Character Creation for Animation, Games & VFX (Integrated Masters)

If you feel a passion for storytelling and creating characters with rich backstories that are a part of vast and detailed worlds… then this cutting-edge course is for you.

Designed with industry experts from Creative Assembly, Framestore, nDreams and PlayStation London Studio, on this degree you will gain an understanding of the character creation pipeline from concept to implementation, developing models, character rigs and FX. This will require work at all points in the production pipeline, including simulations of muscles, cloth and fur. You’ll learn from tutors who have worked at top studios such as Rise Visual Effects and MPC. By the time you graduate, you will have the transferable skills to work and support teams in both technical and artistic capacities across different outputs such as complex character simulations, and real-time and interactive production environments, such as virtual reality and other forms of interactive entertainment.

Why choose this course

• Based in London - home to some of the best animation, video games and VFX studios in the world

• Partnership with Epic Games - the first Unreal Engine Authorized Training Center in the UK and an Unreal Engine Academic Partner.

• We’re a Houdini certified school

• Work on industry-standard briefs, experience real-life scenarios and receive feedback on your work from external developers to learn about current development practice

• Successful alumni - you’ll join our community of thousands of Escapees, many of whom have gone on to work at some of the world’s top studios including Rare, Rockstar, Ubisoft, DNEG and Framestore. 47 Escapees worked on Avengers: Endgame, 26 on The Mandalorian, 23 on Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 and 20 on Stranger Things

• Study in a studio environment that mirrors current industry practice, using high-spec equipment and professional software such as Unreal Engine and Houdini

• Professional input - industry partners have helped design this degree to make sure it is relevant to employers and up to date

• All-round technical skills - learn software, skills and techniques for both games and visual effects and learn how the pipelines cross over

• Soft skills - learn soft skills such as teamwork, organisation and giving and receiving feedback to prepare you for work in the real world.

First year (Level 4 - 120 credits)

Students on our BSc / MSci Character Creation, Games Design and Technical Art degrees study common modules in their first year. This will give you the all-round skills needed to become a professional, and a chance to choose a different specialism if you change your mind before your second year (subject to availability).

Art Direction and Visual Language (15 credits)
Introduction to 3D Graphics (15 credits)
Introduction to Technical Scripting (15 credits)
Worldbuilding (15 credits)
Introduction to Games Design (15 credits)
Character Control (15 credits)
Real-time FX (15 credits)
Interactive - Jam Group Project (15 credits)

Second year (Level 5 - 120 credits)

You’ll develop your specialist skills and work in teams on industry-style projects.

Character Creation (30 credits)
Technical Direction (30 credits)
Specialism (15 credits)
Industry Studio Project (45 credits)

Third year (Level 6 - 120 credits)

Advanced Specialism (30 credits)
Professional Practice (30 credits)
Professional Studio Project (60 credits)

Fourth year - Integrated Masters students only (Level 7 - 120 credits)

Keen to further refine your skillset, considering working freelance, or one day dream of starting your own studio? As part of a team, you’ll work like a real outsourced studio, each taking on different roles relevant to your expertise. You’ll learn about business, entrepreneurship and the know-how for an impressive portfolio career.

Creative Research & Development (30 credits)
Commercial Studio Project (60 credits)
Business of Innovation (30 credits)

Your work is assessed through practical assignments and retrospectives by a mix of tutor, peer, self-review and industry. In fact, industry professionals often review your project modules and share their personalised feedback with you.

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS