MA Animation

Program Overview

The MA Animation program at Leeds Arts University, United Kingdom, provides a focused and intensive postgraduate experience for aspiring and established animation practitioners. This one-year program is meticulously designed to enable students to conceive, develop, and complete a significant animation project, be it a short film, a technical showreel, or an innovative animation-related endeavor. The curriculum fosters a critical interplay between practical animation skills, theoretical understanding, and the professional realities of the animation industry, empowering students to explore and realize their full creative and commercial potential within this dynamic field.

Curriculum: The curriculum for the MA Animation program is structured to blend specialist animation practice with essential research and business acumen. Alongside dedicated modules focused on individual animation specialization and project development, students engage with core modules that delve into research methodologies relevant to creative practice and the professional landscape of the creative industries. Teaching methodologies are diverse and student-centered, incorporating individual supervision tailored to each student's project, collaborative group tutorials that encourage interdisciplinary exchange with other postgraduate courses, and exposure to real-world scenarios through live briefs and industry-related projects. The program emphasizes both individual creative exploration and the collaborative nature of animation production. Students are encouraged to experiment with a range of animation techniques, from traditional methods to cutting-edge digital technologies, including VR and real-time animation. They benefit from instruction by faculty members who are active researchers and practitioners in the animation field, as well as insights shared by visiting industry professionals, ensuring the curriculum remains current and relevant to industry standards and emerging trends. Specialist resources available to animation students are extensive, including dedicated stop-motion animation studios, high-performance computer labs equipped with industry-standard 2D and 3D animation software and Wacom Cintiqs, traditional animation equipment such as rostrum cameras, and access to advanced 3D workshops for scanning, printing, and digital fabrication.

Research Focus: The research focus within the MA Animation program at Leeds Arts University is deeply embedded in the exploration and advancement of animation as a dynamic art form and industry. Students are encouraged to engage in practice-led research, where their animation projects themselves become a form of inquiry, exploring narrative possibilities, technical innovations, and the evolving language of animation. The program fosters critical thinking and analytical skills, enabling students to contextualize their creative practice within broader theoretical frameworks and industry trends. Faculty expertise spans a diverse range of animation research interests, providing mentorship and guidance across various animation styles and approaches. The university's wider research environment, recognized for its originality and significance in the REF 2021, supports a culture of inquiry and innovation, encouraging postgraduate students to contribute to the evolving discourse within animation studies and practice.

Industry Engagement: Industry engagement is a vital component of the MA Animation program, providing students with crucial connections and insights into the professional animation world. The university actively facilitates opportunities for students to interact with industry professionals through guest lectures, workshops, and networking events. Students are encouraged to undertake professional development activities, such as attending industry conferences and seeking out freelance opportunities or internships where appropriate to their project goals. The program's emphasis on developing a professional portfolio and showreel directly prepares students for the job market. The Careers, Employability, and Enterprise team at Leeds Arts University offers dedicated support for postgraduate students, providing guidance on career planning, self-promotion, and building professional networks within the animation industry, both during their studies and for up to three years after graduation.

Global Perspective: While the provided information does not explicitly detail a specific "global perspective" component for the MA Animation program in the same way as the example, Leeds Arts University inherently fosters a global perspective through its diverse international student body and its connections within the international arts and design community. The university welcomes students from around the world, enriching the learning environment with a variety of cultural perspectives and creative influences. The MA Animation program, by its nature as a contemporary art form with international reach, encourages students to consider global audiences and distribution platforms for their work. Exposure to diverse animation traditions and international industry practices may be integrated into the curriculum through guest speakers, case studies, and discussions of global animation trends, preparing graduates to engage with the international animation landscape.