B.F.A. in Animation

The first Official Degree in Animation designed and taught by top international professionals.

Project by Paula Blesa, U-tad student

The first Official Degree in Animation designed and taught by top international professionals.

Description

Study Animation in one of the top 25 Universities in the world as per Animation Magazine and learn to create new stories, worlds and characters and bring the illusion of life and move the audience emotions with your creations.

Our students work in top companies and have won at the Oscars, Annie Awards, Baftas and Goya Awards. You will learn animation from renowned industry professionals and Education PhD experts. You will graduate with a full understanding of the processes of each phase of production of animated, live action, or video game content: Storytelling, Storyboarding, 3D Modeling, Concept Art, Visual Development, Lighting, Character Design. VFX, Photography, Lighting, Shading, Character Design, CFX, Textures, etc… You will learn the pre-production, production, and post-production processes used in large animated features and master the techniques and tools of professional studios.

You will specialize with an official Minor in one of two areas: 2D Animation or 3D Visual Effects. Through these minors, you will gain a deeper knowledge of your area of interest, enabling you to specialize and gain access to work at the best international companies.

MInors in which you can specialize

Minor in 2D Animation

Students will be instructed in the processes and techniques of 2D work, developing specific skills for drawing for the creation of animated content, as well as the use of digital and traditional tools. You will work on concepts, character designs and development, and portraying the character personality through expressions, poses, and movements. You will learn to create environments and develop skills in the pre-production phase of animated content. Our students are already working on top international productions, such as El Pan de la Guerra, Love, Death & Robots, and Klaus, which featured to work of 29 U-tad and won at the Bafta Awards and Annie Awards and was nominated for an Oscar. Another film featuring the work of a U-tad alumna is Wolfwalkers, for which Maria Pareja was awarded the Annie Award for Best Production Design.

Mention in Backend Animation Pipeline techniques

Special effects or VFX are used to integrate digitally animated characters into live-action films, animated productions, video games, commercials, television series and virtual reality projects.

Students minoring in Advanced 3D Techniques in Animation will be equipped with the technical and artistic knowledge necessary for animation projects. You will learn how to create 3D rigs to manipulate characters, clothes, fabrics, and the dynamic simulation of environments. You will also learn how to create specific VFX such as fire, smoke, water. With this minor, you will a master of fantastical character integration in large productions.

With a team of peers, you will produce your own reel, integrating effects and acquiring the skills needed to work in professional productions. This will be act as a letter of recommendation, opening the door to the most important companies in the sector.

Among many Oscar, Emmy, and Bafta nominated/winning international productions, our students have worked on major films and series such as Avatar: The Way of Water, Avengers Endgame, Luck, The Jungle Book, Mission Impossible, Wonder Woman, Lord of the Rings, Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Martian, Star Wars, Stranger Things and Game of Thrones.

Information for students who enrolled before the 2024-2025 academic year*

Minor in Art for Videogames and Immersive Systems

Studying the specialization in Art for Video Games, you will graduate with a strong foundation in artistic processes and techniques, as well as the necessary tools for creating specific content for video games.

You will learn animation, character and environment design and modeling, lighting, controls and rigging, VFX integration, elements for immersive experiences, texture and interface design. You will also gain knowledge of techniques for creating atmospheres and simulating effects using complex real-time rendering engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine.

You will work on real projects in teams formed with students from the Video Game Design and Video Game Programming degrees, which will be submitted to prestigious awards such as Game Lab BCN, Fun&Serious, or PlayStation Awards, among others. Our students work on top international productions such as The Division 2, Red Dead Redemption, GTA, FIFA 21, Fortnite, Candy Crush, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Gears Tactics, Dead Island, Lego Star Wars, The Lego Movie 2 Videogame, Zombie Army 4: Dead War & Zombie Army Trilogy, Battlefield V, Evil Genius 2: World Domination, Fable, Watch Dogs, EA Sports, NHL 21, and many other international productions.

Study Plan for Minor in Art for Videogames and Immersive Systems

3rd year

Minor in Art for Videogames and Immersive Systems
COURSE	Year	Semester	Type	ECTS
Videogame Design	3º	1	OBM	6
Modeling for Video Games and Immersive Systems	3º	1	OBM	6
Rigging for Video Games and Immersive Systems	3º	1	OBM	6
Animation for Video Games and Immersive Systems	3º	2	OBM	6
Shading and Lighting for Video Games and Immersive Systems I	3º	2	OBM	6

4th year

Minor in Art for Videogames and Immersive Systems
COURSE	Year	Semester	Type	ECTS
Visual Effects for Video Games and Immersive Systems	4º	1	OBM	6
Shading and Lighting for Video Games and Immersive Systems II	4º	1	OBM	6
Real Time Simulation Systems	4º	2	OBM	6

Center of Excellence in Software:

Location: U-tad Campus
Hours: Monday – Friday
ECTS: 240
Language: Spanish or English
Modality: In campus & Online
Places: 180 on-site (Spanish and English) and 60 distance learning.

University affiliated to:

Competencies and career opportunities of B.F.A in Animation

Pursuing a Degree in Animation you will be able to work as:

Character FX Artist (fabric and hair simulation).
Preview and layout artist.
Color Artist.
3D Modeler.
Dynamic simulations and procedural systems developer.
Interface designer.
Technical Artist
Lighting and digital composition specialist.
Rendering technician.
Matte Painter.
Texture and shader developer.
3D Generalist
Storyboard artist.
2D/3D Animator.
Character and environment designer/creator.
Character developer.
2D/3D Artist.
2D/3D Layout Artist.
2D/3D Designer.
2D effects developer.
Digital inker and colorist (ink & paint artist).
Inbetweener and clean-up artist.
Cinematic artist.
Visual Effects Artist.

Where our students work

Some of the leading companies where U-tad students and professors have worked include: MPC (The Lion King, Dumbo), Double Negative (Avengers Endgame), Framestore (Dumbo, The Jungle Book), El Ranchito (Game of Thrones), Klaus (SPA Animation), Love, Death, and Robots (Blur Studios), The Breadwinner and Wolfwalkers (Cartoon Saloon) or Buñuel in the labyrinth of the Turtles (Glow Animation), Ilion Animation Studios (Wonder Park), ILM (Star Wars), Sony Imageworks (Spiderman Into the Spiderverse) and Weta Digital (Lord of the Rings), among others.

In video games our students are hired at the biggest companies and work on the best projects in the industry; Ubisoft (Assasins Creed), Rocktstar North (Red Dead Redemption), Mercury Steam (Castlevania), King (Candy Crash) Tequila Works (Sexy Brutale), Splash Damage (Gears of War saga), Saber Interactive (NBA Playground), among others.

Students' projects and awards

Your Project: your best professional presentation

You will learn by doing. Starting your first year, you will work on projects, learning and applying your knowledge and teamwork, both of which will be vital for your future employability. Your projects will prove your worth to companies and act as a letter of recommendation.

Lighting, Composition and Matte Painting

UMI

Way to Yaatra

Talent Awards

Our students have worked on major international award-winning productions such as Spiderman Into the Spiderverse, which won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, a Bafta, a Golden Globe, and five other awards. Klaus, wit 28 U-tad students on staff and which has won three Annie awards, a Bafta award, and has been the first Spanish animated film nominated for an Oscar. Buñuel en el Laberinto de las Tortugas won a Goya for Best Animated Film. Additionally, our students have won more than 100 awards for their university projects. Discover them here.

Students' feedback

90% of our students study with us on the recommendation of friends or acquaintances who have already experienced U-tad and have become top professionals.

When I saw the curriculum, I knew it was the career I wanted to pursue. It introduced me to a lot of essential digital tools and programs that I would never have access to in other majors like Fine Arts. It was also an opportunity to get in touch with the professional world. I really enjoyed pushing the envelope of what I was studying, interacting with projects from other degrees and getting direct feedback from the amazing professionals that were my professors. During my degree, I did an internship at Illion Animation Studios as a Character Designer, and now I work for Jellyfish Pictures.

María Vidal MorenoJellyfish Pictures

I wanted to turn my hobby into my job, and when I realized this was possible, I didn't think twice about it. At U-tad, they explained the opportunities of studying animation with real industry professionals. I did an internship at Monigotes Studio in my second year and they hired me when I finished my degree. I worked on projects like Buñuel y El Laberinto de las Tortugas and Koati. I love the world of animation. The daily connetion with other artists is very enriching, and every day I get to do what I love the most: drawing.

Álvaro Castellanos SerranoMonigotes Studio

At U-tad, I was surrounded by people who were passionate about the same things I was. We shared concerns and interests and they aided me on my personal and artistic pursuits. Now I work at Skydance Animation as a Storyboard Artist on a project called 'Spellbound'. Previously, I was in the New Ideas department of Ilion Animation Studios, developing concepts and pitches for future projects. Before that, I was lucky enough to participate in the Storyboard department of 'Klaus' by SPA Studios. I'm also directing and developing a short film with several friends and fellow students called 'The Grumpy Ghost'.

Álex RellosoSkydance Animation

International mobility

At U-tad, you will be able to study a portion of your degree at a top partner university through the Erasmus Program.

To reduce any limitations, we have expanded our exchange offer through bilateral agreements with universities in America, Asia, and Oceania, and Europe.

The world is yours. Go out, learn, and soak up other cultures!

Faculty

Cristina Ruiz-Poveda Vera

Deputy Academic Director of the Animation and Visual Effects Area
Teacher and Researcher

Rafael López Fernández

Animation Academic Coordinator
Coordinator and Teacher

Gonzalo Martín Sánchez

Animation Academic Coordinator
Audiovisual producer

Abraham López Guerrero

Film Director

Study plan

Course 1

SUBJECT	COURSE	SEMESTER	TYPE	ECTS
History and Artistic Tradition	1º	1	B	6
Introduction to drawing and painting	1º	1	B	6
Principles of 3D Graphics	1º	1	B	6
Elements of Visual and Cinematographic Composition	1º	1	OB	3
Screenwriting	1º	1	B	6
Creative Thinking	1º	1	OB	3
Human and Animal Anatomy	1º	2	B	6
Principles of Animation	1º	2	B	6
Geometric Representation Systems	1º	2	OB	6
Color and Light Theory	1º	2	OB	3
History of Cinema and Animation	1º	2	OB	3
Audiovisual Narrative	1º	2	OB	3
Projects I: creation of digital signage	1º	2	B	3

Course 2

SUBJECT	COURSE	SEMESTER	TYPE	ECTS
Principles of body dynamics	2º	1	OB	3
Sculpture	2º	1	B	6
Digital Editing	2º	1	B	6
Fundamentals of Music and Sound Design	2º	1	OB	3
Storyboarding	2º	1	OB	6
Object Modeling	2º	1	OB	3
Digital Production	2º	1	OB	3
3D Character Animation I	2º	2	OB	6
Character Design	2º	2	OB	3
Photography	2º	2	B	6
Projects II: creation of an animatic	2º	2	OB	3
Organic Modeling	2º	2	OB	6
Previsualization and Realization	2º	2	OB	6

Course 3

SUBJECT	COURSE	SEMESTER	TYPE	ECTS
Texturing and Shading	3º	1	OB	6
3D Character Animation II	3º	2	OB	6
Design and Development of Environments and Elements	3º	1	OB	6
Projects III: pre-production for the creation of a short film and/or art for videogames and immersive systems	3º	2	OB	6
Lighting and Compositing I	3º	2	OB	6

Minor in 2D Animation
2D Project Development	3º	1	OBM	6
2D Layout	3º	1	OBM	6
2D Character Development	3º	1	OBM	6
Ink & Paint 2D	3º	2	OBM	6
2D Character Animation I	3º	2	OBM	6ç

Minor in Backend Animation Pipeline techniques
CG Projects Development	3º	1	OBM	6
CG Layout	3º	1	OBM	6
Rigging	3º	1	OBM	6
Programming for CG Scenes	3º	2	OBM	6
Character FX	3º	2	OBM	6

For new students enrolled before the 2023-2024 academic year:
Mention in CG Visual FX
CG/VFX Projects Development	3º	1	OBM	6
Programming for VFX	3º	2	OBM	6

Course 4

SUBJECT	COURSE	SEMESTER	TYPE	ECTS
Advanced Animation	4º	1	OB	6
Experimental Animation	4º	2	OB	6
Company Internships	4º	Anual	OB	6
Projects IV: production and postproduction of a short animated film and/or art for video games and immersive systems.	4º	Anual	OB	18
Final Degree Project	4º	Anual	OB	6
Company Internships	4º	Anual	OP	6
Training for Employment	4º	Anual	OP	6

Minor in 2D Animation
SUBJECT	COURSE	DURATION	TYPE	ECTS
2D Compositing and Effects	4º	1	OBM	6
2D Character Animation II	4º	Anual	OBM	12

Minor in Backend Animation Pipeline techniques
SUBJECT	COURSE	DURATION	TYPE	ECTS
3D Visual Effects	4º	1	OBM	6
Lighting and Compositing II	4º	1	OBM	6
Matte Painting	4º	2	OBM	6

* This degree is in the process of renewal of its accreditation. Any interested person can communicate to the evaluation panels their opinion on any aspect related to this official degree by filling out the form of Audiencia Abierta.

Additional informartion / competencies

Year of implementation: 2018-2019
Spots for new students in the Degree: 180 in campus + 60 online
Branch of knowledge: Humanities

Minimum number of ECTS per type of registration and course:

	Minimum	Maximum
Full-time 1st course	60	60
Full-time rest of courses	30	75
Part-time 1st course	25	30
Part-time rest of courses	18	45

University of Technology, Arts and Design