APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

We are delighted to launch our new education programme supported by Screen Scotland, designed to work with young people from early years right through to industry. As part of this, we are excited to announce our Animation Academy, developed after 5 years’ experience of delivering a successful BFI Film Academy for 16 – 19-year-olds in Argyll and the Isles.

Our Animation Academy is an online course for 16 – 25 year olds that gives you the opportunity to explore and experiment with a range of animation and film making techniques, working together to watch, experiment, create and learn more about animation and film in a variety of forms. 

WHAT IS THE COURSE?

The online programme includes hands-on workshops where you will be given the tools needed to develop an idea from rough sketch to big screen. Skills covered include model making / animation techniques / sound design, story and more!

The course will also include masterclasses from amazing animators and directors.

We will have fun, gain confidence, learn new skills and find out about careers in the screen industry. You will be supported to create a digital portfolio and work towards achieving a Silver Arts Award qualification. 

Our Academy takes place online so you can join from wherever you live in Scotland, we particularly welcome applications from remote and rural areas of Scotland. 

WHEN IS THE COURSE?

The online course will run on the following dates, the intensive week falls within the October school holidays:

Saturday 12th October: Introduction session 

Monday 14th October – Saturday 19th October: all day sessions

There will be industry sessions and a screening event following this, plus optional attendance at an in person Young Education Day at Dunoon Burgh Hall on 7th November 2024. We will hold another in person Young Education Day in spring 2025. 

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are looking for 20 young people aged 16-25 who are interested in animation & film. Previous experience isn’t necessary. We welcome applications from all young people including those eligible for free school meals, young people with disabilities including those with non-visible disabilities and mental health conditions and young people who may experience racism.

HOW DO I APPLY?

There’s a simple online form to complete if you would like to apply to take part in the Animation Academy here.

Please get in touch if you need support with your application – we want the process to be as accessible as possible and we are more than happy to support you or adapt to accommodate individual needs – for example a phone call or video submission.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Our Animation Academy costs £25 to attend. If you think you will struggle to find this amount please still apply – we’ll make sure you can attend. 

WHAT DO I NEED?

Our course is taught online, to take part you will need internet access, a device (laptop, computer, smartphone or tablet) you can download and join in zoom calls and a mobile device or tablet. If you don’t have access to these, please just get in touch and we will find a solution.

You will receive a resource pack with everything else you will need (a tripod, modelling clay and worksheets) and access to software. 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? 

Once you have completed the course, you will become part of our growing Alumni Network with access to monthly industry talks and further opportunities including our new mentorship programme designed to advance your learning experience and support you with next steps. We also have links with key industry production companies and work with them to provide entry level career opportunities for Animation Academy graduates.  

We will support you to submit your films into a variety of film festivals. Many of our Alumni students have gone on to study film or animation at a higher education level and win awards at film festivals!

What our students thought:

Incredible, life-changing, exciting

“Inspirational, educational, fantastic!”

“It’s one of the best experiences I’ve had and it’s great to meet loads of like minded people…”

“My favourite part was working with experts and getting pro advice.”

If you are interested in animation and want somewhere to start, I would heavily recommend this course!! Everyone is so kind and helpful and you learn a lot!

I went on to study a degree in animation… it completely changed the trajectory of my life.” 

 

Special Guests TBC

Wendy Godridge is a Scottish animator and director.

Having had a long career in stop motion working with Aardman Animations among others and has moved back to Edinburgh where she is an animator and animation director working in CG animation.

Seamus Malone

Seamus Malone is an Irish animator and director.

As well as being senior animator/ animation director and series director at Aardman he has travelled the world directing international teams of digital animators on such projects as Watership Down, The Moomins and the latest Aardman series Lloyd of The Flies.

Virpi Kettu

Virpi Kettu is an award-winning director, animator and digital artist working for over two decades extensively in Europe and Canada. Virpi animated for Aardman Animations on “Wallace and Gromit”, ‘Shaun the Sheep’, ‘Creature Comforts’ and for The National Film Board of Canada, DreamWorks, and Universal Pictures.

Selina Wagner is an award winning animator and director specialising in storytelling, design and animation. Selina grew up on the remote islands of Orkney, then moved to the Scottish mainland to study animation at Edinburgh College of Art. She has been a freelance animation director for over 14 years and created over 40 TV commercials and countless commercial short films for clients including the BBC. In 2017 she was commissioned by the Scottish Film Talent Network to create ‘Spindrift’ which went on to be screened at over 40 international film festivals and was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA for Best Animation. 

She is currently in development on her first feature film.

Creating music videos she has crossed both sides of the Atlantic, working with artists including RTJ, Father John Misty, Radiohead and Katy Perry.