Animation for Games

Animation for games is a highly specialised creative and technical discipline that sits at the intersection of traditional animation principles and real-time interactive technology. Games are the largest entertainment medium in the world, and the quality of character movement, environmental animation, and visual storytelling within them has risen to a level that demands skilled specialists who understand both how to create compelling movement and how game engines and pipelines work. This is not simply animation applied to games; it requires a deep understanding of the constraints and possibilities of real-time rendering and the collaborative workflows of production studios.

At Edinburgh Napier University, this four-year programme develops both the artistic and technical dimensions of games animation. You will study the foundational principles of animation, including timing, weight, and the communication of personality and emotion through movement, alongside the software and technical skills used in professional game development. You will learn to rig characters, create motion capture workflows, animate in-engine, and work within the asset pipelines that studios use to manage production at scale.

The programme includes a sandwich year, giving you an extended period of professional experience in the industry, alongside a year abroad and work placement opportunities that broaden your professional network and cross-cultural experience. Edinburgh's creative technology sector provides a relevant and stimulating environment for this kind of study.

Graduates work as character animators, technical animators, and riggers in games studios of all sizes, from small independent developers to large international publishers. Visual effects companies, film and television animation studios, and VR and AR development teams also offer roles that draw on games animation skills. The technical pipeline knowledge developed in the programme is valued in any role that requires understanding how animated assets move from creation to the finished product.

Some graduates choose to build independent careers in freelance animation or go on to postgraduate study in animation, games development, or computer graphics.