University of Technology, Arts and Design

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 three areas: 2D Animation, 3D Visual Effects, or Art for Video Games. 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.

Minor in Art for Video Games and Immersive Systems

You will graduate from the Minor in Art for Video Games trained in the processes, artistic techniques, and tools for the video game content creation. You will learn animation, character and environment design and modeling, lighting, controls and rigging, VFX integration, elements for immersive experiences, texture and interface design, techniques to generate environments, and effects simulation using complex real-time rendering engines, such as Unity and Unreal Engine. You will work with a team of fellow Video Game Design and Programming students to create tangible projects that will be submitted for the most prestigious awards, such as Game Lab bcn, Fun&Serious, and the Playstation Awards, among others. Our students have gone on to work on international productions such as The Division 2, Red Dead Redemption, GTA, FIFA 21, Fornite, Candy Crash, 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, Watchdogs, EA Sports, NHL 21, and more.

Mention in advanced 3D techniques for animation

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.

University affiliated to:

  • Location: U-tad Campus
  • Hours: Monday – Friday
  • ECTS: 240
  • LanguageSpanish or English
  • Modality: In campus & Online

Career opportunities

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.
    • Gameplay 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.

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    Partner Companies

    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.

    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.

    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

    Study plan

    Course 1

    SUBJECTCOURSEDURATIONTYPEECTS
    History and Artistic Tradition1B6
    Introduction to drawing and painting1B6
    Principles of 3D Graphics1B6
    Elements of Visual and Cinematographic Composition1OB3
    Screenwriting1B6
    Creative Thinking1OB3
    Human and Animal Anatomy2B6
    Principles of Animation2B6
    Geometric Representation Systems2OB6
    Color and Light Theory2OB3
    History of Cinema and Animation2OB3
    Audiovisual Narrative2OB3
    Projects I: creation of digital signage2B3

    Leyenda: Basic Training (B) | Compulsory (OB) | Electives (OP) | Compulsory Minor Subject (OBM) | External Internships (PE) | Final Degree Project (TFG)

    Course 4

    SUBJECTCOURSEDURATIONTYPEECTS
    Advanced Animation1OB6
    Experimental Animation2OB6
    Company InternshipsAnualOB6
    Projects IV: production and postproduction of a short animated film and/or art for video games and immersive systems.AnualOB18
    Final Degree ProjectAnualOB6
    Company InternshipsAnualOP6
    Training for EmploymentAnualOP6
    Minor in 2D Animation
    SUBJECTCOURSEDURATIONTYPEECTS
    2D Compositing and Effects1OBM6
    2D Character Animation IIAnualOBM12
    Minor in Art for Video Games and Immersive Systems
    SUBJECTCOURSEDURATIONTYPEECTS
    Visual Effects for Video Games and Immersive Systems1OBM6
    Shading and Lighting for Video Games and Immersive Systems II1OBM6
    Real Time Simulation Systems2OBM6
    Mention in advanced 3D techniques for animation
    SUBJECTCOURSEDURATIONTYPEECTS
    3D Visual Effects1OBM6
    Lighting and Compositing II1OBM6
    Matte Painting2OBM6

    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 course60 60 
    Full-time rest of courses30 75 
    Part-time 1st course2530 
    Part-time rest of courses18 45 

    Competencies

    Related training

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