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 bring modeled characters to life 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 program, you will discover how your characters can come to life through a computer. With this knowledge, you will learn to give them soul through performance.

By the end of the program, you will be prepared to integrate into the team of a major animation, advertising, or video game studio. Through the faculty, you will have the opportunity to connect with professionals from one of the world’s leading animation studios, giving your talent visibility to animation supervisors and leads at Skydance Animation.

These professionals will review your reel, which will give you access to the most important companies where you will develop your international professional career.

Career opportunities

Character Animator
Crowd Animator
Character Animator for the VFX industry

Entry Profile

Student entry profile:

Individuals with general 3D training who want to specialize and focus their career on character animation.
Graduates, degree holders, or higher-level professionals in Audiovisual Communication, Animation, Architecture, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, and related fields.
Professionals in traditional animation, character design, storyboard, or similar disciplines in related industries (illustration, comics) who want to specialize in 3D animation.

Where our graduates work

Graduates of this master’s program are prepared to tackle top-level productions. Those who have passed through our classrooms are working in prestigious companies like Sony Imageworks, Skydance Animation, Animalogic, MPC, Scanline, Double Negative, Disney, among many others.

Partner companies

Study plan

Location: U-tad Campus
Hours: Monday – Friday (18:00h – 22:00h) CET
Duration: 600 hours: October-June
Language: Spanish
Modality: On campus | Also available on-line
Affiliated Center: 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

Andrés Bedate

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

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 Professional Presentation

Throughout this master’s program, our students develop projects that later become part of their demo reel. It serves as their calling card when presenting themselves to the companies as they enter the job market.

Awards for Talent

Projects developed by our students throughout their studies have won the most prestigious industry awards in various areas. Discover them.

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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Frequently Asked Questions

What is studied in the M.A. in 3D Character Animation?

You will learn to bring three-dimensional characters to life through advanced animation, performance, and acting techniques. The program focuses on infusing characters with emotion and realism, using a hands-on approach aligned with the standards of the animation, video game, and VFX industries.

Who is this Master's program for, and what level do I need to enroll?

This Master’s program is designed for individuals who already have a solid foundation in 3D and want to specialize in character animation. It is ideal for graduates in Animation, Fine Arts, Architecture, Audiovisual Communication, or Design, as well as for professionals in storyboard, traditional animation, or illustration who wish to make the leap into the 3D environment.

What sets this postgraduate program apart from other 3D animation courses?

The program offers high-level practical training with direct contact with leading studios such as Skydance Animation. Your final reel will be reviewed by active industry professionals, giving you direct exposure and real opportunities to break into the international industry.

How long does the M.A. in 3D Character Animation last?

It has a total duration of 600 hours and runs from October to June, Monday to Friday in the afternoon. It is available both on-campus at U-tad and online in live-streamed format.

What career opportunities does this Master’s program offer, and where do graduates work?

This Master’s program prepares you to work as a 3D character animator, crowd animator, or specialized animator for film, video game, and visual effects (VFX) projects. You will be qualified to join animation studios, advertising agencies, and digital content companies. Our graduates have worked at some of the most prestigious companies in the industry, including Sony Pictures Imageworks, Skydance Animation, Double Negative, MPC, Disney, Animal Logic, Illusorium Studios, and El Ranchito, among others.

What kind of projects will I develop during the postgraduate program?

Throughout the program, students develop practical projects that become part of their professional reel, which serves as their showcase to the industry. These projects are designed to help you demonstrate your skills and creativity in 3D animation, making your profile highly appealing to companies in the sector.

Is it possible to work while pursuing the Master’s program?

Yes, the program offers flexible schedules (Monday to Thursday, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM CET), allowing you to balance it with a job.