M.A. in 3D Character Animation | U-tad

M.A. in 3D Character Animation

Enroll in this course to become a professional character animator and learn how to transform every animation into an authentic character interaction.

Project by Dario Fernández Dominguez Schubert and Iván Cuenca, U-tad students.

Learn in a master designed and taught by the best 3D animation professionals.

Description

Do you want to learn how to breathe life into modelled characters in a 3D environment? Would you like to work in the animation, video game or VFX industry? This is the master’s program for you!

In this master’s, you will discover how to use computers to bring your characters to life. With your training, you will learn how to give them heart through rendering.

You will finish the master’s degree ready to join a team at a large animation, advertising or video game studio. Our faculty will set you up you with professional contacts at one of the greatest animation studios in the world, showcasing your talent to the supervisors and animation leads at Skydance Animation.

These professionals will oversee your reel, granting you access to major companies where you will further your international career.

Career opportunities

Character Animator
Crowd Animator
Character Animator for the VFX Industry

Paths to entry

Student entry profile:

People with general 3D training who want to specialize and focus their career on character animation
Graduates in Audiovisual Communication, Animation, Architecture, Fine Arts, Graphic Design and related post-secondary vocational training
Professionals in traditional animation, character design, storyboarding or similar disciplines in related industries (illustration, comic book)

Where our alumni work

Our master’s students graduate ready to work on first-class productions. Our past students are now working at Sony Imageworks, Skydance Animation, Animalogic, MPC, Scanline, Double Negative and Disney, among many other international companies.

Partner companies

Study plan

Location: U-tad
Hours: Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CET
ECTS: October-June (665 HOURS)
Language: Spanish
Modality: In campus / On-line
Center Attached to: Camilo José Cela University

Course 1

COURSE NAME

PRODUCTION

Production Pipeline

RIGGING

Introduction to Maya for Animators

Principles of animation applied to 3D animation

The importance of poses and their application to 3D characters

Basic Physics: Cycles and Body Mechanics

Technical aspects: constraints, FK/IK, gimbals, axes…

Advanced Physics

Basic Acting

Facial animation and lip sync

Animation exercises / Dailies

Advanced Acting

Animation reinforcement

NARRATIVE FOR ANIMATORS

Script

Narrative and Storyboarding

WORKSHOPS AND MASTERCLASSES

Process for approaching an animation shot Masterclass

Animation Workflow Masterclass at Blue Sky Studios

Animation Workflow Masterclass at Dreamworks Animation

Live Animation Workflow Workshop

Rigging Workshop for animators

Lighting Workshop for animators

Interpretation Workshop

MASTER’S THESIS

Faculty

andres-bedate

Andrés Bedate

Master’s Director in 3D Character Animation. Teacher
Lead Character Animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks, Little Zoo

pepe-mansuy

Pepe Mansuy

Drawing and Animation teacher
Storyboart Artist, Character Design, Animator at Blur Studios y Sunrise Productions

Students' projects and awards

Your Project: your best letter of recommendation

Throughout this master’s degree, our students develop projects that later make up their reel. It will function as a great letter of recommendation when it comes to entering the labor market.

Talent awards

Our students have won the most prestigious awards in the industry for the projects they’ve developed throughout their studies. Check them out.

Students' feedback

I did an internship at 'In Efecto' in Montpellier. From there, I jumped to 'Pocoyo', Montreal (Cinesite - 'The Star'), Vancouver (Sony Picture Imageworks - 'Hotel Transylvania' and 'Spiderman Into the Spiderverse', which won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2019) and then to Bron Animation ('The Willoughbys' for Netflix). I am now at Sony Vancouver (Vivo) until 2021. Studying at U-tad for my master's, I learned with the top professionals. The motivation and support I had at Ilion Animation Studios was unmatched. Now I work with my fellow master’s students in different studios around the world.

Andrés BedateMaster’s in Animation Alumni

Since I studied my master's degree in character animation at U-tad, I’ve had constant work in the animation industry. I started with an internship at Ilion Animation Studios (now Skydance), where I learned from top industry professionals. I worked on in several animation shorts like 'ColRun' and 'The Grumpy Ghost', and worked as a character animator at B-water Animation Studios (TV series, Tenerife). Then I worked at Mercury Steam (videogames, Madrid) and, finally, at Lightbox Animation Studios for the film 'Tadeo Jones 3: la maldición de la momia'. Todo esto no hubiera sido posible si no hubiese realizado el máster de U-tad, donde aprendí muchísimo con profesores que son de los mejores profesionales en activo en la industria de la animación.

Irene Escuer

The Master’s in 3D Animation allowed me to master the most important skills in the discipline. It is taught by top industry professionals who share all their help and experience, which makes the education completely holistic. When I graduated, I started at B-Water Studios with the series 'Treasure Trekkers', and currently I'm at Core Animation, working on the film 'Moomios'.

Sara Valdés

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