Live online learning

Please note that our evening courses will be running live online in 2021 as access to our campus is limited in line with government guidance. For more information, please visit our live online learning page or contact our Admissions team.

Character Creation for Games and VFX (Evening - 18 weeks)

Visualise your own character designs and bring them to life

Over 18 weeks of evening classes, you’ll design, model, texture and pose your own character. Everything you need to bring your character ideas to life!

This course will allow you to explore different character design techniques, create 3D models using Maya and ZBrush and then paint and texture your character to give it a distinct look. This course is jam-packed but is designed for beginners - to take you through every stage of the process.

There will be a focus on creating characters for visual effects and video games but the basics are the same for all types of characters so don't let that put you off if you are looking for more traditional animation or motion picture character creation.

Week 1: Introduction to course – photo-bashing/concept art for characters
Week 2: Introduction to ZBrush – sculpting/basics – how to use brushes, interface
Week 3: Sculpting in ZBrush – dragon head
Week 4: Blocking out a character’s pose – using Zspheres
Week 5: Rigging a character for posing in ZBrush
Week 6: Sculpting cloth, cloths, hair, fur
Week 7: Hard surface sculpting in ZBrush – making an armour
Week 8: Hard surface sculpting continues – making assets and an armour
Week 9: Introduction to Maya – modelling basics
Week 10: Maya modelling continued – modelling assets for characters, import assets to ZBrush
Week 11: Blend shapes for facial expression
Week 12: UVs – exporting models and maps from Zbrush, UVing in ZBrush, Zremesher, Retopo in Maya
Week 13: Making high and low poly in ZBrush continued – importing and baking in Substance Painter
Week 14: Introduction to Substance Painter and texturing painting
Week 15: Procedural texturing
Week 16: Projection mapping for characters
Weeks 17 & 18: Finalise projects

For a full breakdown of what is covered in each module contact our Applicant Advisers via email admissions@escapestudios.com or sign-up for our next Open Day.

Software

How to apply

Part-time courses can be purchased directly via our online shop - just click the ‘Buy Now’ button. Alternatively you can call our admissions team on 020 7348 1920 or email admissions@escapestudios.com.

To study an Escape Studios part-time course you must be:

Over 18

Have a good understanding of written and spoken english

Feel comfortable using a computer. A working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop would be an advantage.

Following your application you will need to agree to our terms and conditions. Your place on the course will then be secured.

Where will this get me?

This course is designed for beginners and it will give you a taste of the different roles within VFX and animation. You’ll be able to try the different aspects of character creation to see if this could be a future career path for you. Plus you’ll finish the course with a character that you’ve designed, created and animated - a fantastic asset to add to your showreel.

Our students go on to work in many areas of the industry as highly creative professionals. You'll find our alumni, dubbed Escapees, in many of the world's top VFX studios, behind many Oscar and BAFTA-nominated films, 100s of award-winning films and television shows and 1,000s of award-winning commercials. See some of our Escape Studios success stories.

In addition to the soft skills that you will learn and enhance, working in a professional studio environment will give you the edge when applying for jobs in a highly competitive industry.

Fees and funding

Fees: £1,046

Funding for UK students

You may be able to get funding to help cover the cost of the course. For independent advice, and to find out more about your options, visit gov.uk or call the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900.

Funding for international students

We recommend you visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs website. The Council doesn’t provide funding directly, but it will give you all the information you need about studying and living in the UK, including visas and funding.

We do our best to find funding solutions for overseas students. For example:

If you’re from Sweden, you may be able to get help from the Swedish loan and grant course. Find out more at csn.se
Spanish students should visit the Spanish government website for useful information on studying, employment and emigration, plus details of grants available to Spanish students.
If you’re from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Burma, you may be able to get funding from the Charles Wallace Trust, to help towards your living costs and educational development in the UK. Find out more at wallace-trusts.org.uk.

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 0207 348 1920 or email admissions@escapestudios.com.

Next steps

Open events

Meet our tutors for an informal chat and speak to other students.

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Taster courses

Try before you buy and get a hands-on feel for what it's like to study with us.

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Our campus

Study in our state-of-the-art studios and get a taste of what it's like to work in industry.

Take a look

Meet our tutors

Our tutors have all sculpted their own careers in successful studios in the industry and are now sharing their expertise in the classroom. Packed with everything from Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther to the original Lion King and multiple PlayStation titles, their CVs don't get much cooler! They know exactly what skills you need – teaching you real-world tips and tricks, as well as the latest industry software and techniques to kick-start your career.

Meet our tutors

Industry partners

Industry partners and advisors influence everything we do, from the curriculum we teach and how it's delivered to our webinars and special events.

We work alongside an impressive list of VFX, Games and Animation studios including Framestore, Blue Zoo, MPC, Jellyfish Pictures, Creative Assembly and many more across all our courses at Escape Studios.

With exclusive professional feedback, intensive software training and much more, our industry-led courses give you up-to-the-minute, inspirational knowledge and experience, tailored to the work you’re passionate about. Our Escape Studios Alumni (Escapees) can be found in many of the studios including Pixar, MPC, Industrial Light & Magic, DNEG, Rockstar Games and Electric Theatre Collective.

Find out more about our industry partners

Why Escape Studios?

Our tutors have worked in the industry and have been hand-picked from successful studios; they teach real-world tips and tricks learnt from on-the-job experience
You'll work in an industry-style studio from day one, so you'll get a taste of what it's like to work in industry
Our industry partners include Framestore, The Mill, MPC, DNEG, Cinesite, Electric Theatre Collective and Jellyfish Pictures (to name just a few!)
Our industry partners help to design, develop and deliver our courses and they influence everything we do, so you'll benefit from up-to-the-minute knowledge and experience
You'll study at the heart of London's creative scene, so our state of the art facilities are the perfect place to kick-start your career