Character Animation Programme

The three and a half year Bachelor’s programme in Character Animation provides a broad range of theory and practice to challenge participants. Each year focuses on a progressively more intense curriculum that guides students on the path toward mastery.

First year

The character animation education commences with an exploration of the basics for drawing animation. What makes drawing for animation unique? How is this process distinct from simply drawing a still picture? Students progress to learning the principles of traditional animation with pen and paper, focusing on physics and building their way into working with acting scenes.
The comprehensive first year curriculum includes modules in all aspects of 2D animation filmmaking. Scheduled successively through the year, courses in concept design, character design, layout, background, storyboarding and compositing provide the solid foundation students will need for success in completing 2D animation film production. Digital 2D animation is touched upon using relevant software and may include TVPaint™, Adobe® Flash® and After Effects®.

Character Animation students undertake short productions at various points during the year. Some of these productions involve only the students as well as the professional director, while others involve collaboration with Animation Director students from the National Film School of Denmark and La Poudrière, a cinema direction school from the south east region of France. These collaborations give the students their first experience with the important skills of communication, team work and completion, which are essential in production.

Second year

Students in the second year take their 2D animation skills into the 3D platform and experience animation from another perspective. With Maya® software, students re-explore the animation principles through a series of exercises increasing in difficulty from basic physical action through to advanced character acting. Students also encounter other aspects of a 3D workflow such as basic modelling, rigging, lighting and rendering.
Second year students also gain experience within a Maya® production, taking on the role of animator on the second year Computer Graphic Artists Trailer projects and VFX creature assignments.
These in-house productions provide an in-depth understanding of working with people who have different skill sets. Students learn what it takes to communicate with colleagues engaged in other roles while also maintaining their own responsibilities. The year culminates in an out-of-house computer game production in collaboration with The Danish Academy for Digital Interactive Entertainment, DADIU.

Third year

During the third year of study, students from the Character Animation and Computer Graphic Artist programmes come together to form production teams to create Bachelor Projects, which may include films, games, or other creative ventures. Students recognize the value and challenge of the team structure and quickly learn to employ strong cooperation and communication skills. Teams collaborate to plan and manage complex projects and learn the importance of adhering to deadlines. These productions allow students to specialize in a particular area of interest as they contribute to the overall team dynamic, preparing them for the demands of the job market.

The Character Animators also produce the animation for the mid-way and graduation film projects of the Animation Director program students at the National Film School of Denmark , giving them additional experience of working with a director on a high quality film production.
Furthermore, third year students compile their portfolios and showreels, guided by the expertise of the staff and teachers, to highlight their skills as they apply for internships and target the jobs of their choice.

Fourth year

Students attend a three-month internship in a production studio during their final semester. The internship experience provides students with the opportunity to put their hard work to the ultimate test and to establish themselves in the professional work environment. The school maintains and continuously develops a broad network of studios across the globe interested in working with students from the school. Some of the studios are listed here:

• A. Film, Denmark
• Mac Guff Ligne, France
• Cartoon Network, UK
• Folimage, France
• Team To, France
• IO Interactive, Denmark
• Double Fine Productions, USA
• Telltale Games, USA • Cartoon Saloon, Ireland
• Copenhagen Bombay, Denmark
• Zinkia, Spain
• Ghost, Denmark
• Grin, Sweden
• Fabulab, Denmark
• Framestore, Island and UK
• Aardman, UK
• Monk Studio, Thailand

Upon completion of the internship, students return to the school to prepare for exams and graduation. Exams are conducted by production supervisors and professional industry censors and includes an oral examination based on students’ Bachelor projects and theses.
Preceding graduation the school arranges recruitment sessions with companies who may be hiring. Companies come to give briefings about their respective organisations and to show their current and developing productions. They have the opportunity to meet the students and view their work.
As part of the graduation ceremony, The Animation Workshop invites the students’ families to attend a screening of the Bachelor films and projects.