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This programme is unique to the college as no other educational provider offers a programme combining both animation and illustration at undergraduate or postgraduate level in Ireland. Graduates of the BA (Hons) in Animation and Illustration will have the capacity to apply their knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of illustration and principles of animation to a broad range of areas within the animation and illustration sector in Ireland and internationally. Our students develop the capacity for independent learning as well as producing work collaboratively. Solid analytical and IT-related skills, as well as high levels of critical reasoning through the twin emphasis of both animation and illustration, are vital to creating strong, visually appealing and imaginative artwork.
In this podcast, lecturer Yvonne Hennessy discusses the BA (Hons) in Animation and Illustration, including portfolio requirements and the types of materials that should be used.
What will I experience?
Our students develop into imaginative, confident and creative individuals capable of thriving and adapting to the rapidly changing visual culture and world of animated film and print illustration. You will be allowed to give full vent to your creativity and explore all sorts of areas where your illustration and animation skills could be used. You will be encouraged to cultivate your creative abilities and technical skills through an understanding of the connections between illustration and animation. In year 3, students undertake a 5 month long placement between early January and late June.
What opportunities might it lead to?
There has been significant growth in the Irish animation and illustration industries. The sectors have become a central component of Ireland's digital and creative economy with increasing career opportunities every year. With a host of successful home-grown animation studios the opportunities within animated series, feature films and co-productions has risen steadily over the past number of years. Ireland has talented and technically sophisticated studios creating and producing content for print, television, cinema, video games and mobile platforms.
Portfolio Requirements
Your portfolio should reflect your enthusiasm for studying animation and illustration. You should demonstrate a high level of draughtsmanship, creativity, and experimentation through a wide range of media including but not limited to pencil, paint, photography, animated experiments. You are advised to choose only your best artwork. Curate your portfolio leaving the viewer with the impression that you have a passion for drawing and an interest in making things move.
Do not include fan art. All artwork must be your own original artwork.
Digital Portfolios:
In 2021, due to COVID, all portfolios will be accepted in digital format via email and assessed remotely/electronically. Take photos of your artwork using your phone, tablet, or camera. Make sure to capture the work in a well-lit room or in daylight to avoid shadows or unwanted reflections that obscure your work. The maximum PDF size per email attachment is 25MB. You can send a number of files/attachments provided no file exceeds 25MB. You can also convert a number of images into one PDF if you prefer. Name your files with your own name and course reference e.g. Joe Bloggs AL861 file 1.pdf'. Name additional files Joe Bloggs AL861 file 2' etc. Include URL/web link's to any video work you are submitting via Vimeo or Youtube on the first page of your PDF.
What to include in your digital portfolio:
Your portfolio should include drawings, of anything that interests you, which demonstrate your level of drawing ability and draughtsmanship. Include observational studies of humans and/or animals in motion. These can be quick sketches capturing the movement or a sequence of poses. Include longer studies of humans, animals, plants, objects, or landscapes that you have worked on a little longer and show use of colour, tone, and texture. 610 of these pieces is sufficient. Include your storyboards, comic pages, and original character design. Your storyboards can show an idea for a short film or an advertisement using any style or medium you like to work with. Include samples of photography, as well as photographs of clay, collage, mixed media, stop motion models/sets, puppets and large pieces of 3-dimensional artwork.
For the digital submission, pick your best pages from your sketchbooks and submit 30 pages in total. Include visual development, concept doodles and ideas that you
have been working on. This is an opportunity to show your creative flare! Include animated experiments, in any medium or created in any software. These should be uploaded to www.vimeo.com or www.youtube.com . Include the URL in your PDF on page one.
Submission of Portfolio
In 2021, due to COVID, all Portfolio assessments will be carried out remotely/ electronically. Portfolio assessment date is Friday, 12 March 2021. Portfolio assessments should be emailed to [email protected]. Click here for further details and FAQs.