Accredited degree in 2D animation with training from industry experts

Establish how to breathe life and personality into 2D-drawn characters, props, and environments. Build advanced skills in specialized software, Toon Boom Harmony, and gain a firm grasp of production pipelines and creative workflows. This degree will help you develop in-depth industry-specific skills to prepare you for a thriving creative career.

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Why study 2D 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

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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.

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2D Animation Major

An industry-approved curriculum to help launch your creative career

The Bachelor of Digital Art majoring in 2D animation will teach you advanced digital and cut-out 2D animation techniques along with essential interpersonal skills and both practical and conceptual industry knowledge.

• Explore the 12 Principles of Animation in Toon Boom Harmony and learn principles of biology, physiology, and anatomy as you bring humans and quadrupeds to life in 2D.
• Add appeal and stylization to your animated scenes by exploring 2D effects and camera techniques.
• 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.

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Course Pathways

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

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Curriculum

By industry. For Industry.

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Trimester 01

Fundamentals of 2D Animation‍

Develop fundamental 2D animation knowledge by exploring the 12 Principles of Animation in ToonBoom Harmony. Starting with drawing fundamentals, you’ll master 'tradigital' animation (a blend of traditional and digital techniques) while exploring animation principles such as timing, spacing, and overlapping action. Infuse personality, emotion, and the illusion of three-dimensional space into your work as you explore essential software features and hone core drawing tools.

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.

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Trimester 02

Acting & Creature Animation

Examine the art of creating convincing animated characters, exploring biology, physiology, and anatomy to create accurate depictions of human and quadruped figures. You will plan and develop scenes involving pantomime and simple dialogue and analyze renowned animation works and artists to discern what makes their work so captivating. Additionally, you’ll learn the importance of silhouettes and timing, along with how to optimize your workflows with thumbnailing.

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.

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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.

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Trimester 03

Advanced Acting for 2D Animation

Study human behavior and gain an understanding of face, lip, body language, and gesture animation to craft diverse 2D characters with compelling designs rooted in the animation principle of solid drawing. Leverage character model sheets to ideate, plan, and delve into character personalities, attributes, and motivations, culminating in multi-character dialogue animations. You will also embrace life drawing practice for humans and quadrupeds and explore effects and camera techniques.

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.

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Trimester 04

Cutout Animation

In Cutout Animation, you will investigate a traditional stop-motion animation technique that has been incorporated into the digital space. Cutout Animation involves creating layered characters that can be used as rigged puppets with skeletons and joint-based manipulation. You will master Toon Boom Harmony techniques using the peg and node animation system and apply these lessons to develop biped and quadruped rigs for animation, including creating functional animation rigs, and seamlessly incorporate these assets into animation cycles and physical shots.

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.

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Trimester 05

Advanced Cutout Animation

Synthesize the technical and theoretical skills you have accumulated during your studies to produce advanced cutout animation shots. This process will involve creating single-character animations, as well as two-character dialogues, using digital stop-motion techniques as a way of matching audio to character motion and face animation. You will apply your animation skills to design briefs that reflect professional feature/episodic projects, which will require mastery of Harmony FX and compositing tools to enhance the quality of visuals.

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.

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Trimester 06

2D Animation Capstone Portfolio

Throughout your degree, you will have built a comprehensive body of theoretical, technical, creative, and cognitive disciplinary knowledge and skills relating to 2D animation for film and games. You’ll get to 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 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.