Online MA in Animation - Now Taking Applications

Animation by robin Herrmann

We are now taking applications through UCAS for the September 2023 intake of our online MA in 3D animation, delivered in partnership with Buckinghamshire New University (BNU).

The online MA is a unique degree (the first of its kind) which can be undertaken by students anywhere in the world, leading to a formal qualification in the field.

Students learn how to animate to a professional level, and also engage at Masters' level with the underpinning theory and structure behind the art form.

Character Animation by Muhanad Al Dasoqi

Above is an excellent piece of character animation by Animation Apprentice student Muhanad Al Dasoqi.  Having a great character animation piece on your demo reel is an important step in landing that crucial first job in the animation industry.  Animation studios are looking for animators who have good technical skills - but can also create genuinely entertaining work - the animation "X factor".

Bird Animation by Joshua Reynolds

Above is an excellent example of bird animation by Animation Apprentice student Joshua Reynolds, using the "Red Whisker Bird" rig by Truong. Joshua has used live action reference to excellent effect, creating a charming and believable piece of avian animation.  Being able to tackle photo-realistic animal and creature animation is one of an animator's core skills, as studios ramp up production on films with photo-realistic animal animation such as The Jungle Book and The Lion King.

VFX Festival 21-23 February 2023

2023 VFX Festival is Coming Soon

The VFX Festival is back in London from 21-23 February 2023. 

The 2023 VFX Festival returns to Escape Studios in Central London and, like last year,  will run as a hybrid event, both online and also in person. The event runs from 21-23 February. 

The 2023 VFX Festival will be hosted at Escape Studios at their midTown Campus at 190 High Holborn, and also online. To book your tickets, follow this link to thevfxfestival.com.

Is it Good? Animation by Lee Caller

"Is it good?" from Lee Caller on Vimeo.

Above is a fine acting shot animated by Animation Apprentice graduate Lee Caller, one of a number of pieces of animation that Lee has started lately, but - as he puts it - "rarely gets to finish".  In this case, the purpose of the demo was to show that great animation it not always all about over-the-top super-exaggeration, but more about subtle facial expressions and believable acting choices. The acting reference was taken from the TV series Killing Eve - you can see the original shot here: youtu.be/HDdhotN0Dnw?t=223

Why Animators Need to Finish Their Reel

One of the key tasks for our graduates is to be job-ready at the end of the course, and this includes finishing a professional-level demo reel.  

A student's demo reel is the single most important means of landing that crucial first job in the animation industry.  

The key thing however is to get it done.  Remember that the best is the enemy of the good.  Perfection, as Milton Friedman used to say, is for the next life.

Character Animation by Joris Van Laar

Above is a charming character animation shot created by Animation Apprentice student Joris Van Laar.  It's a great example of how character animation can be funny and full of personality.  Joris used the almost-free Kayla rig, which you can read about here, and also created a well-designed set, with appealing textures and lighting.  Having a great character animation piece on your demo reel is an important step in landing that crucial first job in the animation industry.  Animation studios are looking for animators who have good technical skills - but can also create genuinely entertaining work - the animation "X factor".

11 Second Club December 2022

This month a number of our student animators are polishing their character animation skills by entering The 11 Second Club, the monthly character animation competition in which aspiring animators compete to win prizes and get their work noticed.   Animators from all over the world participate, animating a character speaking a line of dialogue, which is provided on the first day of every month by the club. 

New Year Class Starts on Monday 9 Jan 2023

Artwork by Animation Apprentice Graduate Joe Gamble

Our New Year Animation Class begins on Monday 9th January 2023.

It's not too late to book a place; all you need to do is visit the main Animation Apprentice site and go through a few simple steps.

If you want to learn 3D animation to a professional level, and start your new career as an animator - your journey starts here.

Character Animation by David Davis

A number of our students are currently tackling the 11 Second Club, the monthly competition in which animators compete to bring a line of dialogue to life, testing not just their technical skills but also their powers of imagination. Students must find performance and acting choices that create an entertaining and well-realised piece of animation. In the example above, one of my former students David Davis demonstrates strong, well-chosen choices for this very witty piece of character animation.

"Artifact" Wins Golden Merlion Award in Singapore

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Kristis Bandzevicius whose animated short "Artifact" has won a Certificate of Achievement at the World Film Carnival Singapore Golden Merlion Awards. 

"Artifact" is an animated short film written, produced and directed by Kristis, studying at Animation Apprentice for his MA in 3D Animation.   

"Artifact" was created as part of the final module of the Master's Degree in 3D Animation at BNU, Module DA704, which involves the creation of a final project and demo reel. 

Artifact is the story of a lonely robot in a desolate world, searching for signs of life.

This is the latest of many festival awards for Artifact. 

"Early Bird" Wins Best Animation at BAFF

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice graduate Dan Fitzgerald who has won another festival award for his short film "Early Bird".  

Early Bird won "Best Animation" at the British Animation Film festival.

Early Bird is about a bird who catches the early worm - or tries to.   Dan's short film has won many festival awards.

Dan Fitzgerald took our 30 week course at Animation Apprentice, learning 3D Animation skills to a professional level of quality. 

Dan recently won the BAA Ident Challenge for his awesome BAA Ident Animation.

"Mouse: Impossible" Wins "Best No Budget" Award

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrmann whose short film "Mouse: Impossible" has won Best No Budget film at the Dreamer's Short Film Festival.

Mouse: Impossible is a short animated film created by Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrman.  "Mouse: Impossible" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation at our degree-awarding partner, Buckinghamshire New University.   This is the latest of many awards for "Mouse: Impossible".

Why Has Arnold Disappeared from Maya?

Arnold is the main renderer that comes free with Maya - but sometimes it goes missing.  A common question new Maya users ask is "Where has Arnold gone?"

The solution is not always obvious. You look in the Render Settings menu and - Arnold has vanished! So, what to do to bring Arnold back?

Young Cartoonist of The Year Awards 2022

The Young Cartoonists of the Year Competition is back. This year the deadline for submissions is 22 January 2023.

Hosted by the Cartoon Museum in London, the annual competition seeks to reward rising cartoon talent. 

Judges include Martin Rowson (The Guardian), Christian Adams (Evening Standard), Banx (FT), Peter Brookes (The Times), Nick Newman (Private Eye), and Matt Pritchard from the Daily Telegraph.  Entry is free. 

Entries can be mailed in (via old school Royal Mail) to the Cartoon Museum,  at 63 Wells St, London W1T 3PT, or emailed to hello@cartoonmuseum.org.

As always, we encourage all our students to enter competitions such as this one. 

BYOA Is Back on 26 October

BYOA on Wednesday 26 October 

BYOA (Bring Your Own Animation) is back - taking place in London on Wednesday 26 October at the Newman Arms in Rathbone St, London W1T 1NG.

Organised by the London chapter of SIGGRAPH, BYOA is an animation event that takes place every month at a pub in central London.

How to Get Hired - with Kevin Richards

Kevin Richards teaching a class

One of my former students, Kevin Richards, is tcurrently working as a Lead Animator on the new Aardman Animation TV Series "Pop Paper City", produced by LoveLove Films. 

As a production lead, Kevin reviews animation reels and makes hiring decisions on new talent.

In the guest blog below, Kevin explains how our students can maximise their chances of getting hired in the animation industry. 

"Mouse:Impossible" Wins "Best Micro Movie" Award

Best Micro Movie at the World Film Carnival Singapore

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrmann whose short film "Mouse: Impossible" has won Best Micro Movie at the World Film Carnival Singapore.

Mouse: Impossible is a short animated film created by Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrman.  "Mouse: Impossible" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation at our degree-awarding partner, Buckinghamshire New University.   This is the latest of many awards for "Mouse: Impossible".

Kevin Richards Explains the Role of Animation Recruiters - and How to Make Use of Them

Kevin Richards is one of my former animation students, who is today working as a Lead Animator at the new Aardman Animation TV Series "Pop Paper City", produced by LoveLoveFilms.

As a production lead, Kevin reviews animation reels and makes hiring decisions on new talent.

In the guest blog below, Kevin explains the role of recruiters in the animation industry, and how our graduates at Animation Apprentice can get the best out of them.  Who are Animation Recruiters - and what do they do?

Winter Class Starts on 7 November 2022

"Artifact" by Kristis Bandzevicius

Our November classroom is now taking applications, and the new Winter class begins on Monday 7th November 2022.

It's not too late to book a place; all you need to do to get started is head over to our main site and fill in a brief form.

If you want to learn 3D animation to a professional level - your journey starts here.

"Mouse: Impossible" Wins "Best Super Short" at FOFA

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrmann whose short film "Mouse: Impossible" has won "Best Super Short Film" at the Future of Film Awards.

Mouse: Impossible is a short animated film created by Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrman.  "Mouse: Impossible" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation at our degree-awarding partner, Buckinghamshire New University. 

This is the latest of many awards for "Mouse: Impossible".

Should Graduates Work as Runners?

Running - is it just about making coffee?

Should animation, games and VFX graduates work as runners? Working as a runner is a standard entry-level position in our industry, but is it really necessary?  And should our students and graduates do it - or perhaps hold out for a more creative entry-level role?

Here at Animation Apprentice we support our students who take running positions.  Running isn't glamorous, but it can - and often does - lead to better things.  

Hang in there, put up with a bit of drudgery, and it can pay big dividends. 

Aid Film "Best Micro Short" at Golden Eagle Festival

"Best Micro Short" at Golden Eagle Indie Film Fest

Congratulations to the makers of the short film "What is Wrong With The Global Development Organisation?" which has won "Best Micro Short" film at the Golden Eagle Indie Film Festival.

Directed by Monika Dzikowicz, the two minute micro-documentary tells the story of an aid organisation which has lost sight of its founding principles.  It was made under the aegis of Nano Films, our film co-operative. 

Animation Interview Strategy with Kevin Richards

Kevin Richards mentoring a student

One of my former students, Kevin Richards, is currently working as a Lead Animator at the new Aardman Animation TV Series "Pop Paper City".  

As a production lead, Kevin spends a good deal of time interviewing junior animators and making hiring decisions.

In the guest blog below, Kevin offers his tips on how to succeed at a job interview - the second stage in the process of getting hired.  If the company likes your demo reel, they will invite you to interview - below is Kevin's advice on how to get it right.  

Joining Instructions for MA in 3D Animation

Joining Instructions September 2022

It will soon be time for our new animation students starting with us at our degree-awarding partner Buckinghamshire New University to get started on their animation journey.  

Below are some Joining Instructions for students starting with us on the Online MA in 3D Animation.

"Mouse Impossible" Wins "Best Super Short"

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrmann whose short film "Mouse: Impossible" has won "Best Super Short Film" at the London Movie Awards.

Mouse: Impossible is a short animated film created by Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrman.  "Mouse: Impossible" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation at our degree-awarding partner, Buckinghamshire New University.  This is the third award for "Mouse: Impossible".

Crafting a Killer Demo Reel - with Kevin Richards

Kevin Richards Teaching

Kevin Richards is one of my former animation students, currently working as a Lead Animator at the new Aardman Animation TV Series "Pop Paper City".  As a production lead, Kevin spends a good deal of time reviewing animation reels and making hiring decisions on new talent.  

In this guest blog below, Kevin offers his tips on how to put together a great demo reel that will ensure you land that crucial first job in the animation industry.

Autumn Class Starts 5 September 2022

Animation by Joris Van Laar

Our September classroom is now taking applications, and the new autumn class begins on Monday 5th September.

It's not too late to book a place; all you need to do to get started is head over to our main site and fill in a brief form.

If you want to learn 3D animation to a professional level - your journey starts here.

"Young Animator of the Year" Awards Closes 4 Sept

Young Animator of the Year Competition

There is still time to enter the Young Animator of the Year Competition.  The Competition, created by Access VFX and supported by Screen Skills, BAFTA and the BAA Awards, is judged by professional animators, winning films will be announced and premiered at

Entry must be completed by September 4th. You can find more about it here: https://younganimator.uk/competition #animation #YAYUK

"Journey of Life" Wins "Best Micro Short" Award

Journey of Life wins Best Micro Short

Many congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrmann whose short film "Journey of Life" has won "Best Micro Short" at the Dreamachine Film festival.

"Journey of Life" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation with our degree-awarding partner Buckinghamshire New University.   

"Journey of Life" has won many festival awards. 

"Jonny Spittoon" Wins Best Animation Award

Many congratulations to Animation Apprentice graduate Neil Whitman whose short animated film "Jonny Spittoon" has won the Best Animation Award at the Folkestone Short Film Festival. 

Neil Whitman took our 30 week course in 3D animation, learning the art and craft of character and creature animation, building on the skills he had learned as a motion graphics artist at the BBC.

We are delighted that Neil's new short animated film has achieved festival success. 

"Artifact" Wins Best SciFi at Future of Film Fest

 Artifact "Best Sci-Fi" at Future of Film Fest

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Kristis Bandzevicius whose animated short "Artifact" has won "Best SciFi Film" at the Future of Film Festival. 

"Artifact" is an animated short film written, produced and directed by Kristis, currently studying at Animation Apprentice for his MA in 3D Animation.   This is the sixth festival award for Artifact. 

Animate "Monty" Doing Riverdance

Animate "Monty" Riverdance

We've uploaded a new animation tutorial - how to animate a character dancing. The tutorial shows how to employ live action reference, and uses the free Monty rig, which you can read about here.  

The purpose of the tutorial is to learn how to import live action reference footage into Maya and use it to create believable animation.  You can find the tutorial, which is free for all our students, at our Vimeo Channel.

"Mouse: Impossible" Best Creative at Halicarnassus

Mouse: Impossible Best Creative at Halicarnassus Fest

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrmann whose short film "Mouse: Impossible" has won "Best Creative" at the Halicarnassus Film Festival.

Mouse: Impossible is a new short film created by Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrman.  "Mouse: Impossible" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation at our degree-awarding partner, Buckinghamshire New University.  This is the third award for "Mouse: Impossible".

Horse Rearing Tutorial Using Live Action Ref

Horse Rearing Tutorial with Live Action Reference

We've uploaded a new animation tutorial to our expanding Vimeo tutorial channel - how to animate a horse rearing up - using live action reference.

The purpose of the horse animation tutorial is to learn how to import live action reference footage into Maya and use it to create believable animal animation.

You can find the tutorial, free for all our students, at our Vimeo Channel.

Mouse: Impossible - Best Student Film in Milan

Mouse: Impossible Best Student Film in Milan

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrmann whose short film "Mouse: Impossible" has won an award for Best Student Film in Milan.

Mouse: Impossible is a new short film created by Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrman.  "Mouse: Impossible" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation at our degree-awarding partner, Buckinghamshire New University.  

"Journey of Life" Best Student Film in Hollywood

Journey of Life Best Student Film in Hollywood

Many congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrmann whose short film "Journey of Life" has won award for Best Student Film at the Hollywood Gold Awards.

"Journey of Life" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation with our degree-awarding partner Buckinghamshire New University.   "Journey of Life" has won many festival awards. 

Animating Quadrupeds - with Michael Schlingmann

Quadruped Locomotion Tutorial from Felix Sputnik on Vimeo.

Above is an excellent, clear tutorial on how to animate quadrupeds, recorded by veteran animator Michael Schlingmann, who I worked alongside many years ago on the animated epic The Thief and The Cobbler.  To learn how to animate quadruped locomotion, watch Michael's video above.

"Mouse: Impossible" Wins Best Animation Award

Mouse: Impossible  wins Best Animation at GEFF 

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrmann whose short film "Mouse: Impossible" has won an award for Best Animation at the Golden Eagle Film Festival.

Mouse: Impossible is a new short film created by Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrman.  "Mouse: Impossible" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation at our degree-awarding partner, Buckinghamshire New University.  

"Mouse: Impossible"  was completed during the course of Robin's studies, and is currently being entered into film festivals.  This is the film's first festival award.

Introducing "Mouse: Impossible"

Herrmann_Robin_DA703_HQ from Rob in on Vimeo.

Meet "Mouse: Impossible", a new short film created by Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrman.  "Mouse: Impossible" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation at our degree-awarding partner, Buckinghamshire New University.  "Mouse: Impossible"  was completed during the course of Robin's studies, and is currently being entered into film festivals. 

"Artifact" Wins "Best VFX" in Singapore Fest

Artifact wins Best VFX at Singapore Film Carnival

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Kristis Bandzevicius whose animated short "Artifact" has won "Best VFX" at the Singapore World Film Carnival. 

"Artifact" is an animated short film written, produced and directed by Kristis, currently studying at Animation Apprentice for his MA in 3D Animation.   This is the film's fifth festival award. 

How to Animate a Skip - with Michael Schlingmann

Skip Animation Tutorial from Felix Sputnik on Vimeo.

How to Animate a skip - with Michael Schlingmann. Above is an excellent, clear tutorial on how to animate a skip, recorded by veteran animator Michael Schlingmann, who I worked alongside many years ago on the animated epic The Thief and The Cobbler.  A skip is a hard thing to animate; it is an eccentric gait and doesn't conform easily to the formula of a walk or a run.  To learn how to animate a skip, watch Michael's video above.

How to Animate Lipsync - with No Lips

"Monty" dialogue by Rich Jeffrey

The first dialogue exercise tackled by students at Animation Apprentice is how to animate a character speaking a line of dialogue - with no mouth.  Students almost always look skeptical at this idea - how can you animate Lipsync with no lips? 

The answer, of course, is that it's all in the acting and the performance.  If the body language is working, then the audience will believe that the character is speaking - even if the character itself has no mouth.

What Kind of Laptop To Buy in 2022

What kind of laptop should I buy?" is a question that we are often asked at Animation Apprentice. 

Computer specifications change regularly and much depends on exactly what you want to use your laptop for.  But let's say you want to buy a laptop capable of running Autodesk Maya, for computer animation and to render out your shots.

What sort of laptop should you buy, and how much do you need to spend? Animation Apprentice graduate and animation teacher Amedeo Beretta offers some advice to our students.

Why Animators Need Handles

Adobe Premiere

What are "handles", and why do animators need them? "Handles" are a technical term used in video editing to describe the process of adding a few frames to the start and end of every shot. This means that each shot in the film is slightly longer than it needs to be, allowing the editor to adjust the cut by a few frames in either direction to make the edit smoother.

An editor working with, say "four frame handles", has an extra four frames at the start and end of every shot. Working with handles means that animators have to do a little extra work, but it gives the editor flexibility with the final edit. 

Jim Van Der Keyl Live Action Reference

Above is a lovely piece of live action reference by animator Jim Van Der Keyl who I worked with many years ago on Brad Bird's classic animated film "The Iron Giant". Jim, like many animators, used live action reference to help create the best animation possible with the most believable acting choices. In this case, he ended up being nominated for an Annie Award for his hard work. 

Journey of Life Wins Best Director

Journey of Life wins Best Director (Short Film) at FOFA

Many congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrman whose short film "Journey of Life" has won award for Best Director (Super Short Film) at the Future of Film Awards.

"Journey of Life" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation with our academic partner Buckinghamshire New University.  The film has won many festival awards. 

Summer Class Starts Monday 4th July

"Artifact" by Kristis Bandzevicius

Our next class at Animation Apprentice starts on Monday 4th July 2022. We're excited to welcome new students on their animation journey; junior animators are still very much in demand, especially in our home town of London, and my inbox is full of requests from studios for fresh talent.

So, how to get ready for the start of class? It's always good to do a little preparation.

Getting Your Name Listed at the IMDB

 

For all our students working on short films and getting their names listed at the IMDb, here is a short video explaining how the process works. The IMDb interface is a bit fiddly when you first use it, but it gets easier with a little practice.  Getting your name listed at the IMDb is something of a rite of passage in our industry - it proves that you "exist" in our industry, and it's where industry folk will search to find your name.  A well-curated IMDb profile is an important thing to keep half an eye on. 

BAFTA Scholarship Deadline 20 May 2022

Perhaps you might be considering applying for our Online MA in Animation - but lack the funds? Why not apply for a BAFTA scholarship?

BAFTA has opened applications for its scholarship programmes, worth up to £12,000. The scholarships are open to UK nationals for both undergraduate and post-graduate study. The deadline is 20 May 2022.

Walt - The Man Behind The Myth

Sometimes it's time to down tools and learn a bit about the history of animation. The pioneering giant upon whose shoulders all animators stand was Walt Disney. To understand why Disney was such a transformative figure in the history of the animation industry, watch "Walt – The Man Behind the Myth" -  a biographical documentary on the man who founded the Walt Disney Studios.  The documentary was narrated by Dick Van Dyke and directed by Jean-Pierre Isbouts.

How To Create Thumbnails for Animation

 

How do you create thumbnail sketches for character animation? Learning how to create thumbnail sketches is a very important skill, even for animators who don't draw well, because thumbnail sketches are an important tool for planning animation.  Even 3D animators who aren't that comfortable with drawing are encouraged to have a go at the thumbnailing process, because it is so valuable for planning character animation.  Watch the video above to see how to create simple but expressive thumbnail sketches for this month's "11 Second Club". 

"Journey of Life" Hon Mention at DSFF

"Journey of Life" wins Hon Mention at DSFF

Many congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrman whose short film "Journey of Life" has won an Honourable Mention for Best No Budget Film at the Dreamer's Short Film Festival (DSFF).

"Journey of Life" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation with our degree-awarding partner Buckinghamshire New University.  

Summer Class Starts 2nd May 2022

The book all animators need

Our next class at Animation Apprentice starts on Monday 2nd May 2022. We're excited to welcome new students on their animation journey; junior animators are still very much in demand, especially in our home town of London, and my inbox is full of requests from studios for fresh talent.

So, how to get ready for the start of class? It's always good to do a little preparation.

Hold Ms Bs and Ps for Two Frames

Hold Ms Bs and Ps for 2 frames minimum

One of the rules of animating lipsync is that you should always hold Ms Bs and Ps for at least two frames if you want them to "read" clearly.

The reason for this is that we need to compress our lips together to make these shapes, after which there is a little expulsion of air. 

For Ms Bs and Ps to read clearly, they need to be making the shape on the screen for at least two frames, even if the dialogue is rapid.

Why Live Action Reference Needs Exaggeration

Edward Muybridge

Using live action reference to create great animation is one of the key techniques we teach at Animation Apprentice. However, as a technique, it has its risks, the main risk being that the animator follows the live action too closely, and the final performance ends up being floaty, weightless and "spliney".

Animators should always remember that our job is to give a performance. This means using live action to create realistic, believable animation, but then going further, pushing it, and exaggerating the results. Good animation is a caricature of life, not a copy of it.

Live action reference is a very powerful tool, one which I have myself relied upon countless times on many feature films to get my shot completed on time. It is a technique used by animators all over the world.

Journey of Life "Hon Mention" in Florence Fest

Journey of Life Hon Mention at Florence Film Awards

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrman whose short film "Journey of Life" has won an Honourable Mention in the category of Animation at the Florence Film Awards.

"Journey of Life" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation with our degree-awarding partner Buckinghamshire New University.  This is the film's third festival award. 

How Much Animation Do Studios Expect?

How many seconds?

How much animation does a studio expect an animator to deliver each week? The answer depends on the studio, and what kind of work is being expected. On a high-end feature film such as the kind made by Disney and Pixar, an animator might be expected to complete around five seconds of animation each week - and sometimes even less.

On a TV series where budgets are tight and deadlines loom, an animator might be expected to complete as much as 30 seconds of completed animation each week.

Robin Herrmann Wins March 11 Second Club

Robin Herrmann wins 11 Second Club

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrmann who has won the monthly 11 Second Club for March 2022. 

Robin Herrmann's superb animation was created as part of Module DA702 - the character animation module taught as part of the MA in 3D Animation, delivered in partnership with our degree-awarding partner - Buckinghamshire New University. 

This is the latest success for Robin whose short film "Journey of Life" has been winning festival awards. 

Journey of Life" recently won an award for "Best First Time Director" at the Halicarnassus Film Festival.

Journey of Life Best 1st Director Halicarnassus

Journey of Life Best 1st-Time Director at Halicarnassus

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice student Robin Herrman whose short film "Journey of Life" has won an award for "Best First Time Director" at the Halicarnassus Film Festival.  

"Journey of Life" was written, produced and directed by Robin, currently studying for his MA in 3D Animation with our degree-awarding partner Buckinghamshire New University.

This is the film's second festival award. 

"Early Bird" Best Animation at IndieFilmopolis

Dan Fitzgerald Wins Best Animation 

Congratulations to Animation Apprentice graduate Dan Fitzgerald who has won another festival award for his short film "Early Bird".  

Early Bird won "Best Animation" at the IndieFilmopolis Film festival.

Early Bird is about a bird who catches the early worm - or tries to.   Dan's short film has won many festival awards.

Dan Fitzgerald took our 26 week course at Animation Apprentice, learning 3D Animation skills to a professional level of quality. 

Dan recently won the BAA Ident Challenge for his awesome BAA Ident Animation.