Animation

An introduction to the core creative and technical processes of animation. In this module you will investigate the key approaches and principles of the discipline, experimenting with different modes of working, together with form, authorship, style, storytelling, observation and communication principles.

The module delivers core skills in creative ideas generation using physical animation techniques that support the design process. In this module you will work on the central aspects of generating creative ideas, then on how to interpret and extrapolate those ideas. As such, you will chart the creative process, explore traditional design skills and get to grips with a variety of physical animation techniques.

In this module live briefs will provide the opportunity to design story, characters and environment. You will develop creative and theoretical approaches to learning, collaborating in teams across the SODA community as they work through the production design and animation test phase to create short form animated content. 

Taking a strong practical focus, you will build your experience and skills as an animator. You will explore techniques and get hands on with industry-standard tools – developing your capabilities, expanding your skillset and equipping yourself with the means to deliver various forms of animated content. 

This module provides the space where the four SODA research themes of Body, Machine, Society and Storytelling are introduced and explored. The module initiates transdisciplinary thinking and collaborating with others. It forms the beginning of developing your hybrid skills set.

Within each thematic of this module, you will choose a Co-Lab project that best suits your interests. The module will introduce you to research methodologies, creative thinking, technical languages and problem-solving techniques and ideas. It also constitutes the beginning of developing your employability skills.

The Body thematic will introduce and enable you to explore the changing role of our bodies within digital technologies and environments, researching the interaction between what we call a user and the machine through concepts of embodiment, the senses, movement and cognition. The module will establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation.

The Machine thematic will introduce and enable you to explore disruptive systems, researching what machine learning is and how it operates. The module will establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation. Machine encompasses a range of different approaches to thinking about creative automation.

The Society thematic will introduce and enable you to explore the relationship between digital culture and society, researching the ways in which technology is developed within and in response to our societies. The module will provide an opportunity to explore how technology can be used for social good.

The Storytelling thematic introduces you to new narrative dynamics, researching the new forms and/or functions of stories in the digital age. You will learn how innovation in storytelling is key to both the production of new digital creative forms and our understanding of them in culture and society. You will also recognise the powerful effects of storytelling in the way we understand ourselves and the world.

This module provides the space where the four SODA research themes of Body, Machine, Society and Storytelling are introduced and explored. The module initiates transdisciplinary thinking and collaborating with others. It forms the beginning of developing your hybrid skills set.

Within each thematic of this module, you will choose a Co-Lab project that best suits your interests. The module will introduce you to research methodologies, creative thinking, technical languages and problem-solving techniques and ideas. It also constitutes the beginning of developing your employability skills.

The Body thematic will introduce and enable you to explore the changing role of our bodies within digital technologies and environments, researching the interaction between what we call a user and the machine through concepts of embodiment, the senses, movement and cognition. The module will establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation.

The Machine thematic will introduce and enable you to explore disruptive systems, researching what machine learning is and how it operates. The module will establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation. Machine encompasses a range of different approaches to thinking about creative automation.

The Society thematic will introduce and enable you to explore the relationship between digital culture and society, researching the ways in which technology is developed within and in response to our societies. The module will provide an opportunity to explore how technology can be used for social good.

The Storytelling thematic introduces you to new narrative dynamics, researching the new forms and/or functions of stories in the digital age. You will learn how innovation in storytelling is key to both the production of new digital creative forms and our understanding of them in culture and society. You will also recognise the powerful effects of storytelling in the way we understand ourselves and the world.

Building on your work and experience from previous modules, you will have a chance to focus on the specialist areas that interest you most. You will investigate a variety of animation delivery techniques, whilst also exploring the interaction between practice and narrative – giving you a deeper understanding of your chosen form (or forms) of animation.

In this module, you will look into the industry’s workings – engaging with networks to learn about the business, planning and operational aspects of animation. Building confidence in your abilities as a practicing animator, you will learn and experience how your career could unfold, looking at the variety of roles and career formats available. 

Working on cross-media, cross-platform projects, you will not only go through the process of commission, design and delivery, but also look at new forms of technology-based creativity. You’ll work as part of a team, collaborating across the wider SODA community – combining animation with filmmaking, directing, editing and visual effects to produce an immersive and engaging piece of work.

This module enables you to investigate industry practices in animation within a range of media contexts. The module covers research funding, crowd and industry funding, as well as commissioning processes planning and strategy.  

This module provides the space where the four SODA research themes of Body, Machine, Society and Storytelling are further explored. You will further develop and enhance your transdisciplinary thinking, collaboration with others and development of your hybrid skill set.

Within this module you will again choose a Co-Lab theme that best suits your interests. Through this you will expand your knowledge of critical research methodologies, conceptual thinking, technical languages, including problem solving and problem posing skills.

The Body thematic further investigates the role of our bodies within digital technologies and environments, researching the interaction between user and machine through concepts of embodiment, the senses, movement and cognition. The module will further establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation, making us reconsider what body means in a technological space.

The Machine thematic further investigates disruptive systems, researching and learning how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable innovative methods of production. Machine encompasses a range of different approaches to thinking about creative automation.

The Society thematic further investigates the relationship between digital culture and society, researching the ways in which technology is developed within and in response to our societies. Students will further explore how technology can be used for social good and to enhance and improve people’s lives.

The Storytelling thematic further investigates new narrative dynamics, researching the new forms and/or functions of stories in the digital age. You will learn how innovation in storytelling is key to both the production of new digital creative forms and our understanding of them in culture and society. You will further explore the powerful effects of storytelling on how we understand the world and ourselves.

This module provides the space where the four SODA research themes of Body, Machine, Society and Storytelling are introduced and explored. The module initiates transdisciplinary thinking and collaborating with others. It forms the beginning of developing your hybrid skills set.

Within each thematic of this module, you will choose a Co-Lab project that best suits your interests. The module will introduce you to research methodologies, creative thinking, technical languages and problem-solving techniques and ideas. It also constitutes the beginning of developing your employability skills.

The Body thematic will introduce and enable you to explore the changing role of our bodies within digital technologies and environments, researching the interaction between what we call a user and the machine through concepts of embodiment, the senses, movement and cognition. The module will establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation.

The Machine thematic will introduce and enable you to explore disruptive systems, researching what machine learning is and how it operates. The module will establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation. Machine encompasses a range of different approaches to thinking about creative automation.

The Society thematic will introduce and enable you to explore the relationship between digital culture and society, researching the ways in which technology is developed within and in response to our societies. The module will provide an opportunity to explore how technology can be used for social good.

The Storytelling thematic introduces you to new narrative dynamics, researching the new forms and/or functions of stories in the digital age. You will learn how innovation in storytelling is key to both the production of new digital creative forms and our understanding of them in culture and society. You will also recognise the powerful effects of storytelling in the way we understand ourselves and the world.

Your individual project is yours to lead and manage – delivering a professional-level short-form animated film. You will go through an in-depth process of research, theoretical development and design, allowing you to investigate, explore and evaluate concepts, visual style, themes and narrative.

In this module you will have the chance to identify and build a body of research around your specialist area using independent study. As well as testing your core animation capabilities, it’s a project that will involve external partners, organisations or research communities – giving you the chance to make a professional commitment to an area that interests you.

Drawing together and building on all the skills, research and knowledge you’ve built over the course, you will produce a film from concept through to final output, in collaboration with others across the wider SODA community. As part of the production team, your role will be to work on a major animated project that shows attention to narrative construction, advanced production and post-production techniques.

In this module you will take a close look at the animation industry and community, identifying and investigating an aspect of animation to research before producing an independent study or community-based project. 

This module runs parallel to the final year production module to support core methodologies in curation, dissemination, and communication of your artistic practice and processes. The students in this module will explore and implement creative methods of communicating research, process and final outcomes. It is about documenting in detail the journey taken to make a significant animated film or animation portfolio to a professional standard, in addition to planning and producing content for the dissemination of the work to a chosen wider audience.

This module provides the space where the four SODA research themes are investigated, explored. and applied. You will apply your advanced skills of transdisciplinary thinking, collaboration with others and synthesis of your hybrid skill set. Within this module, you will critically select a Co-Lab theme that best suits your interests. Through this you will consolidate your knowledge of research methodologies, creative thinking, technical languages, problem solving and problem posing techniques and ideas.

Body will further explore the role of our bodies within digital technologies and environments, researching the interaction between user and machine through concepts of embodiment, the senses, movement and cognition. The module will further establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation, making us reconsider what body means in a technological space.

Machine will further explore disruptive systems, researching and learning how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new methods of production and innovation. Machine encompasses a range of different approaches to thinking about creative automation and how this has become embedded in the technology we use and rely upon.

Society will further investigate the relationship between digital culture and society, researching the ways in which technology is developed within and in response to our societies. The module will provide an opportunity to explore the many ways in which society can benefit from the application of technologies to improve and enhance people’s lives.

Storytelling will further explore narrative dynamics, researching and applying new forms and/or functions of stories in the digital age. You will consolidate your knowledge of innovative storytelling and how it is key to both the production of new digital creative forms and our understanding of them in culture and society. You will explore the sophisticated was in which stories can change the way in which we understand our place in the world.