AAS College Thessaloniki
School of Art & Design
COURSES | BACHELOR
BA(Hons) Animation
«What is most important in animation is the emotions and the ideas being portrayed.» – Ralph Bakshi.
The field of animation has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years. With new distribution methods and technologies, your work will have many paths to reach a worldwide audience.
During the course you will study drawing, the principles of animation and design, storytelling and narrative, design and the history, practice and theory of screen production. You will gain an understanding of creative and technical process using industry standard software in order to create interactive designs and computer animations.
As animation is a highly collaborative environment you will learn the principles and practices through teamwork, while developing your individual professional practice. The course enables you to enter the industry with a range of exciting and rapidly evolving platforms as well as facilitating numerous opportunities for employment in a rapidly growing area at an international level.
This course aims to provide you with specialist knowledge and skills necessary to develop and adapt your chosen career in the diverse creative practices associated with animation. The course aims to contribute, through the education of its students as adaptive and resilient designers, writers and thinkers, to the local, national and international practice of design in its current and future forms.
Duration:
36 months (3 years)
Educational form:
Taught
Education Variants:
Fulltime
Language:
English
October’s intake:
Classes Start Date:
6 October 2025
British Degree:
Bachelor Degree
STUDENT WORK
FACILITIES
AAS College is set in a modern, purpose – built university campus. Students learn in specially designed lecture rooms and theatre, laboratories, design studios and in flexible teaching spaces. Individual and group study spaces allow students to work alone or collaborate on projects. This course has dedicated graphics studios for workshops, group and independent working. They are equipped with projectors and screens and Macs or PCs or both. There are also campus digital media suites with software including: Adobe Creative Suite.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Year 1 (level 4)
Year 2 (level 5)
Final year (level 6)
Year 1 (level 4)
The World of Animation (20 credits)
This module introduces students to a range of concepts and theories required to gain a comprehensive understanding of animation history in a broader context, as well as its impact and effects. This enables students to develop their independent thinking skills, communication skills via informed debate and writing and presentation skills.
Animation Studio (30 credits)
This module introduces the core themes of animation giving students a strong knowledge base upon which to build the skills necessary to succeed, both in the animation industry and on the course. On completion students will have grown as artists and personally through collaboration with both their peers and staff.
3D Digital Literacy (30 credits)
This module is about introducing students to the theory and practice of how 3D art is created, introducing them to the terminology used in the 3d graphics industries and then exploring the key techniques needed to create 3D graphics themselves. This helps in preparing students for creating their own 3D characters and worlds in the second semester DES133 Animated Narratives module and beyond throughout the rest of the course.
Animated Narratives (40 credits)
This module provides an important foundation in the methods of exploring the impact linear and non-linear narrative has had in the development of animation and how it will affect future design evolutions within the discipline. There is a strong emphasis on the development of storyboards, and previsualisations for pre-production towards animation-based outcomes as a vehicle for exploration and discovery. This module helps inform animation practice as students proceed into year two of the animation course.
Year 2 (level 5)
Animation Discourse (20 credits)
Students complete this module having obtained a clear understanding of how the various practices and processes of animation are discussed both critically and academically. Students also gain a wider perspective on the numerous and often overlooked concerns facing practitioners in this field. In addition to this, students build on previous Level 4 “critical skills” development while concurrently preparing for Level 6 “Animation Dissertation/Report”.
Animation Strategies (30 credits)
This module looks to build on skills and learning outcomes obtained from first year. Individual skills-based projects and workshops will enable students to develop their ability in character animation techniques & theory. The depth, range and quality of their practice and reflection will be evidenced through the documentation of their working processes. The module offers essential study skills in 2D and 3D Character Animation performance that will help them throughout 2nd year and progression to final year.
Animation for the Creative Industries (40 credits)
This studio-based module expands and focuses on prototyping, evaluation and refinement of design for animation, games, VFX, and Virtual Production. Students will inform their practice through directly witnessing and experiencing aspects of behaviour in the real world as a way of inspiring and informing design decisions. Further to this, students who have completed all modules will be able to look at Industry Placement, International Academic Studies or progression to final year.
Character Creation (30 credits)
This practice-based module expands on the student’s design, modelling, sculpting, and texturing skills and focuses on developing believable characters and creatures geared towards Animation, VFX, and games. Students will inform their practice through research, critical analysis of visual references, anatomical consideration, and character design visual literacy to refine their understanding of the creative and technical requirements of character/creature design and development.
Final year (level 6)
Animation Dissertation/Report (30 credits)
The student led nature of this module, through researching and writing a dissertation or industry report, will develop intellectual confidence and self-expression.
Dissertation is text-based and facilitates a broader understanding of the context of animation practice and the broader themes using theoretical debates and analytical methodologies.
Industry Report requires students to make an analysis of industry standards or procedures, and to identify and justify how their own studio practice fits into an emerging or established field.
Creative Futures (10 credits)
Graduates seeking careers within the highly competitive animation industry require the ability to promote themselves professionally through many diverse channels. This module prepares the students self-branding appropriate to the animation industry using both traditional and digital methods.
Major Project (80 credits)
This module is project-based. It consists of a major piece of design work whose topic is chosen by the student under the supervision of the module coordinator. The major project will form a major part in the student’s portfolio of work and is the culmination of the course. This 80 credit module spans two semesters and allows for ambition, risk-taking and continuity, which is reflective of practice in the professional field. This will prepare you for the rigours of postgraduate study and industry practice.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment is 100% coursework and you will be continually assessed throughout the course.
Assessment will be through assignments including design briefs (project work), competitions, presentations, seminars and group activities.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
On the BA(Hons) Animation course we are aiming to produce animators capable of entering the industry in the creative department of it or working as artist animators, directors and games designers – amongst other things.
Many of our graduates have careers with major design consultancies and animation companies. Successful students may also wish to continue their studies on MA Degree to further enhance their knowledge and skills base, exploring new and innovative areas of design.
Job Roles
With this degree you could become:
- Character Animator
- Concept Artist
- Modeller
- Storyboard Artist
- Technical Director
- Visual FX Artist
- 3D generalist
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Diploma and transcript from your high school
Evidence of your ability in English language
Portfolio
Passport
AAS Application Form completed
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 August.
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. 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:
TOEFL: paper based 550 / computer based 213 / Internet based 79-80 or
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.
3. Diploma of previous education
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or six IB Subject Certificates, or A Levels obtained locally
Certified Photocopy of the Diploma of Secondary Education (High School Diploma), along with the final year’s academic transcript
Candidates who have not yet graduated from high school at the time of application, should submit the available academic transcripts from their current year of study, as well as a full transcript from the previous year of study
If the High School Diploma is produced in another language it should be translated and verified in English
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 on a CD or a PDF file. It is helpful for us to see examples of your original
drawings too.
submit your documents via email to: admissions@aas.gr
for large files use wetransfer.com
our response:
A member of our staff will contact you in 48 hours.