Course Information
Formerly known as the London Animation Studio, the Pg Dip Character Animation at Central Saint Martins was established in 1998 by the Guild of British Animators. Located in central London we have extensive links with the animation and post-production industries that surround us and we have a reputation as one of the leading Masters level animation courses in the UK.
This industry recognition was confirmed in 2007, when Central Saint Martins was awarded SKILLSET Media Academy status, specialising in Animation, Communication Design and Performance.
Over 80% of our graduates have found employment in the animation industry. They have worked in Oscar winning special effects teams on films such as Gladiator and Lord of the Rings, acclaimed television series such as Walking with Dinosaurs, commercials, web sites, TV graphics and games.
Take a look at the course in action in our old Catton Street studio in this promotional clip from Adobe TV in 2009. Due to the exceptional nature of the animation created on the course, Adobe used us as a case study. It requires Flash player and may take a few seconds to load.....
Curriculum
The success of our ex-students is down to the emphasis on the course of developing core animation skills as well as project management and professional practise. The course is only 30 weeks long so the emphasis is on the craft of character animation: performance, timing, planning, drawing.
The course is divided between 15 students who choose to do 3D computer animation with Maya and 15 who specialise in 2D: traditional hand drawn animation as well as Flash, After Effects and other Adobe software.
Animation is not just about learning computer programmes! Drawing is an important part of the course. Students on both the 2D and 3D pathways are expected to complete traditional drawn animation exercises. The animation classes are supplemented by workshops in Life Drawing and drawing field trips to places like the London Aquarium.
Students on the Character Animation course also benefit from workshops in movement, physical theatre and acting. The course team strongly believe that since animation is the representation of performance, all animators can benefit from studying more about movement and acting. The course collaborates with Drama Centre, Central School of Speech and Drama, Theatre de Complicite and the Royal College of Music.
Images from a physical theatre workshop with Theatre de Complicite in the National Gallery 2007
The course has also introduced workshops in cinematography and film language.
How We Teach
The course is structured around project based learning. Projects are set by tutors, self directed or set by companies. Project work is supported by seminars, presentations and tutorials as well as workshops teaching practical skills.
Visiting speakers from the creative industries provide case studies of professional practice. Each student is allocated a mentor who is a practicing animator and can offer valuable feedback on their progress.
Weekly group crits provide valuable experience of pitching and presenting ideas in public and an opportunity for feedback from peers and tutors.
Facilities
The course has a dedicated animation studio with student access from 08.30 – 20.30 Monday - Friday.
Each student is allocated their own networked PC workstation with all the software required for their pathway. They also have their own desk and lightbox.
There is also an edit suite,digital line testers, a PVR, scanners and portable DVD burners.
Central Saint Martins has a fantastic library with an extensive collection of books on animation, videos and DVDs.
Staff Profiles
There is a team of part-time staff and visiting tutors who contribute to the course.
Animator-in-Residence: we have a series of animators in residence in the studio working on commercial projects.
Maryclare Foa, Life Drawing Tutor: Maryclare studied Fine Art at Central Saint Martins and Illustration at the Royal College of Art. She has over twenty years of experience in teaching Life Drawing and is currently doing PhD research into drawing and performance.
Rebecca Bath, Course Administrator: Rebecca is the backbone of the course.
Giles Foreman, Acting Tutor: Giles is a very experienced actor and director. He teaches workshops in method acting techniques.
Birgitta Hosea, Course Director: Birgitta is a digital artist and animator, who trained in Theatre Design at Glasgow School of Art and Computer Imaging and Animation at London Metropolitan University. She worked in design for performance before discovering computers and motion graphics. She continues to work freelance as a software consultant and senior presentation artist for Adobe, exhibits her own work and is currently doing a PhD in animation as performance. She is also the author of the Easy Guide to Flash series of books for Focal Press.
Kimmo Moykky, Technician: Kimmo is an independent filmmaker with a degree in filmmaking from LCC. He not only holds the studio together, but also teaches workshops in After Effects, cinematography and film language. He has just completed his first feature film. For more info go to www.vivavocevirus.com.
Kevin Rowe, 3D Animation: Kevin is an artist and independent filmmaker, who trained in painting at Middlesex and Computer Imaging and Animation at London Metropolitan University. He has a background in painting, plumbing and animated set design for music, theater and clubs and now specialises in 3D character animation with Maya. He is currently a part-time Research Fellow, developing a screenplay and is researching into applying method acting techniques to the practice of animation.
Steve Roberts, Animation Theory and Practice: Steve is an animator and award winning animation director. An animation graduate from Farnham, he has been working in animation since he was 18 and has worked for most of the major animation companies in the UK. He is the only full-time member of staff, but still finds the time to direct animated films and write the Character Animation in 3D series of books for Focal Press.
Kitty Winter, Movement Tutor: Kitty is a choreographer and movement director. She trained at the Laban Centre and Central School of Speech and Drama.
Comments from Industry
"The course is the Best There Is and I've seen a few!! If I was starting again - that's where I would be."
Bob Godfrey, director - Roobarb and Custard
August 2000
"The innovation that this course has introduced to the industry was the combining of traditional and computer animation skills in one course, so that the students would benefit from cross-disciplinary exercises and the wider foundation this would give to their understanding. This has proved to be a powerful new educational tool, and the continuing high standard of achievement of the students validates the method."
Mike Milne, Framestore-CFC, director - Walking with Dinosaurs
May 2000
"I have taught many times at the LAS and I have always found it a highly professional and inspiring course. That's why when people come to me for advice about serious animation studies I frequently refer them to the LAS, even though I am familiar with other animation courses in the UK."
Michael Dudok de Wit, director - The Monk and the Fish, Father and Daughter
June 2002
Comments from Graduates
"I enjoyed the course immensely and would love to have the chance again."
Eve Khambatta, Primal Pictures, 2001
"Steve was a brilliant tutor who made the most difficult exercises seem possible."
David Leach, Codemasters, 2001
"The teaching of animation is excellent and the short time spans for projects are much more realistic than any university course would give"
Nigel Rafter, Aldis Animation, 2001