Master Computer Animation and Visual Effects - Máster en Animación y Efectos Especiales

Develop skills in the technical aspects of computer animation and graduate with the range and depth of knowledge necessary to become future Technical Directors, Artists or Research and Development Engineers within the computer animation and games sectors.

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject
For post-experience and professional qualifications, there may be additional entry requirements set by the association or institute that ultimately administers the qualification in question.

International entry requirements
If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with minimum 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.

Apply technical, mathematical, and algorithmic skills to develop tools to aid in the production of animation and games artefacts
Apply software to develop techniques in C++ to test new algorithms, write shaders to support rendering, and develop scripts and tools to create new effects
Attend visiting speaker talks from industry specialists, including some of our successful alumni
Collaborate with students across the NCCA Master’s courses providing a realistic setting to discover what it’s like working with other creative people and to a strict timescale
Undertake a Masters project in preparation for the end of year degree show attended by top industry recruiters
Access industry-standard facilities including animation laboratories, equipped with industry-standard software including Maya and Houdini.

Simulation and Rendering: This unit includes simulation elements such as fluid, smoke and FEA. The rendering section includes writing shaders using renderman as well as an in depth look at how different rendering engines work.
Animation Software Engineering: This unit will build on your existing programming knowledge and teach C++ and Software engineering principles for computer graphics. We use Modern C++ and OpenGL for realtime graphics as well as the NCCA Graphics Library ngl.
CGI Tools: You will be introduced to the main software tools used on the course these are Maya and Houdini, lectures will also introduce the main artistic concepts such as composition and cinematography.
CGI Techniques: This unit provides a more in-depth look at the algorithms and techniques behind computer animation, you will be introduced to the main mathematical and algorithmic concepts behind computer graphics and animation.
Pipeline and Technical Direction: This unit enables you to define the technological strategy required for an animation project or pipeline by defining and developing the tools and key development procedures required to see a project to completion.
Group Project: Working with students from all three postgraduate courses (MA3D, MA Digital Effects) you´ll present a concept for a short animated piece.
Master’s Project: The focus of the fourth term is on completing the Master’s component of your education. This can be a standalone project or the continuation and conclusion of another project. This project also includes a written thesis of approximately 5000 words and the year ends with a computer animation show, which gives you the opportunity to showcase your work to industry professionals and potential employers.

Our computer animation courses are well regarded within the industry and based on previous years, the employment prospects for postgraduates are excellent.

Moving Picture Company (Troy, Batman Begins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Kingdom of Heaven)
Double Negative (Batman Begins)
Framestore CFC
Cinesite
BBC.