The History of Filmmaking: From the First Film to Modern CGI Effects
Millie Forrest
December 18, 2024
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Animation & Visual Effects
Level 3
This course gives you the skills to specialise in your desired computer-generated art form, and progress to the area you’re most interested in.
Level 3
This course gives you the skills to specialise in your desired computer-generated art form, and progress to the area you’re most interested in.
4 GCSEs at 9-4 (A*-C), including English
Two Years
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design
4 GCSEs at 4-9 (C-A*) including English
Two Years
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
This course gives you the opportunity to enhance your creativity and explore your passions for animation and visual effects in a creative environment that motivates you to push yourself outside your creative comfort zones. Our professional facilities and highly skilled staff provide you with an ideal setting for learning, guiding you to explore your creativity, independence and drive to progress within a vast, fast-growing industry. By the end of the course, you should be prepared for university or entry into the industry.
You will be introduced to industry-standard software and industry-style briefs. You’ll explore key digital tools and techniques used by animation and VFX professionals. You’ll study the principles of animation, develop core skills in 2D and 3D animation, 3D modelling, live-action compositing, and image editing. You’ll gain an understanding of film language, animation pipelines and processes, supported by essential theory and industry knowledge.
As you progress, you’ll identify progression routes and create professional materials like a CV, website, and portfolio, ready for work in the industry as a freelancer, in full-time employment, or further training such as apprenticeships or Higher Education.
You will have access to media and games labs with industry-standard equipment, and professional software like Adobe Animate, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Maya, Blender, and Adobe Lightroom to unleash your creativity. Apple iMac desktop computers with the complete Adobe Creative Suite of applications are installed in our media labs. These powerful devices guarantee that you have access to the equipment you need to create animations, visual effect sequences and visual development projects of the highest calibre.
PLEASE NOTE: THE BELOW STUDY MATERIALS ARE CAMPUS DEPENDENT.
Prior to your studies commencing, you will be advised how and where to purchase essential animation and VFX materials such as a USB hard drive, high-quality headphones, a graphics tablet and art supplies.
In college you will have access to:
An online learning programme in your first year, to support and enhance your studies.
A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) allowing you to:
The college also provides a parent portal, which allows parents/carers to support you with your progress.
This course gives you the opportunity to enhance your creativity and explore your passions for animation and visual effects in a creative environment that motivates you to push yourself outside your creative comfort zones. Our professional facilities and highly skilled staff provide you with an ideal setting for learning, guiding you to explore your creativity, independence and drive to progress within a vast, fast-growing industry. By the end of the course, you should be prepared for university or entry into the industry.
You will be introduced to industry-standard software and industry-style briefs. You’ll explore key digital tools and techniques used by animation and VFX professionals. You’ll study the principles of animation, develop core skills in 2D and 3D animation, 3D modelling, live-action compositing, and image editing. You’ll gain an understanding of film language, animation pipelines and processes, supported by essential theory and industry knowledge.
As you progress, you’ll identify progression routes and create professional materials like a CV, website, and portfolio, ready for work in the industry as a freelancer, in full-time employment, or further training such as apprenticeships or Higher Education.
You will have access to media and games labs with industry-standard equipment, and professional software like Adobe Animate, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Maya, Blender, and Adobe Lightroom to unleash your creativity. Apple iMac desktop computers with the complete Adobe Creative Suite of applications are installed in our media labs. These powerful devices guarantee that you have access to the equipment you need to create animations, visual effect sequences and visual development projects of the highest calibre.
PLEASE NOTE: THE BELOW STUDY MATERIALS ARE CAMPUS DEPENDENT.
Prior to your studies commencing, you will be advised how and where to purchase essential animation and VFX materials such as a USB hard drive, high-quality headphones, a graphics tablet and art supplies.
In college you will have access to:
An online learning programme in your first year, to support and enhance your studies.
A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) allowing you to:
The college also provides a parent portal, which allows parents/carers to support you with your progress.
Applying to study with us takes less than two minutes, and we have interviewers ready and waiting to speak to you.
Find out more about the application journey and apply now below.
Applying to study with us takes less than two minutes, and we have interviewers ready and waiting to speak to you. Find out more about the application journey and apply now below.
With all the transferable skills you’ll learn on this course, the world really is your oyster.
You can head off to University, study a Level 4/5 course or go straight into the world of work.
Creates artwork that guides the look of visual effects in TV and film, designing characters, creatures, and environments using both traditional and digital methods.
Manages the entire VFX process, coordinating artists, working with directors, and ensuring shots are ready for VFX integration.
Collects on-set data (camera details, photos) to help recreate scenes in VFX, ensuring virtual cameras match real-world footage.
Builds 3D models of characters, props, and environments based on concept art, using software like Maya.
Brings 3D models to life, creating movement for characters or objects using rigging and keyframe animation.
Combines all VFX elements—3D, live-action, matte paintings—into the final shot using software like After Effects, Houdini, or Nuke.
With all the transferable skills you’ll learn on this course, the world really is your oyster.
You can head off to University, study a Level 4/5 course or go straight into the world of work.
Creates artwork that guides the look of visual effects in TV and film, designing characters, creatures, and environments using both traditional and digital methods.
Manages the entire VFX process, coordinating artists, working with directors, and ensuring shots are ready for VFX integration.
Collects on-set data (camera details, photos) to help recreate scenes in VFX, ensuring virtual cameras match real-world footage.
Builds 3D models of characters, props, and environments based on concept art, using software like Maya.
Brings 3D models to life, creating movement for characters or objects using rigging and keyframe animation.
Combines all VFX elements—3D, live-action, matte paintings—into the final shot using software like After Effects, Houdini, or Nuke.
You will benefit from a balanced programme of study that combines practical sessions in specialist spaces, contextual studies in classrooms, independent study which you can undertake in college or at home, and enrichment activities which enhance your college experience, including trips, visits, guest speakers and events. In most courses, you will share some lessons with peers from different pathways, allowing you to rub shoulders and collaborate!
Throughout both years of the course, weekly in-person lessons cover a range of topics in animation and visual effects.
In addition, in Year 1:
And in Year 2:
Across each year, you will receive at least three one-to-one reviews, and a formal learner report will be accessible to your parents/carer via the portal.
4 GCSEs at 4-9 (C-A*) including English.
This course is made up of carefully scheduled projects, and is internally assessed by your teachers. Projects can involve both individual and group work and are a balance of practical work such as motion graphics, 3D environments, title sequences, 2D and 3D animation/video work and website portfolios; balanced with reports, slides, and presentations. The final submission of each year is a large creative project where you can choose to focus on techniques, styles and outputs of your choice.
Whilst the course teaches you all of the fundamentals and creativity from the ground up, you would benefit from exploring the following before your studies start with us:
Your course benefits from an enrichment programme planned out by your local campus. Examples of activities we’ve done in the past are:
This course is made up of carefully scheduled projects, and is internally assessed by your teachers. Projects can involve both individual and group work and are a balance of practical work such as motion graphics, 3D environments, title sequences, 2D and 3D animation/video work and website portfolios; balanced with reports, slides, and presentations. The final submission of each year is a large creative project where you can choose to focus on techniques, styles and outputs of your choice.
Our bespoke professional development programme aims to empower you to take your next steps into your future career. We achieve this by providing you with a three phase programme of lessons, projects and experiences designed to give you as much exposure to industry as possible.
Those who need to retake maths and/or English due to achieving a grade 3 or below will undertake 4 hours of maths and/or 3 hours of English a week. Learn more here.
| T Level Grade | UCAS Points |
Equivalent A Level Grades |
|---|---|---|
|
Distinction* |
168 |
AAA* |
|
Distinction |
144 |
AAA |
|
Merit |
96 |
CCC |
|
Pass |
48 |
EEE |
All campuses 16-18*
FREE
All campuses 19+ (FIRST YEARS ONLY)
£2,882
You will benefit from a balanced programme of study that combines practical sessions in specialist spaces, contextual studies in classrooms, independent study which you can undertake in college or at home, and enrichment activities which enhance your college experience, including trips, visits, guest speakers and events. In most courses, you will share some lessons with peers from different pathways, allowing you to rub shoulders and collaborate!
Throughout both years of the course, weekly in-person lessons cover a range of topics in animation and visual effects.
In addition, in Year 1:
And in Year 2:
Across each year, you will receive at least three one-to-one reviews, and a formal learner report will be accessible to your parents/carer via the portal.
4 GCSEs at 4-9 (C-A*) including English.
This course is made up of carefully scheduled projects, and is internally assessed by your teachers. Projects can involve both individual and group work and are a balance of practical work such as motion graphics, 3D environments, title sequences, 2D and 3D animation/video work and website portfolios; balanced with reports, slides, and presentations. The final submission of each year is a large creative project where you can choose to focus on techniques, styles and outputs of your choice.
Whilst the course teaches you all of the fundamentals and creativity from the ground up, you would benefit from exploring the following before your studies start with us:
Your course benefits from an enrichment programme planned out by your local campus. Examples of activities we’ve done in the past are:
Our bespoke professional development programme aims to empower you to take your next steps into your future career. We achieve this by providing you with a three phase programme of lessons, projects and experiences designed to give you as much exposure to industry as possible.
Those who need to retake maths and/or English due to achieving a grade 3 or below will undertake 4 hours of maths and/or 3 hours of English a week. Learn more here.
| T Level Grade | UCAS Points |
Equivalent A Level Grades |
|---|---|---|
|
Distinction* |
168 |
AAA* |
|
Distinction |
144 |
AAA |
|
Merit |
96 |
CCC |
|
Pass |
48 |
EEE |
All campuses 16-18*
FREE
All campuses 19+ (FIRST YEARS ONLY)
£2,882
A range of student-friendly offers are available in partnership with WEX. These vary by store so check in with your local branch to see what support they can provide you as an ACC learner.
Your learning journey doesn’t just stop with this course! Take a look at next steps via courses at Access Creative College, Access Industry and dBs Institute!
Your learning journey doesn’t just stop with this course! Take a look at next steps via courses at Access Creative College, Access Industry and dBs Institute!
Your learning journey doesn’t just stop with this course! Take a look at next steps via courses at Access Creative College, Access Industry and dBs Institute!
The best way to find out what it's like to study at Access Creative College is to come and see us at an open day. We have open days throughout the year. Book your place below.
BOOK NOWApplying is quick and easy, and can be done in less than two minutes. Just click the button below and fill in a quick form and we'll do the rest. We have interviewers ready to speak to you.
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