courses /  
short courses /  
3d animation 

3D Animation short course

Apply Now (12 weeks)Apply Now (18 Weeks)

Course Details

Location

London campus or live online

Start Date

24th February 2025

Duration

12 or 18 weeks

Contact time

5 days per week

Entry Requirements

  • Be over 18

  • Have a good understanding of written and spoken English

  • Feel comfortable using a computer

Fees

12 weeks - London campus: £11,950 

12 weeks - Live online: £9,350

18 weeks - London campus: £16,850 

18 weeks - Live online: £13,200

Apply now

February 2025:

Third place Rookies award icon for animation careers review school rankingsLaurel-_Creative-Schools-Laurel-Black

Course overview

Master the key skills required to become an Animator.

Our short courses give you the opportunity to study the first 12 or 18 weeks of our MA 3D Animation degree. This option is suited to students who want intensive training without academic qualifications. You'll complete the first 2-3 modules of the programme and get hands on experience with 3D animation techniques such as creating simple geometry, basic texturing, animation and dynamics, keyframe animation, lighting and rendering.

Why choose this course

  • Designed with industry - our advisory board of experts, from the likes of DNEG and Cinesite, help keep this course relevant.

  • Learn from expert Tutor, Lee Caller, who has over 20 years Animating experience.

  • Get to grips with the software used in industry including Maya, Premiere Pro and Unreal Engine.

  • Receive feedback from industry professionals - an opportunity to level-up your work and build connections, ready to embark on your creative career. Previous studio partners for our animation course have included Blue Zoo, Passion Animation Studios and Framestore.

  • Aftercare package - we'll help you polish your showreel and find the right job, with access to our studios and showreel clinics for 12 months 

  • Industry-standard facilities - study in a studio environment that mirrors current industry practice, using professional software such as Maya

Meet your Tutor, Lee Caller

With a background ranging from IT to comedy writing, Lee started animating in the late 1990s using (what was then) the 2D animation application Macromedia Flash to produce short sketches & web-based animation, before moving onto 3D animation using Maya.

Combining a naturally logical approach, attention to detail and appreciation of the importance of timing his character and creature animation pieces resulted in an invitation to tutor a 3D Animation Taster Day at Escape Studios from Alex Williams in 2016! This grew and since then Lee has also covered elements of the Escape Studios Animation Short Course and now the MA in 3D Animation.

Please note tutors are subject to change.

Course modules

These modules are common with the first 12 to 18 weeks of our MA 3D Animation course.

  • General introduction to Maya 

    • Basic modelling 

    • Texturing

    • Lighting 

    • Rigging 

  • General principles of animation 

  • Locomotion 

    • Introduction

    • Runs 

    • Hops 

    • Jumps 

    • Skips 

  • Character animation 

    • Introduction 

    • Building and blocking a shot 

    • Parenting 

    • Constraints 

  • Weight and flexibility, physics and adding characterisation 

  • Animal locomotion: trots, walks and runs 

  • Animal locomotion continued 

  • Acting, dialogue and lip sync 

  • Final exercise 

  • Project 

  • Advanced character animation: dialogue and lip sync 

  • Advanced character animation: acting and performance 

  • Advanced motion capture and facial performance

  • Advanced creature animation: creature performance and acting 

  • Advanced character and creature interactions 

  • Project and polish 

For more details about modules, see the programme and module specifications.

More information

Minimum requirements

We welcome and encourage applications from students with a variety of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

To study this short course, you must:

  • Be over 18

  • Have a good understanding of written and spoken English

  • Feel comfortable using a computer.

If you’d like to discuss your circumstances before applying, contact us!

Non-UK students

We accept international students for our short courses, with no difference in course fees or administration costs. 

The Standard Visitor visa allows students to come to the UK to study for a course of up to six months at an accredited institution. Depending on your nationality, you may need to apply for a standard visitor visa prior to departure from your home country. For more information visit:  

Contact us on admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk or +44 (0) 204 570 5091 for any questions.

We can provide remote access to our workstations during teaching time. Due to availability restrictions, we highly advise you to have your own set up at home to study in your own time.

More things you’ll need:

  • A strong internet connection

  • Cloud storage or external hard drive to back up your work, 1TB+ recommended

  • A three-button mouse or graphics tablet. Please note, the Wacom Intuos Pro range of tablets have the best support for our remote desktop software and provide the best experience.

  • A computer microphone (and optionally a webcam)

  • Note-taking materials.

If you have any questions about learning online or if you need help with what to buy, get in touch at hello@escapestudios.ac.uk.

To apply, complete the relevant online application form linked below:

February 2025:

Our Admissions Team will get in touch to take you through the next steps.

If you have any questions about your application, your portfolio or our entry requirements, get in touch!

As part of the application process, you will need to agree to our terms and conditions for your place on the course to be secured.

Fees

12 weeks - London campus: £11,950 

12 weeks - Live online: £9,350

18 weeks - London campus: £16,850 

18 weeks - Live online: £13,200

Payment plans

We offer payment plan options for all courses. Following an initial deposit at registration stage, your chosen payment plan will break down your remaining fees into up to three instalments, to be paid before the end of the course.

Visit our admissions page for any questions about fees, funding and payment plans.

  • Maya

“The UK is home to distinct and highly successful centres of animation production excellence throughout the country, including Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee, Edinburgh, London and Manchester.” (source Animation UK).

You’ll leave with an Escape Studios Certificate of Achievement, along with strong creative and technical skills and some great pieces of work for your portfolio, which you can add to with help from our Aftercare programme. Ready to apply for jobs in the industry!

Animators often start out in junior roles to then rise to mid-level and senior roles such as Lead Animators and Technical Directors, opening the path to becoming an Animation Supervisor. 

Our students have gone to work in many areas of the industry, including 3D animation for films, TV, video games and visual effects, at companies including Pixar, Blue Zoo and Framestore. Read some of our animation Escapee success stories.

Check out our Careers Guide for more information about career opportunities and progression routes.

Why Escape Studios?

Laurel-_Immersive-Media-Laurel-WhiteLaurel-_Creative-Schools-Laurel-WhiteLaurel-_VFX-Laurel-White3rd place Rookies award icon for animation careers review school rankings
2024-Rankings-WHTTransparent white TIGA member logoTransparent white Unreal Engine authorised instructor logo

Escape Studios is a place that puts students in the perfect position to succeed. The most important thing was networking - exposure to the people who have the jobs to give! I met recruiters, artists, producers, just about every person I needed to meet to gain connections.

Harry Pearson, Animation Escapee
Previs Shot Creator at The Third Floor