BA (Hons) Animation at Manchester Metropolitan University

Whether you are aiming to work on animated TV series, feature length or independent short films, children’s media, commercials or games, our course will provide you with a solid foundation to start your career in animation. Our BA (Hons) Animation course brings together key aspects of contemporary animation practice and storytelling, giving you the chance to explore a wide range of techniques, styles and approaches. You’ll delve into the practicalities of working in the creative industries, preparing you for an exciting and diverse career in animation.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Humanities  |  Department: School of Digital Arts (SODA)  |  Duration: 3 years full-time; 4 years full-time with placement; 4 years full-time with foundation  |  Study mode: full-time, placement year available  |  Intake: September 2027  |  Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

With a wide variety of modules, on this course you will explore techniques, approaches and styles, as well as delving into the practicalities of working in the creative industries. You will have a mix of taught sessions and practical assignments, giving you the opportunity to engage with a variety of digital artists and creative artefacts – not only helping you develop your skills, but also your industry network. Year 1 core: Animation Principles, Exploring Animation, 3D Animation, Visual Storytelling. Year 2 core: Animation Techniques, Design in Motion, Animation Practice, Speculative Futures. Year 3 core: Animation Development, Animation Research, Animation Production, Graduate Portfolio.

Career pathways

Skilled talent in animation is necessary not only for high-profile animation programming and filmmaking, but also for the myriad of agencies that produce high-end animated content for gaming, marketing/advertising, e-learning, publishing, visual effects, augmented reality, architectural visualisation, heritage and gallery content production, app development, prototyping, live events, etc. There is an ever-growing demand in Manchester for this type of talent, which makes SODA’s focus on future animation so timely and exciting.

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