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Bachelor of Animation

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Overview

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Download our Degree Brochure 2021-2022, including payment plan and options:

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Course Overview

Undertake the Bachelor of Animation at SAE and build your expertise in all facets of Animation. Students will develop fundamental skills and knowledge in this exciting industry in areas such as 3D modeling, character animation, rigging, textures, project management, teamwork, lighting, rendering, and compositing.

Developing a solid understanding of these areas provides students with a solid foundation and context for further study before exploring in detail the specialist areas.

During your time at SAE, you will learn on industry-standard software such as Autodesk 3D MAX and the Adobe Creative Suite.

You will undertake specialized units designed for students to participate in real-world projects under the guidance of expert SAE staff. With this unique teaching style, you will demonstrate your skills and technical knowledge in a collaborative and creative studio-based learning environment.

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Each degree program is broken up into discrete stages, each designed to promote different skills.

Stage I - Foundational Skills Development

In Stage I, you will undertake a number of foundational units which will give you the essential technical skills and knowledge not only relevant to your discipline area but also give you the skills required to collaborate with other creative media students and professionals in later stages of the program.

  • Storytelling for contemporary media
  • Principles of design
  • Fundamentals of drawing
  • Foundations of 3D graphics
  • Principles of animation
  • Project management and professional etiquette
  • Critical and creative thinking
  • Contemporary industry overview

Stage II – Interdisciplinary Projects, Media and Cultural Studies

In Stage II you will work in simulated project groups towards large-scale deliverables each trimester. Within Stage II, you will not only apply your Stage I skills in a deeper context but the project groups will help you work within the contemporary creative media workforce. 

In Stage II we show you how your work contributes to and interacts with broader culture and media practice. This knowledge will enable you to work with a variety of other disciplines and artists and expand your potential on the global stage.  

You will complete a number of real-world projects with students not only in your own discipline but in all other SAE disciplines.

In Stage II, you will be given the opportunity to work as project specialists within the following areas. The types of projects and project roles you choose to undertake will determine what area of specialization you fall within. Stage II has three studio modules with projects based on the following areas;

1. 3D Modelling

In 3D Modelling, students will examine modeling techniques, terminology, and methods. Students will develop and implement 3D production pipelines to create such things as environments, vehicles, creatures, and characters. Students will need to research industry best practices and keep up to date with current trends in CGI production.
This specialization will further explore texturing and shading, lighting and rendering.

2. Character Animation

In the Character Animation specialization, students will focus on the principles of character animation such as posing, motion studies, body mechanics, facial animation and much more. Students will also learn to develop effective and user-friendly animation rigs that serve as a means to control and animate a character, similar to the controls of a puppet. 

3. Visual Effects

In the Visual Effects specialization, students will explore the areas of modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering, and compositing with an emphasis on incorporating assets into a range of digital media. Students can investigate topics such as matchmoving, particle systems, dynamic simulations, and color grading. 
By the end of the course, students will be able to composite a range of disparate elements into a cohesive final product.  

Stage III

Stage III is the final part of your studies. Here you will undertake an interdisciplinary project of your choice to be the final and most ambitious portfolio project. 

You will also finalize your studies by undertaking an elective module and completing a compulsory internship.

By the time you graduate, you will have; a professional online presence that you will have begun building at the start of the program, a wide range of interdisciplinary projects present in your portfolio, and a deeper understanding of the creative media fields and real-world experience.

Upon graduating, you will be proficient in Maya, Autodesk 3D MAX and the Adobe Creative Suite and will have built a portfolio to demonstrate your skills in your chosen specialization including the ability to produce collaborative creative films, interactive media titles and more. You will have real-world skills, having worked in a simulated environment making the transition from study to workplace seamless.

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QUALIFICATION
Bachelor of Animation


 INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

  • City Production House
  • Xpanse CGI
  • Clock works
  • Duplay
  • City7
  • Mamemo Productions
  • Barajoun
  • CG Kite
  • Optic Digital Pictre
  • Oryx Production
  • Infosys Multimedia
  • Fanar Production
  • Hybrid Human Studio
  • Vortex
  • Streetwise Production

 


Software available

 Adobe Creative Cloud    “Substance”    Adobe2

Unreal2    VrayZBrush

 

Courses

Your learning experience

SAE has implemented a remote flexible learning option for current and future students. The range of tools developed by SAE will not only allow students to collaborate online but also gain experience in remote working practices widely used within the creative industries.

  • Learn advanced-level industry-standard animation tools, such as Autodesks 3DS Max and Maya and the Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Experience an Animation course designed in collaboration with industry partners, develop the skills the film and interactive media industries want.
  • Work with artists, designers, web, mobile and games developers, film makers, animators and audio specialists.
  • Learn from Animation industry veterans who are masters of their craft.
  • Develop high-level special effects in collaboration with film makers.
  • Learn and apply narrative theories to produce compelling animated films.
  • Work with games developers to produce rich worlds, assets and animation for interactive media titles.
  • Learn in a collaborative, studio-based environment where your teachers are also your mentors.
  • Learn and apply industry-standard project management methodologies from day one.

BACHELOR OF ANIMATION

The Animation degree program is broken up into discrete stages, each designed to promote different skills.

Stages of Animation Degree

Stage I – Foundational Skills Development
In Stage I, students will undertake a number of foundational units which will give students the essential technical skills and knowledge not only relevant to the chosen discipline area, but also give students the skills required to collaborate with other creative media students and professionals in later stages of the Animation course.

  • Storytelling for contemporary media
  • Principles of design
  • Fundamentals of drawing
  • Foundations of 3D graphics
  • Principles of animation
  • Project management and professional etiquette
  • Critical and creative thinking
  • Contemporary industry overview

Stage II – Interdisciplinary Projects, Media and Cultural Studies
In Stage II we show students how their Animation work contributes to and interacts with broader culture and media practice. This knowledge will enable students to work with a variety of other disciplines and artists and expand their potential on the global stage.

Students complete a number of real-world projects with students not only in their own discipline, but also in all other SAE disciplines.

Stage II has three studio modules with projects based on the following areas;

1. 3D Modelling

In 3D Modelling, students will examine modelling techniques, terminology and methods. Students will develop and implement 3D production pipelines to create such things as environments, vehicles, creatures and characters. Students will need to research industry best practices and keep up to date with current trends in CGI production. This specialisation will further explore texturing and shading, lighting and rendering.

2. Character Animation

In the Character Animation specialisation, students will focus on the principles of character animation such as posing, motion studies, body mechanics, facial animation and much more. Students will also learn to develop effective and user-friendly animation rigs that serve as a means to control and animate a character, similar to the controls of a puppet.

3. Visual Effects

In the Visual Effects specialisation, students will explore the areas of computer modelling, texturing, lighting, rendering and compositing with an emphasis on incorporating assets into a range of digital media. Students can investigate topics such as match moving, particle systems, dynamic simulations and colour grading. By the end of the Animation course, students will be able to composite a range of disparate elements into a cohesive final product.

Stage III
Stage III is the final part of study. Here you will undertake an interdisciplinary project of choice to be the final and most ambitious portfolio Animation project that a student will undertake.

Students will also finalise their studies by undertaking an Animation elective module and completing a compulsory internship.

 

Careers

Career Options

  • Storytelling
  • 3D motion tracker
  • 2D/3D animator
  • Modeler
  • Rigger
  • Visual effects artist
  • Environment artist
  • Visual effect artist
  • Game asset artist
  • Technical artist
  • Character artist
  • Concept artist
  • Post-production for broadcast media
  • Architectural visualiser
  • Product visualiser
  • Motion graphics designer
  • Art director
  • Creative director
  • Project manager
  • Team leader

Employers

SAE Animation graduates have been involved with many well-known creative media companies, including:

  • City Production House
  • Ubisoft
  • twofour54 Abu Dhabi
  • Xpanse CGI
  • Clock works
  • Duplay
  • City7
  • Mamemo Productions
  • Barajoun
  • CG Kite
  • Optic Digital Pictre
  • Oryx Production
  • Infosys Multimedia
  • Fanar Production
  • Hybrid Human Studio
  • Vortex
  • Streetwise Production
  • Option 1 Live

Units

Bachelor of Animation (3D Modelling)
VIEW UNIT
Trimester 1 (1st Year)
Animation Studies and PracticeFoundations of Computer GraphicsIntroduction to Animation
Trimester 2
Contemporary Industrial PracticesApplied Animation TechniquesDrawing for Animation
Trimester 3
Media StudiesAnimation Studio 1
Trimester 4 (2nd Year)
Animation Studio 2
Trimester 5
Animation Studio 3
Trimester 6
Cultural PerspectivesAnimation Studio 4
Trimester 7 (3rd Year)
Work Integrated LearningMajor Project Development
Trimester 8
Creative MediaElectiveMajor Project Production
  • Creative Industry Unit
  • Discipline Specialisation Unit
  • Elective Unit

Note: 
Elective unit is selected from any other bachelor course, trimester 1 or 2 units.
Studios are professionally oriented production units modelled on real-world work environments.

Exit point options:

Option to complete your studies with a Diploma after 80 credit points or an Associate Degree of Animation after 160 credit points.

Through the Diploma of 3D Animation you will get a practical first look at modelling, lighting, shading, animation and rendering to gain an understanding of the 3D production process. You can become:

  • a 2D/3D animator
  • a character designer and/or 
  • an editor

With the Associate Degree you get qualified with an industry-recognised course in animation. You will be able to use advanced animation tools, and collaborate with across disciplines to produce a showreel. With the Associate Degree you can become:

  • a 3D animator
  • a 3D modeller
  • a Game asset, environment, concept, character and/or technical artist
  • an architectural and product visualizer
  • a motion graphic designer
Trimester 1
Animation Studies and Practice
Foundations of Computer Graphics
Introduction to Animation
Trimester 2
Contemporary Industrial Practices
Applied Animation Techniques
Drawing for Animation
Trimester 3
Media Studies
Animation Studio 1
Trimester 4
Animation Studio 2
Trimester 5
Animation Studio 3
Trimester 6
Cultural Perspectives
Animation Studio 4
Trimester 7
Work Integrated Learning
Major Project Development
Trimester 8
Creative Media
Elective
Major Project Production
  • Creative Industry Unit
  • Discipline Specialisation Unit
  • Elective Unit

Note: 
Elective unit is selected from any other bachelor course, trimester 1 or 2 units.
Studios are professionally oriented production units modelled on real-world work environments.

Exit point options:

Option to complete your studies with a Diploma after 80 credit points or an Associate Degree of Animation after 160 credit points.

Through the Diploma of 3D Animation you will get a practical first look at modelling, lighting, shading, animation and rendering to gain an understanding of the 3D production process. You can become:

  • a 2D/3D animator
  • a character designer and/or 
  • an editor

With the Associate Degree you get qualified with an industry-recognised course in animation. You will be able to use advanced animation tools, and collaborate with across disciplines to produce a showreel. With the Associate Degree you can become:

  • a 3D animator
  • a 3D modeller
  • a Game asset, environment, concept, character and/or technical artist
  • an architectural and product visualizer
  • a motion graphic designer
  • Animation Student
    SAE has helped shape my skills with the help of constructive criticism and feedback from my lecturers. I have been more open and encouraged to share my ideas in this collaborative environment.
    -
  • Animation Student
    SAE provided me with not only the technical resources but also the cultural experience that I could not have had elsewhere. It has shaped my skills and perspective of the creative industry.
    -
  • Animation Alumnus
    As the degrees at SAE offer an innovative, hands-on approach in teaching and learning. Students find themselves completely immersed in their course of study, surrounded by a great professional faculty and working with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities! The project-based curriculum is designed to reflect a real-world environment while encouraging students to explore their own creativity and passions.
    -