AAS College Thessaloniki
School of Art & Design
COURSES | MASTER
MA Animation
The MA Animation is designed to immerse students in the creative, technical, and professional world of contemporary animation. Situated within a vibrant animation industry and community, the programme offers an ideal environment for advanced study, networking, and career development. It focuses on the three core components of animated production — Narrative, Character, and Performance — enabling students to refine their storytelling abilities and technical expertise through the lens of modern animation practice.
Students will develop a sophisticated understanding of narrative construction, character development, animation principles, and advanced production techniques. The programme encourages both creative exploration and professional precision, allowing students to experiment with diverse forms of visual storytelling while mastering the tools and workflows essential to the animation industry.
The course welcomes graduates from a broad range of creative visual disciplines — both those with prior experience in animation and those seeking to transition into the field. Students with an existing background in animation will have the opportunity to refine and extend their professional practice through a year of advanced, industry-focused study. Those from related areas such as design, film, illustration, or fine art will acquire the technical and conceptual skills needed to establish themselves within the animation sector.
A central aim of the programme is to prepare students for professional success by combining technical mastery with industry engagement. Emphasis is placed on practical experience, collaboration, and applied learning. Students will research and analyse contemporary production practices through direct engagement with industry professionals and organisations, undertake live briefs, and collaborate with peers on team-based projects that reflect real-world studio environments.
The culmination of the MA will be the production of a professional demo reel that showcases each student’s creative vision, technical proficiency, and understanding of current industry standards. Graduates will emerge as skilled, adaptive, and innovative practitioners ready to enter the animation industry or pursue further research within the field.
Duration:
13 months
Educational form:
Taught
Education Variants:
Fulltime
Language:
English
October’s 2025 Intake:
Induction Start Date:
29th September 2025
Class Start Date:
6th October 2025
British Degree:
Master of Arts
STUDENT WORK
MA Animation COURSE STRUCTURE
Core modules:
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 3
Semester 1
Overview
In the first stage of the MA Animation programme, students establish the creative, technical, and conceptual foundations necessary for advanced study in animation. The focus is on developing a deep understanding of movement, timing, and design exploration — essential components of animated storytelling and production.
Through the Timing for Animation module, students explore the fundamental principles that underpin animated movement and performance. Recognising that the programme welcomes entrants with varying levels of prior experience, the module offers a flexible structure that allows students either to acquire foundational knowledge or to refine and extend existing expertise. Emphasis is placed on the study of motion, rhythm, and expressive timing as key elements of visual storytelling. Students engage with studio-based practices, industry-standard workflows, and animation software to develop both their creative and technical proficiency.
The Experimental Design module complements this by encouraging students to adopt an exploratory and research-informed approach to the pre-visualisation stage of production. Students investigate design strategies and conceptual development methods that enable them to translate ideas and abstract concepts into visual forms. The module promotes experimentation with style, narrative, and process as a means of defining project feasibility, visual identity, and creative direction.
Together, these modules provide students with the skills, confidence, and creative framework to begin developing their own distinct approach to animation. They foster an environment of critical reflection, experimentation, and technical precision — preparing students for more advanced production and research work later in the programme.
Semester 2
Overview
In the second stage of the MA Animation programme, students deepen both their research capability and their professional practice through a combination of self-directed investigation and industry-oriented production experience. The emphasis is on applying theoretical knowledge and creative expertise to real-world contexts, fostering independence, collaboration, and technical proficiency.
Through the Design Research and Development module, students are introduced to a range of research methods and strategies appropriate for postgraduate study in the creative disciplines. They learn how to design, plan, and conduct research that supports their individual creative interests and professional goals. This includes the critical evaluation of sources, methodological reflection, and the formulation of a self-directed research inquiry. By undertaking a personal research project, students expand their knowledge within a specialised area of animation, establishing the conceptual and contextual foundation for their final major project.
The Animation Production module provides students with the opportunity to apply their developing technical and creative skills in a semi-professional setting. Working collaboratively and often in response to external briefs or client scenarios, students experience the realities of professional studio practice. They develop the ability to work effectively in teams, manage production pipelines, and respond to creative challenges under real-world conditions. In parallel, each student undertakes an individual development project that demonstrates their ability to integrate concept, design, and production techniques into a cohesive piece of animated work.
Together, these modules bridge academic research with professional application, ensuring that students emerge as reflective, skilled, and industry-ready practitioners. By the end of this stage, students will possess both the methodological understanding and practical experience needed to undertake ambitious, original work in the final stage of the programme.
Semester 3
Overview
In the final stage of the MA Animation programme, students bring together the creative, technical, and research skills developed throughout their studies to produce a substantial body of original work that reflects their professional ambitions and individual creative identity. This stage is designed to bridge academic study with industry practice, preparing students for employment or further research within the animation and creative media sectors.
The Portfolio Project serves as the culmination of the master’s degree and provides students with the opportunity to define and execute a major self-directed project. Working from an open brief, students are encouraged to identify and pursue a theme, style, or production method that best represents their strengths and professional goals. The project enables students to demonstrate their mastery of animation principles, production processes, and creative problem-solving, while also showcasing their ability to plan, manage, and deliver complex animated work to a professional standard.
Throughout the module, students receive guidance through seminars, workshops, and one-to-one tutorials that support both creative development and technical refinement. Regular formative presentations provide opportunities for professional feedback, reflection, and iterative improvement.
By the end of this final semester, students will have produced a comprehensive professional portfolio or demo reel that highlights their technical proficiency, conceptual clarity, and readiness for the animation industry. This final project demonstrates not only their creative capability but also their understanding of professional workflows, production standards, and the broader employment landscape within animation and related disciplines.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment is 100% coursework and you will be continually assessed throughout the course.
The course is continually assessed through module requirements, allowing students to achieve target awards. Pass mark for the programme and modules is 50%.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
This programme is designed to prepare students for a career in a range of animation related fields such as TV & Feature film animation and games animation.
Job roles
With this Degree you could become:
- Character Animator
- Concept Artist
- Modeller
- Storyboard Artist
- Technical Director
- Visual FX Artist
- 3D generalist
HOW TO APPLY
You should apply direct to the AAS College. We accept applications throughout the year, but advise you to apply early. We would like to receive application forms before 30th of June.
All candidates are required to submit the following documents:
1. A Fully Completed Application
AAS Application Form completed
A scanned copy of your passport
2. Diploma of previous education
University Degree (Bachelor’s or/and MA) from a recognised University and the relevant transcripts translated in English.
3. English language certificate
Certified Photocopy of English Language qualification(s).
Undergraduate applicants must have a fluent command of the English language which can be proven via the following examinations:
IELTS: 6,0 or other equivalent qualifications.
Candidates who have not acquired an English language qualification at the time of the submission of their application form are required to submit it at least one month before the commencement of the course.
4. Portfolio
You can send us approximately 20 examples of your work with a short written commentary. Most of this work
can be in the form of photographs in a PDF file. You could send us a link or the URL of your website as well.
Submit your documents at the College’s website at:
https://aas.gr/aas-college-apply-now/
Our response: A member of our staff will contact you in 48 hours.
AAS offer to you
Deciding to start study is an exciting time but the process to actually get there can seem daunting. That’s where we can help. Here’s what you need to be finding out about now. Over the next few weeks we’ll be sending you lots of important information, so if any of your contact details change, we need to know as soon as possible. Please let us know if you change your:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Passport number
At AAS we pride ourselves on the tailored support we offer to all our students and we want your application and enrolment to go as smoothly as possible. If you have any problems at all, we are here to help.
You will receive:
an unconditional offer: An Admission Letter by college’s Admissions Office,
or a conditional offer: that means that before the commencing of your course you have to submit some documents,
or a rejection letter: that means that you don’t cover the requirements of the interested course.
Visa Process
The following documents to be submitted by all non-EU students to the Greek Embassy or Consulate Office closer to you:
- Application form for a visa for a long stay in Greece, fully filled in and signed by the applicant
- One recent passport-size photograph in colour
- Passport that should be of a validity exceeding by three months the ending date of the visa length, include at least two blank pages and have been issued within the previous ten years
- Police Clearance Certificate (Criminal record)
- Medical Certificate
- Travel insurance
- Admission letter by AAS
- A confirmation document by AAS that you are a college’s student
- Document by the Ministry of Education that the AAS College holds a valid license and is registered in the relevant records
- English language Certificate
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover living expenses and AAS tuition fees in Greece
- Visa fee
You should also have in mind the following:
- Original documents and passports submitted must be accompanied along with a copy.
- All documents submitted must be in English or Greek
- You may be asked for additional documents and will be called to a personal interview at the Embassy or Consulate Office (the requirements of Greek Embassies or Consulate Offices aren’t the same from country to country)
- The visa fee is not refunded if the visa is refused