Animation MA MA

Explore the theoretical and practical applications of animation across a wide range of media and discover the opportunities and developments in the 21st century creative ecosystem on our postgraduate course.

For 25/26 entry.

Our MA Animation is your platform to create your own path, and develop your expertise through a range of experimental and traditional techniques. Grounded in professional application and influenced by real-world business, our course will develop your existing knowledge of creative media, and push your boundaries in quality and applied animation, putting you in the best position to succeed in a competitive industry.

Whether you choose to study full-time or part-time, the course pathways are negotiated by you. At Staffordshire University, we have expertise in the areas of 2D Digital, 3D Digital, Stop Motion and Games Animation, which gives you the opportunity to develop a masters level expertise in a variety of, or specialised field of study. What’s more, you will have the opportunity to bring in aspects and relevant influences from your current career, or tailor your studies to your aspiring future in the animation field using University connections from the likes of Aardman, Carse & Waterman, Pixar, Walt Disney and more.

Whether you are creating worlds, characters or commercial pieces with our postgraduate course, you will actively seek to promote emerging perspectives, technologies, and methodologies to push the animation form forward through research and live practice in our state-of-the-art animation studios.

For 25/26 entry.

Our MA Animation is your platform to create your own path, and develop your expertise through a range of experimental and traditional techniques. Grounded in professional application and influenced by real-world business, our course will develop your existing knowledge of creative media, and push your boundaries in quality and applied animation, putting you in the best position to succeed in a competitive industry.

Whether you choose to study full-time or part-time, the course pathways are negotiated by you. At Staffordshire University, we have expertise in the areas of 2D Digital, 3D Digital, Stop Motion and Games Animation, which gives you the opportunity to develop a masters level expertise in a variety of, or specialised field of study. What’s more, you will have the opportunity to bring in aspects and relevant influences from your current career, or tailor your studies to your aspiring future in the animation field using University connections from the likes of Aardman, Carse & Waterman, Pixar, Walt Disney and more.

Whether you are creating worlds, characters or commercial pieces with our postgraduate course, you will actively seek to promote emerging perspectives, technologies, and methodologies to push the animation form forward through research and live practice in our state-of-the-art animation studios.

MA Animation is is designed to develop individual knowledge and skills and to provide the framework and structure that encourages independent thinking. Split into seven areas over your chosen duration of study, the course is designed to take you through a negotiated journey, influenced by your aspirations or career interests.

The first area of study is our Animation Cultures and Critiques, where you will explore contemporary debates and develop contextualisation for original work in relation to your aspirations and interests within the animation world. You will also develop your existing knowledge of animated storytelling into an expertise of narrative, character, sequence and movement relationships in Animation Story and Performance. While developing your knowledge, you will move towards practical development in Animation Design and Technologies, where you will further your experimental skills and techniques in relation to your career interests.

Moving forward, you will build on your practical skills with knowledge of professional animation settings in Animation Industries and Ecosystems, which is heavily influenced by guest lecturers and industry-active academics, who will work to build your networks while you study. At this point you will also begin to heavily tailor your course, negotiating individual objectives with a supervisor for a focused animation investigation in Animation Production Proofs and Solutions.

The final segment of your course will see you develop and showcase your practical skills over two modules. Animation Production Consolidation will focus your energy and resource on a production, such as a short film or showreel to a professional quality standard, and Animation Post-production and Presentation will see you mastering and finishing practical works, and showcasing to live audiences for feedback.

MA Animation is is designed to develop individual knowledge and skills and to provide the framework and structure that encourages independent thinking. Split into seven areas over your chosen duration of study, the course is designed to take you through a negotiated journey, influenced by your aspirations or career interests.

The first area of study is our Animation Cultures and Critiques, where you will explore contemporary debates and develop contextualisation for original work in relation to your aspirations and interests within the animation world. You will also develop your existing knowledge of animated storytelling into an expertise of narrative, character, sequence and movement relationships in Animation Story and Performance. While developing your knowledge, you will move towards practical development in Animation Design and Technologies, where you will further your experimental skills and techniques in relation to your career interests.

Moving forward, you will build on your practical skills with knowledge of professional animation settings in Animation Industries and Ecosystems, which is heavily influenced by guest lecturers and industry-active academics, who will work to build your networks while you study. At this point you will also begin to heavily tailor your course, negotiating individual objectives with a supervisor for a focused animation investigation in Animation Production Proofs and Solutions.

The final segment of your course will see you develop and showcase your practical skills over two modules. Animation Production Consolidation will focus your energy and resource on a production, such as a short film or showreel to a professional quality standard, and Animation Post-production and Presentation will see you mastering and finishing practical works, and showcasing to live audiences for feedback.