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
Registration for the 2024-2025 academic year is now open.
Enrollment period from May 1st to September 30th, 2024.
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Description
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
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.
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.
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
Cristina Ruiz-Poveda Vera
- Deputy Academic Director of the Animation and Visual Effects Area
- Teacher and Researcher
Study plan
| SUBJECT | COURSE | DURATION | 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 |
Leyenda: Basic Training (B) | Compulsory (OB) | Electives (OP) | Compulsory Minor Subject (OBM) | External Internships (PE) | Final Degree Project (TFG)
| SUBJECT | COURSE | DURATION | 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 | DURATION | 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 | DURATION | 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 |