Postgraduate Courses in Computer Animation
The UK is a world leader in computer animation courses and companies. Prof John Vince of the National Centre for Computer Animation at Bournemouth University tells you what you need to know.
The growth of computer graphics over the last three decades has been incredible. Today, the world of computer animation has become a sophisticated discipline supported by exotic software and real-time workstations. A world dominated by young, talented computer animators, who are completely at home building virtual worlds and animating impossible scenarios. No one would dare claim that computer animation has settled down as a stable industry; it is still exploding in all directions creating new opportunities for industry and opening up amazing career opportunities. A postgraduate course in computer animation can enhance your employment prospects and further your career opportunities.
It is therefore, no surprise, that more and more students are considering computer animation as a career. The very thought of being involved in Oscar-winning special effects films, 3D computer games and computer-generated films is very tempting. Add to this the prospect of earning a healthy salary and it is no wonder that computer animation courses are in great demand.
Fortunately, this enthusiasm to seek a career in digital media is more than matched by industry's need for educated and knowledgeable people. And the pressure is really on academic to respond to this growing demand.
Companies such as Industrial Light & Magic, Pixar, Dreamworks and Disney are amongst those companies leading the way by creating an incredible market for computer-generated images. However, the film industry is only part of the story: apart from film special effects, there are other important sectors such as computer games, entertainment simulators, advertising, TV, multimedia and the Internet. Collectively, they form a mass global industry that is worth billions of dollars.
The National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) at Bournemouth University has offered postgraduate courses in computer animation for several years and is now the UK's leading centre for teaching, research and production in digital media. The awarding of a grade 5 in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise within the Art and Design research category established the Centre within the research elite, boosting its international reputation in animation.
In 1989, the NCCA started a Master of Arts in Computer Animation for art and design graduates or experienced professionals, and over a period of year exposed them to the creative and technical aspects of computer graphics. The success of this course prompted staff to develop a complementary undergraduate degree - the BA (Hons) in Computer Visualisation and Animation as well as postgraduate degrees – the MSc in Computer Animation and MA in Digital Effects. Many graduates from these programmes now hold key animation jobs in the UK and the USA.
Finding suitable candidates for all of these courses presents few problems - apart from the task of interviewing and selecting promising students from several hundred applicants. Keeping scores of students busy for three years learning computer graphics is not a problem for there is much to learn. The philosophy of these courses is 'hands on'.
Students are selected with a mixture of backgrounds, but basically they must be able to demonstrate excellent creative skills, normally in the form of a portfolio of painting, drawing and photographic work. Complementing these creative skills they must be reasonably numerate and, hopefully, have some exposure to computers. The bias of this profile changes from student to student; some possess excellent drawing and painting skills and could easily pursue a career in fine art; others come with amazing technical illustrative skills displayed in the form of comic strips, cartoons and potential computer games. Some have more technical experience than others and are able to program existing software and design new software to create animated images. Regardless of their background, all students must be able to articulate why they wish to study a postgraduate course in computer animation. Once the selection process if over, they are mixed together, the blue touch paper is lit and their tuition begins.
During their time at university, computer animation students will study computer languages, computer graphics, the nature of the moving image, storyboarding, technology and appropriate mathematics. They will undertake individual projects where they have to produce personal computer animations and work in groups to collectively solve a problem. This is how they will have to work in industry. By the end of their studies, they will possess a solid understanding of computer animation and as they can specialise in the final year, they can confidently seek employment virtually anywhere in the world.
Fortunately, industry is very generous when it comes to sharing their in-house knowledge and the NCCA at Bournemouth University regularly welcomes guest speakers from industry to give informal talks, product presentations, master classes and suggest projects. These experts also help to form an advisory panel to provide feedback on course structure and content to ensure its continued relevance to industry.
This form of collaboration is healthy for everyone: students keep abreast of the latest techniques and industry gains access to the next generation of purchasers of their products and future employees if you are to get the most out of your postgraduate course in computer animation.
Prof John Vince is Professor of Digital Media and Head of the National Centre for Computer Animation, Bournemouth University
