Study an accredited industry-led degree specializing in 3D Animation

Learn how to breathe life into digital characters and creatures for film, TV, virtual production, and video games. With professional animators as your guide, develop advanced 3D animation skills using Autodesk Maya and understand the complexities of production pipelines and processes. Graduate industry-ready with a professional showreel.

‍

Why study 3D animation at Bletchley Institute, powered by CG Spectrum:

• Gain the creative, technical, interpersonal, and conceptual skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the industry
  
• Study with more flexibility (100% online)
  
• Create industry-level work that recruiters will notice
  
• Graduate in less time than a typical degree - 2 years instead of 3
• Join a global community of 4000+ students, grads, and industry artists

‍

This degree is offered through CG Spectrum Institute. CG Spectrum Institute (Provider ID PRV12023) is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), ensuring students receive a high-quality education and graduate with reputable qualifications.

‍

3D Animation Major

Accredited and industry-focused degree to help launch your creative career

The Bachelor of Animation and VFX majoring in 3D animation will teach you complex creature and character animation techniques as well as essential interpersonal skills and both practical and conceptual industry insights.

• Your characters and creatures will walk, talk, run, jump, and fly as you gain a comprehensive understanding of body mechanics.
• Learn integral storytelling and character acting techniques to enhance your animated performances.
• Discover industry-standard practices, procedures, and workflows.
• Build valuable interpersonal skills such as communication, problem-solving, and leadership.
  
• Dedicated time to building your professional showreel and getting job-ready.

The below course outline reflects a full-time course load, which comprises three subjects per trimester and three trimesters per year over a two-year duration. Part-time study options are also available.

‍

Course Pathways

Develop industry foundations with our 6 month Diploma, or continue into the full Bachelor's Degree to build more comprehensive skills.

‍

Curriculum

By industry. For Industry.

‍

Trimester 01

3D Animation Foundations ‍

Dive into the 12 Principles of Animation and learn how to manipulate and animate simple objects using animation rigs. You will explore core animation theories linked to timing, spacing, and overlapping action and practice integrating broader art fundamentals such as silhouettes and dynamic posing to better understand the human figure in 3D space. Move on to more complex animation projects such as walk and run cycles and incorporating props.

Film and Games Principles, Concepts and Innovations: Learning from History

A firm grasp of the historical foundations, theories, innovations, and principles shaping contemporary practices is vital for film and game artists. This subject uses case studies and documented evidence to delve into the historical, social, technical, and theoretical factors impacting the creative industries. You will analyze how innovations and technologies from one sector (e.g., games) are applied to the other (e.g., film), driving continuous transformation and progress.

Industry Overview: Pipeline and Production Processes

Game designers require a thorough understanding of production pipelines and processes to ensure efficient and timely project development. This subject introduces you to essential terminology, frameworks, and stages of these creative fields, emphasizing their interconnectedness. Examine the entire production journey, from inception to distribution, and delve into workflow frameworks unique to animation, VFX, and game studios, facilitating industry comparisons.

‍

Trimester 02

Body Mechanics

Apply physical laws to animated motion by studying human locomotion during various physical tasks. Beginning with running, jumping, and parkour-style exercises, you will refine your understanding of physiology and the impact of external forces on body movement, including simulating weight as characters interact with different heavy objects. You will also dissect reference footage to create a multi-character animated shot, drawing on core animation principles.

Art and Design Concepts and Principles

Delve into the theories and principles of color, light, and composition and their relevance in art movements, film, and video games. Analyze compositions and artworks, examining the integration of line, shape, space, depth, content, and style, recognizing their significance in creative endeavors. Through collaborative online discussions, you will get to compare and contrast historical and contemporary artworks, shedding light on the evolution of art and design theories and practices.

Communicate! Mode, Purpose and Context

This subject offers a broad overview of professional, ethical, and culturally sensitive communication in both oral and written contexts. Explore the significance of mode, context, and purpose, and investigate communication theories, models, and frameworks for facilitating interactions, transactions, and critiques. You'll gain insights into paralanguage, responsive listening, active collaboration, and delivering and receiving respectful feedback.

‍

Diploma Exit

Students can choose to exit the bachelor's degree after trimester 02 with a diploma or continue their studies through to trimester 06 and earn their bachelor's degree.

‍

‍

Trimester 03

Storytelling for Animation

Explore character personality and acting principles, including staging, timing, spacing, arcs, and performance, building on previous subject work in motion and physiology. You will analyze acting and human behavior references, creating a pantomime scene and a walk cycle that reflects mental and physiological character traits. You will also delve into animation storytelling techniques, including 'lip-syncing,' where characters are placed in dramatic monologue scenes with recorded dialogue.

Concepts and Principles of Story and Visual Narrative

Discover the ways stories are crafted through single, multiple, or moving images. Beginning with the origins of storytelling, you will examine the fundamental concepts and principles that underpin visual storytelling. Literary elements like story arcs, hero's journey, Aristotle's three-act structure, linear and non-linear plots, visual metaphors, motifs, and symbolism are explored, and you'll get to analyze plot structure and character development.

Identifying and Solving Problems

In Identifying and Solving Problems, you will tackle everyday challenges with a foundation in theoretically sound problem-solving. Delve into the principles of creative reasoning, encompassing argument presentation and addressing unconscious bias. You will also explore frameworks for analyzing and reviewing artistic works, along with identifying and resolving creative, technical, and ethical issues in creative projects.

‍

Trimester 04

Advanced Character Acting

Analyze theatre performances and showcase your skills in an animated comedy scene, highlighting comedic timing through physical movements that emphasize character motivation, realistic weight, and timing. Projects involve distinct animation phases, including setup, keying, storytelling poses, breakdowns, in-betweens, and final polish to help build efficient workflows. The subject concludes with a multi-character dialogue scene, integrating camera framing, cuts, and portraying contrasting character personalities and interactions.

Concepts and Principles of Lighting and Cinematography

Delve into two essential elements of compelling storytelling in film and games: cinematography and lighting. Cinematography and lighting are used to evoke specific moods or aesthetics; cinematography employs shot framing and camera angles, while lighting uses direction, quality, color, and environment. You will study the theoretical concepts and principles of lighting and cinematography, applying them to visual storytelling and photography in both real-world and digital contexts.

Managing Projects and Creative Assets

Realizing and delivering a film or game — on time and within budget — requires strategic thinking and strong organizational skills. Build your knowledge in complex management processes, asset pipelines, and project management systems that streamline the delivery of complex creative projects. You'll also study the processes and tools used to pass digital information through the pipeline, including how assets and shot sequences are managed.

‍

Trimester 05

Creature Animation

Build an understanding of non-human physiology and shot composition to tackle complex animations. You will explore various rigs, each tailored to a specific animal's motion range, starting with a quadruped. From walking through to running, you will then study typical flight behaviors to create a flight animation that contrasts weightlessness and energy. Wrap up the subject by animating a two-character physical confrontation.

Leading with Integrity

This subject delves into self-assessment, team dynamics, conflict management, performance optimization, and effective leadership. With a creative business emphasis, examine ethical, inclusive practices and their impact on the performance of a business. You will also analyze case studies, hypothetical scenarios, and leadership strengths and weaknesses, learning from others' experiences to define success for individuals and companies.

Establishing and Sustaining Your Business

Gain valuable insights into the financial and legal obligations and responsibilities associated with running creative businesses and projects. Examine case studies and simulated scenarios representative of sole trading enterprises, partnerships, and large studios. You will also learn about budgeting and finance, taxation, superannuation, cashflows, profit and loss, bidding, IP, trademarking processes, and how to quantify your creative value.

‍

Trimester 06

3D Animation Capstone Portfolio

Throughout your degree, you will have built a comprehensive body of theoretical, technical, creative, and cognitive disciplinary knowledge and skills pertaining to 3D animation. In Capstone Portfolio, you'll reflect critically on and review your catalog of work to plan, edit, and curate your best pieces into a cohesive portfolio/showreel that showcases your professional, artistic, and technical abilities and helps you confidently prepare to apply for animation roles in the industry.

Stepping Into Industry: Becoming a Proactive Practitioner

Adaptability and openness to new technologies are crucial in the dynamic industry of film and games. In Stepping Into Industry, you will employ a PESTLE (political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental) analysis to explore current and future trends in the creative sector and identify potential career paths. You are encouraged to reflect on their strengths, values, and adaptability, helping shape your future career choices.

Marketing Yourself and Your Work

Learn essential marketing concepts and how to shape a personal brand that aligns with your beliefs and values in order to stand out in a global digital market, whether working as a freelancer or at a studio. Acquire an understanding of target markets, customer needs, integrated marketing, handling challenges, and exploring motivations for success. You will also gain insights into managing the diverse, cross-cultural landscape of film and games.