MA Character & Creature Creation

Master the art of character and creature creation

This postgraduate qualification is designed for students who want to learn how to master the pipeline for the creation of characters and creatures.

This MA course will teach you how to design and create your own characters and creatures, and bring them to life. Over the course of the programme, you will learn how to design, model, texture, rig and animate your own characters.

At the end of the course, you will have earned a postgraduate qualification, have a showreel of character and creature creation work, a thorough understanding of the animation and VFX industry, as well as the skills and connections to kick-start your creative career.

You will be encouraged to apply for a position as a CG Generalist or Character Artist within a studio, providing a "one stop shop" for the design and creation of characters and creatures.

Subject to validation

Location: London campus or Live online
Start date: September 2021 (subject to validation)
Tuition Fees:
London campus: £17,995
Live online: £15,450
Mode of study: Daytime (full-time)
Programme duration: 1 year
Entry requirements: An undergraduate honours degree with a significant component in the field of animation or a related discipline

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Online course requirements

We are hoping for our September 2021 intake to be taught face-to-face in our studios. However we have an option to offer live online learning if government guidelines don't allow to teach on campus. For more information, please visit our live online learning page or contact our Admissions team.

Access to the internet
3 button mouse
Wacom tablet/ Microsoft Ink
Desktop or laptop meeting the Autodesk requirements for Maya
A microphone
Webcam (not compulsory but highly beneficial)
Materials to take notes, such as notebook and pen/pencil

Industry feedback

We pride ourselves on our industry powered training, that's why all our Escape Studios Postgraduate degrees include industry feedback sessions with some of the world's leading studios and professionals.

This course was designed with help from leading studios across different industries such as Framestore and Rocksteady. Our industry partners deliver masterclasses or visit a class to give feedback on student work - it’s a great opportunity to receive industry standard critique and meet professionals working in the industry.

Why choose this course

Postgraduate level training. If you are serious about building a career in character and creature design, this course will give you the qualification. confidence, skills and connections to start applying for roles in the industry.
This course is hands-on. You’ll be working on high-spec software to master your character and creature design skills. We offer small class sizes so you’ll get plenty of 1-2-1 time with your tutor.
Experienced tutors. You can’t teach what you don’t know, so that’s why we employ the best. All of our tutors have worked in the industry and you’ll have industry feedback sessions with professionals.
AfterCare to help you get hired. Our alumni AfterCare package will help you polish your showreel and find the right job - with access to showreel clinics, studio access for 12 months and use of tons of resources on our virtual learning environment.

Module information (Indicative)

MODULE 1 – Character and Creature Design (30 CREDIT MODULE):

Assignment 1 ‐ Character Design Assignment

Assignment 2 ‐ Retrospective

Assignment 3 ‐ Individual Presentation

Weeks 1 – 6:

Week 1 ‐ Character and creature design Theory (Moodboards and the importance of research, body language and expressions)
Week 2 ‐ Tools and techniques for creating character and creature concepts (Colour and BG. Beat boards. Light and shadow)
Week 3 ‐ Using anatomy of characters and creatures in design choices
Week 4 ‐ Analysing an established style to create character and creature concepts
Week 5 ‐ Functional fashion in character and creature concepts. (Costume design and costume language)
Week 6 ‐ Establishing new styles (How to prepare a character or creature design bible for animation, outsourcing and videogames, and a pitch for comic publishing)

MODULE 2 ‐ Character and Creature Modelling/Presentation (30 CREDIT MODULE):

Assignment 1 ‐ Character Presentation Assignment

Assignment 2 ‐ Retrospective

Assignment 3 ‐ Individual Presentation

Weeks 7 – 12:

Week 7 - Introduction to Zbrush (Character and creature anatomy, high-detail sculpting)
Week 8 ‐ Introduction to Maya (How Maya works, retopology, anatomy and asset setup)
Week 9 ‐ Introduction to texturing (Introduction to Substance Painter and Mari)
Week 10 ‐ VFX and Games pipelines (Differences and similarities)
Week 11 ‐ Lighting and Rendering (Rendering in Arnold and Unreal)
Week 12 ‐ Presenting characters and creatures for portfolios (Introduction to rigging for creating character poses, directed project time)

MODULE 3 ‐ Character and Creature Technical Direction (30 CREDIT MODULE):

Assignment 1 ‐ Character Technical Direction Assignment

Assignment 2 ‐ Retrospective

Assignment 3 ‐ Individual Presentation

Weeks 13 – 18:

Week 13 - Character Rigging in Maya (Creating advanced character rig setups, introduction to python, how Maya really works)
Week 14 ‐ Creating cloth and soft surface simulations in Maya and Houdini (FEM and Vellum workflows)
Week 15 ‐ Creating muscle systems in Maya (Advanced anatomy, CharacterFX pipelines)
Week 16 ‐ Fur and hair groom (Long and short hair/fur with dynamics)
Week 17 ‐ Creating character cycles for presentation (walks and runs ready for final showreel presentation)
Week 18 ‐ Project catch-up week

MODULE 4 ‐ Studio Project (30 CREDIT MODULE):

Assignment 1 ‐ Collaborative Project

Assignment 2 ‐ Group presentation

For this module, you will be required to work in a small team working on an industry brief or creating your own brief. This project will allow you to use the tools and techniques you’ve learnt but it will also prepare you for the real world by working in teams.

MODULE 5 - Character and Creature Production Project - (60 CREDIT MODULE):

Assignment 1 ‐ Production Project

Assignment 2 ‐ Retrospective

This is the major project where you will work independently and develop your own brief. You will refine and produce a substantial Character and Creature project that will showcase your in-depth critical awareness of the area and the highly developed practical skills to deliver a complex project on time.

Assessment information

At Escape Studios, there are two main types of feedback; Formative and Summative.

Formative Feedback
This is one of the most important aspects of your work. There will be many opportunities to receive feedback from your tutor, studio assistants and peers during your modules. This will often be oral feedback on your work, sometimes on a one-to-one basis, sometimes in a group feedback session or daily.
All of this should help you build on your strengths and develop your skills as you progress through the course.

Summative assessment
This will be specifically designed to measure how well you meet the learning outcomes of the module. They will usually involve a task to meet a brief set by your tutor and will allow you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills that you have learned during the module. You’ll need to decide exactly how to complete the task, choosing particular techniques and approaches, and making decisions on the aesthetics and style to meet the given requirements.

Each module will have a practical element (usually a practical project, where you make something) and a written element (usually a journal or blog, where you reflect on what you’ve made). Sometimes there is also a presentation (where you demonstrate your work). All these elements are essential to your development by showing that you can deliver to a required level and also that you understand why you can and how you could improve.

Teaching and learning

Your overall workload will be divided between teaching sessions and independent learning.

During your course, you’ll be able to develop your knowledge and skills in a number of ways. Some of this will be closely directed/supervised by your tutors, at other times you’ll be free to organise your own study with guidance. All your scheduled study time, except for some information sessions and presentations, will be in groups of around 12. For your team project, you’ll be working with a smaller team, collaborating to meet a shared brief. This will give you ample opportunity to get the support and assistance that you need.

The first three modules have a high contact time (180 hours for each module), as this is where you will be learning the knowledge and skills associated with your particular subject, directed and informed by your tutors’ expertise and experience. These will normally involve a large part of each day with your tutor and studio assistant, following demonstrations and working on set exercises to help you develop your craft. Throughout these modules, there will be regular quizzes to test your knowledge and highlight areas that need more further development.

The Studio Project and Production Project modules will have a lower contact time (15 hours for the Studio Project and 30 hours for the Production Project), with your tutors taking on the roles of supervisors or studio leads. You’ll meet with them regularly to get feedback and help you stay on the right path, but these modules are much more about you managing the learning experience to meet your objectives. You’ll be free to organise your work either as a team or an individual to best suit your project requirements.

Each module has its own area on the OLE where you will find all the information about the module and the resources. Some of this information will be dedicated to the module, other elements may be shared across different modules and some may be external assets that can help with your further study. There may be links to videos, online journals and ebooks, and you should take advantage of these to enhance your development and take it beyond the studio experience. Tutors may highlight some of these during their sessions, so make sure you listen out and follow up on their advice!

You will also have access to a variety of materials to aid you in your learning. Our OLE platform offers an online module focused on improving your study and research skills and academic writing. Finally, the online library also offers an extensive range of literature on both study skills and academic writing.

Overall Workload

This programme has flexible start dates which may vary from year to year. It is divided into two stages: stage 1 comprises the first four modules (a total of 120 credits) and Stage 2, comprises a 60 credit Character and Creature Production Project module. The first three modules are taught in intensive blocks of 6 weeks’ each, giving a total of 18 weeks. During each of these modules, you will spend around 30 hours per week studying in tutor-led sessions or practice supported by studio assistants. The final two modules are more self-directed. The Studio Project will take around 12 weeks, during which you will have around 15 hours of feedback sessions with your tutor. Finally, you will spend around 18 weeks on the Production Project, including around 30 hours of feedback sessions with your tutor.

One credit corresponds to approximately ten hours of 'learning time' (including all classes and all private study and research). Thus obtaining 180 credits in a year requires 1,800 hours of overall learning time.

Software

Entry requirements

An undergraduate honours degree in a related discipline with a significant component in the field of art and design (e.g. Computer Graphics, Fine Art, Graphic Design, etc).

Applicants without a degree who have significant industry experience in character and creature creation or related creative subjects will be considered.

Suitable applicants will be asked to submit a creative portfolio.

English Language requirements

If your first language is not English you may need to complete an English language test, such as a Pearson English language test (PTE Academic) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, to demonstrate you have the language skills needed to complete your degree. All our courses are taught in English.

Qualification	Score required
IELTS	6.5 IELTS (with a minimum of 6.0 in Reading and Writing and 5.5 in Speaking and Listening)
PTE	62 including 60 in each subtest
Cambridge English: Advanced & Proficiency	176 (with a minimum of 169 in Reading and Writing and 162 in Speaking and Listening)
Internet-based TOEFL	90 Overall including at least 22 in Reading, 21 in Writing, 21 in Listening and 23 in Speaking

How to apply

Applications for this programme are now open and applications can be submitted by clicking the "Apply now" button above. Please note that our programmes go through a rigorous approval stage, known as validation, for quality assurance and enhancement purposes. This course is subject to validation, which means that it is in the final stages of approval. We will contact applicants if there are any significant changes to the programme or if the validation is unsuccessful to discuss their options.

If you are interested in applying or have any questions about our entry requirements, you can:

Call our Admissions Advisors on +44 (0)203 441 1303
Email us at admissions@escapestudios.com
Reach us on LiveChat Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Following your application, you will need to agree to our terms and conditions before your place on the course can be secured.

Career opportunities

On completion of the course, you will graduate with a postgraduate qualification and the technical skills required by the industry, helping you break into the character and creature design world and make an impact.

Graduates will be encouraged to apply for a position as a CG Generalist or Character Artist within a studio, becoming key team members for the design and creation of characters and creatures.

Our alumni, dubbed ‘Escapees’ go on to work in many areas of the industry including 3D animation for films, TV, games, and visual effects. Escapees from our Animation courses are now working at companies including: Pixar, Blue Zoo and Framestore.

Fees and funding

Are you an EU student, looking to study in the UK? Take a look at our information for EU students.

Fees

London campus: £17,995

Live online: £15,450

Includes:

Escapee AfterCare and career support, including help and advice on your CV, showreel and job applications.
Free Autodesk Software upon registration to the Autodesk Education Community - full details included with course welcome information.
18 weeks of classroom study followed by 12 weeks of remotely directed learning and a 15 week remotely directed final project.

Our postgraduate fees are payable at the beginning of each academic year, or at each stage of your programme.

Please note, we review our fees every year.

Funding for UK students

For the latest information and advice on student funding please contact our Admissions Team on admissions@escapestudios.com or call +44 (0)203 441 1303.

For students to be eligible for funding from Student Finance England, they must be studying on an eligible course at a provider registered with the Office for Students (OfS). Escape Studios (part of Pearson College London) is registered with the Office for Students and our Master’s programmes are eligible for funding.

Visit www.officeforstudents.org.uk for more information.

Future Finance Student Loans

Future Finance is a private lender which offers student loans of between £2,000 - £40,000 to cover tuition fees and living costs, subject to credit checks and approval.

About Future Finance loans

Loans are offered to UK, EU and international students with a UK domiciled address
Loans are available to students studying our Escape postgraduate degrees
Repayment of the loan begins during the course but the rate will be reduced during term time and for up to 3 months after graduation.
Interest rates will be determined on an applicant by applicant basis

How to apply

Students can submit an application online up to six months prior to course start. You can get started by submitting an application via the Future Finance website to see if you're eligible.

Escape Studios will be required to verify your attendance on the course before any funding is released; this will be completed after you have attended registration at Escape Studios.

Any loan funds requested for tuition will be released directly to Escape Studios and will be applied towards your tuition and loans for living costs will be paid directly to you.

Further details of eligibility requirements, interest rates and other key terms of the loan are available by visiting the Future Finance website www.futurefinance.com.

Scholarships

At Escape Studios we want to make sure that talented students with creative potential can succeed on our degrees, that's why we offer a range of scholarships. We are offering an £8,000 scholarship to one applicant per discipline for each of the February 2021 cohorts of our postgraduate courses, which will significantly reduce your tuition fee. Find more information about the scholarship and how to apply here.

Our MA Game Art course is now also eligible for a BAFTA UK Scholarship Programme. Find out more here.

Payment Plans

We also offer simple, affordable payment plans to help you spread the cost of your tuition fees. To find out more please get in touch with our Admissions Team.

Get in Touch

We can help with any problems or questions you have with course fees and funding. Speak to one of our Applicant Advisors via phone or email today! Call us on +44 (0)203 441 1303 or email admissions@escapestudios.com.

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Meet our tutors

Michael Davies is the Programme Leader for Animation at Escape Studios. He has worked in VFX for over 10 years and as a freelance artist has pretty much worked in every department, in one way or another. Michael has worked for leading studios including DNEG, Industrial Light & Magic, The Mill and Prime Focus, and has worked on freelance projects with clients such as Unicef, Wired, 3D2D Studios and many more.

He brings his experience of working on VFX blockbuster films such as Batman vs Superman, Doctor Strange and Thor: Ragnarok to Escape Studios. Michael's main area of expertise is based on work as a Character TD, involving a deep knowledge in modelling, texturing, rigging, and CFX but he has also worked as a Generalist and Supervisor.

He has been helping to develop future creative talent by sharing his skills since 2014 and is also an accredited trainer for Maya at Autodesk. In 2020, Michael also became an Authorised Trainer for Unreal Engine.

Why Escape Studios?

Learn industry-relevant techniques from the experts, in a studio-like environment.

Industry-experienced tutors. Our tutors have worked at studios including DNEG, Walt Disney Animation, EA, Rebellion and Framestore and their credits include Captain America, Black Mirror and Bond: Spectre. They speak at international conferences, like B’Ars (Spain) and VIEW Conference (Italy), write for industry-recognised blog Befores&Afters, and are authorised trainers for software like Unreal Engine, Autodesk or Houdini.
State-of-the-art facilities. Our central London campus is surrounded by world-leading studios and fully equipped with high-end hardware and the latest software.
Industry partners. Our studio partners, including DNEG, Framestore and PlayStation London Studio, help design and develop our courses to make sure that what we teach is relevant to the current industry practices. You’ll also have access to events and webinars ran by our Student Experience team with industry speakers.

MA Character & Creature Creation

Master the art of character and creature creation

Subject to validation

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