Animation and Character Creation
- Level(s) of Study: Short course
- Course Fee:
£595 (evening course) or £695 (summer course)
- Start Date(s): 20 January 2025, 21 July 2025
- Duration: Mondays, 6 pm to 8.30 pm, for ten weeks or Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm, one week
- Study Mode(s): Part-time
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements: More information
Introduction:
Course dates:
20 January - 24 March 2025, Mondays 6 - 8.30 pm
21 - 25 July 2025, Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm
Embark on a journey into the world of animation!
Starting with hand-drawn projects such as creating flipbooks and zoetropes (the fundamentals of making moving images and tricking the eye), the course quickly moves on to more complex methods of hand drawing and digital animation using industry standard software such as TV Paint and Adobe After Effects.
Through practical projects, you’ll develop your skills in hand-drawn and digital software using a range of tools and techniques to create animations and express your artistic vision.
From aspiring and established artists and designers to image-makers and content creators, and from enthusiastic amateurs to creative students and educators, this course will enhance your drawing, storytelling, design and technical skills.
If you’re a looking to expand your skillset and explore new creative avenues, whatever your background, you’ll be very welcome; you can have no previous knowledge and limited drawing skills and still achieve great results.
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You’ll be part of a design community in our creative studio culture; one that promotes discussion and collaboration, and encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas. -
With a limited class size you'll have the one-to-one attention you need to ensure you leave with the skills to continue developing your skills at home or work. -
Benefit from learning with an experienced tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in varied practices. -
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance.
Here’s what our previous attendees said:
'I loved using Adobe Animate to animate my characters, and making new characters.'
'I enjoyed learning new software programmes.'
'All of my animation questions were answered and I benefited from one-to-one time with the tutor.'
What you’ll study
During the course you will:
- dive into the essence of animation, mastering crucial elements like timing, spacing and the twelve principles of animation techniques
- understand the basics of hand-drawn animation and tween animation
- create mesmerising optical illusion toys and bring flip books to life with the turn of every page
- study the movement of balloons and other objects, unravelling the motion into sequences
- harness the power of AI image generation to creative captivating character inspiration to support your imagination and vision
- take the fundamental principles you’ve acquired and seamlessly integrate them to create a cohesive character, exploring the intricacies of character turnarounds
- animate to a piece of music, blending visual and audio together effectively
- use Adobe Animate CC and Wacom Cintiq tablets.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a good understanding of basic animation techniques and knowledge of Adobe software and its capabilities.
You’ll have produced a series of short projects that demonstrate your new skills in animation and making animated characters that can be used for a show reel and portfolio.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll study during the course:
Creating character inspiration using AI image generation. Using industry-standard software such as TV Paint and Adobe After Effects to create animation
Learning the fundamentals using the twelve principles of animation. Understanding the basics of hand-drawn animation and tween animation
Creating a cohesive character putting the fundamentals into practice.
Student Work
How you’re taught
This course will be delivered in person on Nottingham Trent University city campus.
Contact hours
You will receive 25 (evenings) or 30 (summer) contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.
Careers and employability
The course is designed to prepare you to succeed in the art and design industry; students who have taken this course have come from a wide variety of industries including animation and film, advertising and marketing, gaming, and multimedia companies.
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance, which will further enhance your CV.
Campus and facilities
You will be based in the Nottingham School of Art and Design on the City Campus.
You’ll find collaborative working spaces where you develop your sketches and concepts, and Mac suites equipped with industry standard software and hardware including Adobe Animate, Wacom Cintiq Touch Tablets and Pro Creative Pens.
You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.
You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.
Entry requirements
Level: Beginner
Entry requirement: Whilst no software experience is required, you should be confident in saving files and basic computer functions.
You should have an interest in animation and a love of animated films, and an eagerness to explore new ways of working and sharing your ideas
You must be over the age of 18 to attend this course.
Fees and funding
The fee for this course is £595 (Saturday course) or £695 (summer course).
Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.
Secure your place with a deposit - If you're booking more than two months before the course starts, we can accept a £200 deposit to secure your place, and the balance is due one month before the course starts.
Your course fees cover the cost of studies, including great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.
Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.
You will also need to bring with you:
- Notepad and pen
- sketchbook and drawing pens / pencils
- USB stick.
Ideally you will bring to the course any images or material you are working on, or which inspire you to experiment with, so that you get the most out of the practical projects.
You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.
Need accommodation for a week long summer course?
Accommodation can be booked separately to the course; the rooms are only a few minutes’ walk from our studios and classrooms, and cost £259 per week.
These are single rooms with a private bathroom in shared apartments in Nottingham Trent University’s city campus accommodation, which is ideal if you're looking to be based in Nottingham's lively city centre and want an economical place to stay.
Find out more and book your accommodation here.
How to apply
You can book your place via the NTU online store:
20 January - 24 March 2025, Mondays 6 - 8.30 pm
21 - 25 July 2025, Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm
Browse all Design and Digital Arts courses here.
Any questions?
Contact the short course team:
Email: creativeshortcourses@ntu.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2813