BA (Hons) Animation and Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University

Become a skilled and versatile animator with a focus on illustration and storytelling, and prepare for a rewarding creative career. Explore a variety of animation and illustration methods and media, including puppet making and stop-motion animation, traditional 2D animation, digital 2D and 3D animation, character and graphic novel design. With guidance and support from dedicated industry professionals, you’ll develop your technical skills and a personal language within animation.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences  |  Department: Cambridge School of Art  |  Duration: 3 years; 4 years with placement  |  Study mode: full-time (placement year available)  |  Intake: September 2027  |  Location: Chelmsford, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Year 1 is your chance to explore, learn, experiment, and find your unique style. You’ll get straight into the studio, learning the principles of image creation, storytelling, different types of animation, film-making and production methods. Year 1: Observation to Imagination, Animation Principles, Critical and Contextual Studies 1: Think, Play, Learn, Conceptual and Creative Methods, Animation Skills. Year 2: Character in Sequence, Creative Digital Practice, Animation in Practice, Critical and Contextual Studies 2: Creativity and Context in Dialogue, Ruskin Module; options include Archive: Creative Futures, Reality Checkpoint – Socially Engaged Practice and the Public Realm, Reportage, Time Based Media. Year 3: Professional Sequential Practice, Final Major Project; options include Critical and Contextual Studies 3: Working in the Creative Industries, Critical and Contextual Studies 3: Creative Inquiry.

Career pathways

The course makes it easy to make industry connections. They invite guests for live briefs and also provide help with employment.

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