3D Computer Animation course seeks to create graduates with the skills and production experience that will help them succeed as future CG artists and supervisors. Students develop a number of proficiencies that are both vocational and academic. For example, students are trained using industry standard 2D and 3D software, whilst also augmenting their observational and research techniques, encouraging a level of enquiry which better informs their practise and ideas. Workshops. lectures, seminars and tutorials that teach design process, film and art history, production planning, research skills and problem solving techniques; whilst underpinning the entire framework are the theoretical principles and practises associated with computer graphics, art and technology.
We enjoy very strong links with industry, due in large part to the ubiquity of NCCA graduates in the film, game and television industries. We host a weekly visiting practitioners lecture series in which our students learn about the 3D industry from practicing artists and studios; whilst also running regular master classes from professionals.
This is key course strength, with material delivered that few students in the country experience.
Why study MA 3D Computer Animation?
- Excellent career opportunities in both the Film and Games industry
- Course provides unique mix of art, technology and science
- Course run by the National Centre for Computer Animation
- Creating a professional studio environment
- Teaching computer graphic fundamentals, leading to a better grasp of the subject matter, and ultimately the transferable skills required to pursue your career path
- Teaching best practice and techniques found in industry, by tutors with industry experience
- Mentoring from professionals found at some of the worlds best Animation,VFX and Games studios.
- Each student has their own workstation
- A collaborative virtual learning environment (nccaReviewTool) that hosts a variety of tutorials, lecture notes and feedback system
- Course supported by the Animation, Special Effects and Games Industries
- Strong emphasis in the design practises required to successfully become artists or technical director
- Strong emphasis on principles and techniques
- Teaching transferable skills that are applicable to the graduates continuing career path, allowing them to implement new software and craft based techniques quickly and successfully. Because students understand the fundamental principles that underpin computer graphic systems; they become very adept practitioners, not merely 'button pushers'
- Robust academic content to back up practical teaching and projects
- Exciting and extensive project content
- Industry standard software (currently Softimage, zBrush, Mudbox, Motionbuilder, MARI, Bodypaint 3D, Nuke, MASSIVE, Adobe Creative Suite, Crysis Game Engine and a variety of proprietary tools
- Industry standard Hardware (currently HP Dual Quad xwWorkstations, two monitors, Wacom Tablet, AV equipment, cameras, scanners and Renderfarm)
- Access to Mocap and Green screen studios
- Final Masters projects are showcased to industry in London at the graduate show
