Animation

Animation is one of the most technically and creatively demanding disciplines in the visual arts. It brings together drawing, storytelling, motion design, digital technology, and an understanding of how images create the illusion of life and movement. From traditional hand-drawn animation through to three-dimensional computer-generated imagery and the experimental forms that challenge what animation can be, the discipline spans an enormous range of techniques and traditions, all united by the fundamental challenge of making still images move in ways that feel believable, expressive, and meaningful.

At Coventry University, this three-year full-time programme explores animation through historical, contemporary, and global perspectives, combining traditional and digital techniques so that you develop both the foundational skills and the technical range that the modern industry expects. You will explore the rich history of animation as an art form while also developing your own visual storytelling practice across a range of media and contexts. The programme places significant emphasis on inclusive visual storytelling, encouraging you to think critically about representation, accessibility, and the global audiences that animated work reaches.

You will build a versatile portfolio that demonstrates industry-relevant skills across both traditional and digital approaches. The programme includes a sandwich year in industry, a year abroad, and work placement, giving you extensive professional and international experience before graduation.

Coventry has strong connections with the creative industries in the Midlands and beyond, and the programme's practical orientation ensures that you graduate with both a strong creative portfolio and genuine professional experience.

Graduates work in film, television, games, advertising, interactive media, visual effects, motion graphics, children's media, and the growing field of immersive and extended reality. Many also pursue freelance practice, and the portfolio-centred approach of the degree prepares you well for the entrepreneurial dimensions of a creative career. Postgraduate study in animation, visual effects, or related fields is a further option.