B.F.A. in Animation
Spain’s first official Bachelor’s Degree in Animation, created and taught by top-tier professionals from the global animation industry.
Project by Paula Blesa, U-tad student
Registration for the 2024-2025 academic year is now open.
Enrollment period from May 1st to September 30th, 2024.
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Description
Study Animation at one of the world’s top 25 universities for animation, according to Animation Magazine, and learn to bring stories, characters, and entire worlds to life. Master the art of moving audiences through your creations.
At U-tad, you’ll be trained by acclaimed international professionals and PhD-level educators with deep experience in the animation industry. Our graduates work at top studios around the world and have contributed to Oscar, Annie, BAFTA, and Goya-winning productions.
Throughout the degree, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of every stage of an animation pipeline — from storytelling and concept art to 3D modeling, lighting, VFX, character design, shading, compositing, and more. You’ll learn the full pre-production, production, and post-production workflows used in major animated and live-action feature films.
In your final years, you’ll specialize with an official Minor in either 2D Animation or 3D Visual Effects, allowing you to develop deeper expertise in your chosen area and access career opportunities in the best studios worldwide.
Specialize with one of our Official Minors
Tailor your education by choosing one of the following specializations:
In this specialization, you’ll learn the key processes and techniques of 2D animation. You’ll develop strong drawing skills for creating animated content, using both traditional and digital tools. You’ll design and develop characters, and learn how to express their personality through gestures, poses, and movement. You’ll also create environments and build solid skills for the pre-production phase of animated films.
As a U-tad student, you’ll be following in the footsteps of graduates who have already worked on major international productions like The Breadwinner, Love, Death & Robots, and Klaus — a film that featured the work of 29 U-tad alumni, won a BAFTA and multiple Annie Awards, and received an Oscar nomination.
Another example is Wolfwalkers, which featured the work of U-tad student María Pareja, who won the Annie Award for Best Production Design
Visual effects (VFX) are essential to integrating animated elements into live-action and animated productions. In this specialization, you’ll gain the technical and artistic knowledge required to contribute to complex animation pipelines in professional environments.
You’ll learn how to build 3D rigs to control characters, clothing, and fabrics, and how to simulate dynamic environments. You’ll also develop effects such as fire, smoke, and water, mastering the integration of fantastical elements into large-scale productions.
Together with a team of classmates, you’ll create your own professional reel, showcasing your skills in visual effects and technical animation. This reel will serve as a powerful introduction to top studios in the industry.
U-tad graduates have worked on Oscar-, BAFTA-, and Emmy-winning productions such as Avatar: The Way of Water, Avengers: Endgame, Luck, The Jungle Book, Mission: Impossible, Wonder Woman, The Lord of the Rings, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Martian, Star Wars, Stranger Things, and Game of Thrones.
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
As a graduate of U-tad’s Bachelor’s Degree in Animation, you’ll be prepared to work in a wide range of roles across the animation and visual effects industries. You’ll develop a deep understanding of the creative, artistic, and technical processes involved in animated productions — and gain the skills needed to thrive in leading studios worldwide.
You’ll be able to pursue roles such as:
- Character FX Artist (fabric and hair simulation)
- Previs and Layout Artist
- Color Artist
- 3D Modeler
- Developer of dynamic simulations and procedural systems
- Interface Designer
- Technical Artist
- Lighting and Digital Compositing Specialist
- Rendering Technician
- Matte Painter
- Texture and Shader Developer
- 3D Generalist
- Storyboard Artist
- 2D/3D Animator
- Character and Environment Designer
- Character Developer
- 2D/3D Artist
- 2D/3D Layout Artist
- 2D/3D Designer
- 2D Effects Artist
- Digital Inker and Colorist (Ink & Paint Artist)
- Inbetweener and Clean-up Artist
- Cinematic Artist
- Visual Effects Artist
Where our students work
U-tad graduates have contributed to some of the most acclaimed productions in the animation and visual effects industries. They’ve worked at leading international studios such as MPC (The Lion King, Dumbo), Double Negative (Avengers: Endgame), Framestore (Dumbo, The Jungle Book), El Ranchito (Game of Thrones), SPA Studios (Klaus), Blur Studio (Love, Death & Robots), Cartoon Saloon (The Breadwinner, Wolfwalkers), Glow Animation (Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles), Ilion Animation Studios (Wonder Park), Industrial Light & Magic (Star Wars), Sony Pictures Imageworks (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), and Weta Digital (The Lord of the Rings), among many others shaping the future of animation and VFX.…and many more leading companies shaping the future of animation and visual effects.
Partner Companies
Students' projects and awards
Your Project: your best professional presentation
At U-tad, you’ll learn by doing. From your very first year, you’ll work on real projects where you’ll apply your knowledge in creative and collaborative environments — the same kind you’ll encounter in the industry. These projects will be your best calling card: they’ll showcase your talent, demonstrate your ability to work as part of a team, and serve as a powerful recommendation for future employers.
Our student films have received recognition at prestigious festivals and awards. Ciao Peskao, a 2D short film created by U-tad students, was pre-selected for the Goya Awards 2025, Spain’s most prestigious film honors. Nieve Roja, another standout project, won the Best Animation Short Film award at the New Jersey Film Festival. Other U-tad projects have gone on to win awards and be featured in internationally acclaimed films.
Talent Awards
U-tad graduates have worked on major international, award-winning productions such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and five additional awards. Klaus, which included the work of 28 U-tad students, won three Annie Awards, a BAFTA, and became the first Spanish animated film ever nominated for an Oscar. Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles won the Goya Award for Best Animated Feature.
In addition, our students have won more than 160 awards for their university projects.
Students' feedback
Over 90% of our students choose U-tad based on the recommendation of friends or acquaintances who have already studied here — and are now thriving as top professionals in the animation industry.
International Mobility
At U-tad, you’ll have the opportunity to complete part of your studies abroad at a leading partner university through the Erasmus+ program.
To broaden your global experience, we’ve also established bilateral exchange agreements with top universities across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania — so you can learn in new environments and connect with other cultures.
The world is yours. Go explore it.
Faculty
Learn from the best. At U-tad, you’ll be trained by active professionals from the animation and VFX industries — artists, supervisors, directors, and technical experts who have worked on top-tier productions at major international studios.
Our faculty members bring real-world experience straight into the classroom, combining it with academic excellence to prepare you for the challenges of the professional world.
Cristina Ruiz-Poveda Vera
- Deputy Academic Director of the Animation and Visual Effects Area
- Teacher and Researcher
Study plan
| 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 |
Basic Training (B) | Compulsory (OB) | Electives (OP) | Compulsory Minor Subject (OBM) | External Internships (PE) | Final Degree Project (TFG)
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |