3D Animation for Games and Film BA Honours

Learn the fundamentals of 3D Animation and CG pipelines for Games and Film. Find your passion and develop your skills through a series of personal and group projects.

In this module you will use your understanding of visual communication and the fundamental creative skills of the discipline to produce a short animation.  

You will consider both the principles of movement in animation and broader aesthetic properties to create an animation which conveys character and meaning.  

Throughout the module, you will gain knowledge and understanding of issues of representation in animation. At the end of the module, you will be able to apply the critical toolkit necessary to understand and articulate how your animated creations can function as representations of a diverse range of human characters, and the social responsibility that this entails. 

This module develops your creative capabilities and instincts. You will be introduced to the foundational principles of visual communication, storytelling and image making; as well as the historical and theoretical context of animation and 3D graphics. You will also be taught the core tenets of cinematic language, and taught how to use them to convey emotion, tone and narrative. The overall goal is to hone your communication and critical thinking skills in ways which build towards the development of a completed artistic project.

This module supports your creative development by introducing you to the principles and processes involved in your artistic discipline. You will learn practical information about the production cycle, as well as industry-standard techniques and software which form the basis of your creative practice. Along with this technical focus, you will be asked to consider the unique aesthetic properties of each technique by responding to creative briefs. You will also begin to develop your drawing skills, learning the basics of anatomy, perspective and gesture which will go on to inform your productions.

Building on Techniques and Practices 1, this module continues to develop your skills with a wider array of tools involved in the composition and production of creative images. We will enhance your visual vocabulary and encourage experimentation in ways which can inform your practice. There is a focus on generating, compositing, and manipulating images, and you will continue to develop your observational skills and use of real-world reference through ongoing life drawing workshops.

Level up your concept creation skills to develop compelling worlds and characters. Tell engaging stories through advanced techniques including Motion Capture, 3D Animation and Virtual Production.

Asset Creation provides you with the skills for originating and processing high-quality CG assets suitable for game or film production. You will engage with the technical and conceptual requirements that distinguish assets made for personal projects from those suitable for professional productions. You will be taught to apply production skills to your own work within the context of a wider team of practitioners, interacting and exchanging artefacts. 

Learn the whole 3D character creation workflow from conception to rendered animation. 

This module equips you with the theoretical and practical skills to create a character and analyse, qualify and generate movement of organic animate assets in a CG context. Motion may be created through various techniques such as manual (traditional keyframe animation), blended (motion editing), synthetic (AI and ML) and procedural (technical animation and simulation). Throughout this process you will develop an understanding of natural motion through observation and reference as well as study the mechanics of recreating motion using digital tools.

Learn Motion Capture, Virtual Film Production and real-time Lighting and Rendering for games and Film. You will explore the crossover between CG media and traditional Lens-based media. It will help you understand the technologies for capturing images and movement from real world and virtual environments. It will also explore conceptually and practically the techniques for combining CG and Lens based images in a real-time context. Practice will be grounded in traditional cinematography and film language. You will be encouraged to engage with the challenges of virtual production through problem solving and troubleshooting exercises. You will be taught to apply production skills to your own work as well as within a wider team of practitioners, collaborating, interacting, and exchanging artefacts. Issues around copyright, representation, ownership, licensing, and intellectual property will be discussed and you will need to be explicit about the licensing of your own work as well as properly crediting the work of other practitioners. 

You will develop your creative ideation skills through research in visual references and principles, as well as through artistic and technical skills, while responding to a conceptual brief. Worldbuilding is approached in the storytelling sense of developing a coherent, plausible visual and narrative context to underpin a game, film, animation or VR experience. Cultural aspects of storytelling will be considered to promote awareness of the wide variety of storytelling traditions and to encourage you to build story worlds which can accommodate a diversity of stories and characters. You will be introduced to world building in the practical sense too by planning, prototyping, blocking and iterating on the design and production of a complex environment. 

Develop and produce an ambitious major project, focusing on your specialist interests as part of a production team. Develop your personal, industry-ready portfolio with feedback and advice from industry mentors.

You will be learning a wide range of subjects all chosen to make you a better practitioner. These range from applied creativity to knowledge of cutting-edge technology. Some of the subjects include:

• Concept creation and development
• 3D animation fundamentals
• Creating 3D assets
• Environments and characters for games
• Virtual sets for film
• In-depth study of motion capture and virtual production
• Studio practices and Industry workflows.

Implement the animation, story, game level or 3D experience developed in Pre-production   

You will undertake and complete an ambitious and expansive personal or group project. With a focus on autonomy and self-organisation, you will take charge of managing and coordinating your projects, while receiving invaluable guidance and support from tutors and technicians. Emulating real-world industry scenarios, you will be encouraged to adopt the role of a member of a small, boutique studio or a freelance professional, with teaching staff assuming the dual role of client and supervisor. By the conclusion of the module, you will have honed your skills to deliver work to a high standard, suited to feature prominently in a personal showreel aimed at seeking and securing employment. 

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:  

• Identify and address key challenges of production 
• Create work of a professional standard and evaluate and rigorously assess your own output against established industry standards, fostering reflection, refinement, and improvement 
• Apply editorial, review, test-screenings, play testing and other iterative methods in the development of professional outcomes 
• Project manage an extended and ambitious project, including managing, logging, and documenting individual contributions within the framework of the project schedule 
• Undertake a specialist role within a wider, collaborative endeavour. 

You will undertake and complete an ambitious and expansive personal or group project. With a focus on autonomy and self-organisation, you will take charge of managing and coordinating your projects, while receiving invaluable guidance and support from tutors and technicians. Emulating real-world industry scenarios, you will be encouraged to adopt the role of a member of a small, boutique studio or a freelance professional, with teaching staff assuming the dual role of client and supervisor. By the conclusion of the module, you will have honed your skills to deliver work to a high standard, suited to feature prominently in a personal showreel aimed at seeking and securing employment. 

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:  

• Identify and address key challenges of production 
• Create work of a professional standard and evaluate and rigorously assess your own output against established industry standards, fostering reflection, refinement, and improvement 
• Apply editorial, review, test-screenings, play testing and other iterative methods in the development of professional outcomes 
• Project manage an extended and ambitious project, including managing, logging, and documenting individual contributions within the framework of the project schedule 
• Undertake a specialist role within a wider, collaborative endeavour. 

Create an eye-catching showreel of your personal work for competitions and job applications 

This employability module is designed to prepare you with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the professional world. You will gain insights into effectively presenting their work, understand the significance of networking, and learn how to curate and publish their portfolios online. Tailored to their specific areas of specialisation such as Character Artist, Environment Artist, Modeller, 3D Animator, Motion Editor, or Motion Capture Technician, you will choose the focus of your portfolio. Through interactive sessions and tutorials, the module creates an iterative approach to creative practice. You will have ample opportunities to refine your work to meet industry standards, whether it's enhancing the aesthetic appeal or elevating the technical sophistication of your artefacts. Furthermore, you will learn the value of peer and expert feedback by actively sharing your work and seeking guidance from industry professionals. By the end of the module, you will have developed an industry-facing portfolio that showcases your skills and capabilities. This portfolio, accompanied by the necessary documentation, will prepare you to confidently apply and enter the creative industries. 

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:  

• Analyse and discern appropriate sources of feedback and professional critique to enhance your own work.  
• Evaluate and implement techniques for presenting yourself and your work with a high degree of professionalism 
• Utilise feedback from peers and professionals to enhance professional practice 
• Construct a compelling showreel showcasing your work, tailored for prospective employment opportunities 
• Create, develop and maintain an online presence to cultivate a professional identity and network. 

Study your 3D specialism in depth with small practical technical projects. 

This module will help you to discover and critically assess valuable sources of information. You will cultivate a robust research methodology and enhance your skills for ongoing self-improvement and learning within your field of interest or specialisation (e.g. Character Artist, Environment Artist Modeller, 3D Animator, Motion Editor, Motion capture technician). Emphasis will be placed on applying research to tangible outcomes such as tests, experiments, and prototypes directly relevant to your projects. Additionally, you will actively engage in industry research including keeping abreast of industry developments in your specialist areas. 

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:  

• Gather, assess, and organise a body of research material relevant to specialist practice 
• Research with professional practices, methods, and industry trends relevant specialist field  
• Undertake a systematic series of tests to evaluate unfamiliar methods and workflows in a specialist field 
• Present a coherent and structured body of research and practice related to your chosen specialism. 

You will learn your subject by attending lectures, seminars and practical workshops.

All modules are taught in a hands-on “studio” style with training and instruction in the morning and workshop activities in the afternoon to apply what you’ve been taught immediately to your coursework. At the end of each studio day, a daily review of what you’ve achieved gives immediate feedback from your supervising tutors – just like the daily reviews used in the industry.

Lectures allow you to gain and develop knowledge in specific subjects. You can discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures and practicals in smaller seminar groups.

Seminars and workshops are a great opportunity to discuss what you have learnt with your peers and tutors. Most seminar groups have about 25-30 students.

For one-to-one support, you will meet with either your personal tutor or module leader. We will also share our library of online resources. Your work will be divided into credits. Each credit is equal to 10 hours of study time. You will complete 120 credits per year of study, which are broken down into modules of typically 30 credits.

You will be studying at our north London campus in Hendon.

During your first year, your weekly timetable will typically consist of:

• 4 hours of lectures

• 10 hours of workshops.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.

Your independent learning is supported by the library and study hub, open access computer labs, and with online materials in MyUniHub. You will also receive hands on support from technicians, tutors, graduate academic assistants and student learning assistants. 

Here is an indication of how you will split your time.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Our excellent teaching and support teams will help you develop the skills relevant to your degree from research and practical skills to critical thinking. Our Sheppard Library is open 24 hours a day during term time. And we offer free 24-hour laptop loans with full desktop software, free printing and Wi-Fi to use on or off campus, even over the weekend.

Your knowledge and understanding will be assessed by project based coursework including artistic outcomes, production materials and supporting documentation together with regular presentations of work-in-progress at daily review sessions. Your skills will be assessed by  monitoring and recording small observable behaviours in workshops and group learning, together with testing practical skills in workshops through small, focussed problem solving tasks.  

There will be feedback from industry mentors where suitable, peer evaluation through the exchange of practical work and 
individual and group critiques of work in progress.