2D Digital Animation and Design Production - FdA

Bournemouth and Poole College

Animation endures as one of the truest forms of creative expression. It's a vessel for humour, a voice for social or political commentary and an evergreen form of entertainment. It has the liberty to go anywhere, in any style and tell any story, which remains one of the reasons it is still so loved it challenges narrative limits. Digital animators are enviably positioned within the creative world our skills are used for character design/concepts, environments, pre-visualisation/animatic within 2D, 3D, stop motion and hybrid work. We understand timing, nuance, style, representation and above all, story. Animators are found within film, games and of course animation itself as standalone work. This is the cultural space of the creators, the dreamers, the outsiders and the storytellers. Our own sensibilities and skills allow us to work in concept, production and post-production comfortably across all areas of media. We have the opportunity to both embrace technology but also retain character and humanity of voice. What you'll study We aim to give learners the knowledge, skill, support and environment in which to explore animation. We'll look at various areas including life drawing, 2D/digital design and illustration, stop motion and modelmaking, character design/expression/acting and movement, writing for animation, storyboarding/shot and camera, animatic work, environment/asset design, colour and lighting (2D, 2.5D and 3D), and post-production, effects and colour grading. We'll also cover pitching your idea, working independently and within a team as an animator, and workflow and roles. You'll attend lectures and seminars delivered by a passionate and engaging team, in a positive environment. The course aims to equip learners with a thorough knowledge of the processes and skills expected for a professional animator. You'll build a portfolio demonstrating these aspects of animation, which will be further underpinned by more established creative sector skills such as pre- and post-production, editing, working with sound and so on. By the end of the course, you'll be able to... Work confidently on all stages of an animation production. Work independently as an animator or as part of a production team. Demonstrate a strong understanding of the medium and its storytelling potential. Work at a higher academic level, managing your own future learning and development. Take a strong portfolio of your work forward.