Digital Animation

The Digital Animation course is designed for students wishing to develop and transfer traditional animation skills into the Digital Arena.

course aims

• To give insight into the animation process and applications
• To develop reflective and analytical skills in relation to personal creative work
• To give insight into the work patterns which exist in the animation industry
• To give an overall understanding of the main features of the software used in the industry
• To develop confidence in using software to realise animation work
• To provide a foundation for further progression within the area of digital media

what you study

The course takes you through all aspects of animation from brainstorming initial ideas, character development, storyboarding, creating animatics, line testing through to finishes animation. You will have sessions in life drawing and drawing for animation as well as sessions in the computer rooms where you will be introduced to various digital packages used in the industry, such as Garageband, Painter, Flash, AnimeStudioPro, AfterEffects and Maya.

Timetable…
The course takes place over two days a week for one academic year. Those days are Thursday and Friday each week.

facilities
Tower Hamlets College has excellent Apple Mac computer facilities. You will work in a suite of IntelMacs and have access to the Learning Centre facilities outside course hours.

how you study

In the first term’s sessions are primarily aimed at teaching you script writing and storyboarding as well as computer skills in relevant software packages. You are required to arrive with a story idea in mind and use the first term to finalise your story and to create the script and storyboard. This term is quite intensiv as it focuses on software skills and idea development.
The second term’s sessions will be led by the project work for the final animations. Each lecturer will cover his/her field of expertise and incorporate specific techniques used for the projects in hand.
The last term will focus on completing the animations. The sessions are usually held as workshops and will ensure successful output of the final piece.

the qualification
The course is validated by the nationally recognised organization Open College Network. On completion of the course you will be awarded a NOCN Access Certificate. This qualification is the equivalent of 2 A levels and will allow you to continue at degree level.
Successful completion of the course is dependent on you attending 80% of classes and achieving 16 unit credits Formal portfolio assessment will take place at the end of each term.

the next step

Having completed the course successfully you will have a strong portfolio and a range of imaginative sketchbook work to take to job 1st degree and/or MA course interviews.

the fees

The costs of the course for UK & EU students is £850 per annum unless you earn £15,000 or less per annum in which case the course is free. For overseas non-EU students the course is £3,200 per annum.
Equipment…
If you do not have them already, during the year you will be expected to purchase some materials such as a drawing kit, paper, peg, field guide, modelling materials and tools, sketchpads, photocopy cards, a portfolio and zip disks. Also there may be a NOCN administration cost of around £30.00-£65.00 depending on your status.

eligibility

Students must be 19 years old and above at the 1st September 2008. Acceptance on the course is by interview when students are expected to bring a portfolio of visual work to include drawing and some evidence of computer literacy. Students are expected to be able to use Photoshop and preferably Illustrator.

application & enrolment

For an application form - or to arrange an interview contact Prisca Schmarsow, Course Co-ordinator by email on prisca.schmarsow@tower.ac.uk
or Tower Hamlets College Student Advice on 0207 538 5888.

Enrolment for the course is taking place around the second week of September, details to be confirmed.