2D Character Design (8 weeks) | Short courses | Escape Studios

Online courses

Please note that our courses will be starting in September regardless of the COVID situation- whilst conforming to government guidelines. We will be delivering our courses online and we intend to resume face-to-face teaching as soon as we are able to do so without the need for social distancing measures, and in line with government guidance. For more information, please visit our online courses page or contact our Admissions team.

2D Character Design (Evening - 8 weeks)

Whilst our campus is currently closed following government measures, we will be running the October intake of this course online. Please see below for details and contact our Admissions team for further information.

Do you want to make your characters come to life?

2D Character Design is one of the most rewarding parts of our industry and also one of the most competitive. As with everything we do here at Escape, the class will build up to a live industry brief.

Students will attend an online evening class one night a week, and will be set simple projects to do, and more complex ones to complete by the following week. Following the course, there will also be an 8 week period of online mentoring, in which students can polish their skills and receive ongoing feedback and support. See below for the online course requirements.

The course has been designed after consultation with industry, with individual classes being delivered by character designers working in the animation industry, such as the very talented Andrea Torrejón.

Part one - Introduction to Character Design

Week 1: General Introduction to Design
Introductory Exercises. Creativity, ideas and inspiration for stories. Gesture drawing, fast sketches, and research.
Week 2: Creating designs which have character.
Single images that illustrate personality and character. Design drawings. Situations and character-driven scenarios.
Week 3: Industry character design process
A close look at the work of some leading character designers and how they work.
Week 4: Art Direction
Introduction to the principles of design and visual development.

Part two - Character Design Technique

Week 5: Designing animal characters.
How to base designs on real life. Animal anatomy, Staging and character
Week 6: Designing human characters.
Life drawing, human anatomy, gesture drawing and character poses.
Week 7: Character Situations
The interaction of character with story. How do our characters fit into the overall story?
Week 8: Model Packs, Turnarounds, Blend Shapes and Rigging Studies for CG

Part three - Online Mentoring

Online mentoring will continue for a further 8 weeks. Students will be set a series of projects for delivery, using a Facebook group as an online virtual classroom. Tutors will provide online mentoring and individual feedback.

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?

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.

Related job roles include:

Animator and Illustrator
Concept Artist
Designer

Fees and funding

Fees: £699

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.

2D Character Design (8 weeks) | Short courses | Escape Studios

Next steps

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

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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.

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2D Character Design (8 weeks) | Short courses | Escape Studios

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

2D Character Design (8 weeks) | Short courses | Escape Studios

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