Become a skilled and versatile 2D or 3D animator, with a focus on illustration and storytelling, at Cambridge School of Art and turn your creative ideas into a rewarding career within Illustration and Animation.
Our BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation course explores the connections between animation and illustration, helping you to create sequential narratives using a variety of methods – from traditional handmade image-making, to the latest specialist 2D digital animation, 3D CGI used in industry and cutting-edge interactive techniques.
As well as gaining strong software skills and a good understanding of animation, timings and motion, you will become an innovative and creative thinker. You will develop creative abilities, technical skills and a personal language within animation, with the focus being on illustration and design.
Within our supportive and vibrant studio culture, you will work on a range of projects from narrative animation, animated idents, motion graphics, character design, storyboarding, CGI and concept art to develop a body of work for your professional portfolio and showreel, preparing you for industry.
Perhaps most importantly, you’ll get time, guidance and support from a team of industry professionals, animators and illustrators and visiting industry experts who are dedicated to your creative development. In your final year you will also receive guidance from an assigned industry advisor dedicated to the year.
At Cambridge School of Art, you’ll experiment and discover, try stuff out, venture into the unknown and find solutions, develop and create. Our Design & Crafts courses ranked eighth in the UK for 'Satisfied with Course' and third for 'Satisfied with Teaching' in The Guardian University Guide 2020, reflecting how our students’ value their experience with us.
An animation by BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student Esme Powell for her Major Project, 2022.
An animation by BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student Ethan Dredge for his Major Project, 2022
An animation by BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student Hannah Vernon for her Major Project, 2022
An animation by BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student Fay Matthews for her Major Project, 2022
An animation by BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student Svetlana Filippova for her Major Project, 2022
An animation by BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student Becky Holloway for her Major Project, 2022
An animated film by BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student Fay Matthews for the Fibrosis Research Group, explaining the medical condition fibrosis.
BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student Ruta Stalmokaite talks about her experience on the course.
Collaborative animation by Ruta Stalkmokaite, BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation, and Alex Camp, BSc (Hons) Audio and Music Technology.
A short motion graphics animation by Ruta Stalmokaite, BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student at Cambridge School of Art, ARU.
An animation by BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student Nica Petrova for her final major project at Cambridge School of Art, ARU.
An animation by BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student Vania Felix for her final major project at Cambridge School of Art, ARU.
An animation by BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation students Olena Kalinina and Karina Alimova for their final major project.
An animation by BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student Esme Powell for her final major project at Cambridge School of Art, ARU.
An animation by BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation student Velina Garabedyan for her final major project.
JO PINTO
2019
MOLLY MAYHEW
2021
MOLLY MAYHEW
ADRIANA AUGUSTO RIBEIRO
HANNAH VERNON
HANNAH VERNON
ANNA HUGHES
ANNA HUGHES
OLENA KALININA AND KARINA ALIMOVA
FRAN LUISI
Hannah talks about her major project animation "A Snowy Surprise" and shows it in full for the Present Showcase 2021. The film was shortlisted for the Cinemagic Film Festival Young Filmmaker Award, and was also selected for Our Culture and the Bitesize Film Festival.
STEVEN GOODISON
Steven Goodison’s short film “Wee Shadows” was selected for screening at FrightFest and various other festivals in 2021.
VELINA GARABEDYAN
Graduate Velina Garabedyan's film “Wherever I Wander” was selected for screening at five festivals in 2021.
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As well as our dedicated animation base rooms with workstations for stop motion and digital animation, you’ll have use of facilities including:
Our new digital workshop includes a variety of computer aided manufacturing machines, helping you learn up to date manufacturing and design processes as well as supporting many traditional techniques. These technologies include:
Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us.
Meanwhile, Present is an exhibition that you curate for yourself. Explore the work of our graduating students in this eye-catching virtual degree show.
Course Leader/Senior Lecturer Practitioner, BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation
Lecturer Practitioner, BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation
Lecturer Practitioner, BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation
Course Leader, MA Illustration
With an understanding of traditional animation and illustration, combined with expertise in cutting-edge digital design technology, our graduates have found success with leading animation studios and broadcasters, including Channel 4 and the BBC.
As an Illustration and Animation student at ARU, you can be sure you’ll graduate with the knowledge, skills and abilities that industry needs. We work with artists, creative agencies and production studios – and they offer hands-on, practical opportunities to learn through work-based projects, internships or placements.
On our Sequential Practice module, you’ll focus on preparing for life beyond university, creating a showreel, a website and promotional material, as well as hearing guest speakers from some of the top animation studios in London, such as Passion Pictures, The Mill, FrameStore and Studio Aka.
Cambridge is the perfect place to gain experience – a creative hotspot that’s home to thousands of established businesses and start-ups. And, at the end of your final year, you’ll take part in our degree show in London – the perfect launchpad for your career.
Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our renowned MA Children’s Book Illustration. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
“We asked students to create an animation ident. What amazed us most was the quality of the thinking, and the variety of ideas and execution. We’re very much looking forward to working with them next year."
LEE CARNIHAN
As Marketing Manager at Curveball Media, Lee helps to set live briefs for our Illustration and Animation students
Find out more about our students' work with Curveball MediaDo you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.
We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.
Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.
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