Diploma in Animation

Course details

The Diploma aims to develop and groom students with the skills to be animators and video producers. The animation industry in Asia consists of a workforce that stretches across many of the sectors in the creative media industries. This program is designed to stimulate the pre and post production workflow in the Animation industry. Through classroom teaching and guided mentoring, students will be guided on the use of advanced digital tools and cinematic storytelling skills. The modules cover a study of the principles and tools of animation and explore the fundamentals of motion, composition, character design, storyboarding, modeling, lighting, texturing and art direction for a career in the Animation industry.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must have a passion for creation, a love of media and entertainment, and willingness to strive for good results.

Acadmeic Qualification

• Students with GCE ‘A’ Level Pass or
• Students who have passed 12 years of education (Senior High School level) with an average score of 65% for all subjects, and proof of passing in English

The following students will have to complete the MAGES Foundation Course for the relevant programmes prior to entry into their selected Diploma Course:

• Students with 3 GCE ‘O’ Level passes or
• Students with Certificate Level passes or
• Students with a NITEC pass or
• Students with a minimum of 10 years senior high school education with proof of passing in English. These students also have to pass all subjects with the required averaged score of 65%.

English Proficiency

• GCE ‘O’ Level English grade D7 required for IT and Gaming programmes related courses or
• Other programmes require a minimum of C6 English grade or
• For all students who have not studied English up to senior high level would need to have completed IELTS 5.5

If student does not meet any of the above English Requirements, then the following apply:

• Other equivalent qualifications where the medium of instruction is English or
• Student may attend additional English classes and pass at the equivalent of Upper Intermediate Level or
• Pass interview with the Academic Director and assessment by the Academic Board on a case by case basis

Course Outline

• Perspective and Composition: This subject introduces students to perspectives and allows them to learn how to draw accurate representations of objects as they really see them in the world.
• Charachter and Enviorment Design: This subject introduces students to character and environment design for animation. They will learn concepts of character design and the factors that will relate to the characters’ personalities and their environment.
• History and Principles of Animation: This subject introduces students to use media literacy through a comprehensive exploration of history and traditional animation techniques. This module will utilize the twelve principles of animation as a springboard that will help build a strong foundation.
• Digital Imaging: This module has been designed to explain the basic understanding of a raster-based software program to create, manipulate, and modify raster-based images.
• Digital 2D Animation: This subject will introduce students to the principles and techniques required for the development of professional, twodimensional, digital animation projects
• Storyboarding and Scriptwriting: This subject introduces students to the basic technique of story development and to guide them through the mechanics of fleshing out an interesting and engaging story.
• 3D Modeling in Maya: This subject introduces students to the skills required to create 3D models in Maya creatively and efficiently. Students will be taught how to create 3D models of existing objects based on photograph references, and 3D models of cartoon characters based on their own design.
• Texturing and Lighting: Students will be taught on how to prepare a 3D model for texturing, and the technique of painting texture by using Adobe Photoshop. They will also learn how to light 3D objects in ascene, and also how to render it to create photorealistic images.
• Character Rigging: This subject introduces students in the rigging process involves inserting a virtual skeleton into a computer-generated model to allow an animator flexibility in manipulate it into the pose.
• Character Animation: This subject introduces students to Maya and its application for 3D animation. Students will learn how they can apply weight, timing, arcs and principles of slow-in and slow-out to 3D animation, by working on simple key-framed animation such as bouncing balls and pendulums.
• Final Project: This module provides the opportunity for students to produce and develop a professional, industry standard animated movie. By the end of the module, all students will have a full production of a single piece of broadcast quality animated film showing attention to narrative and production techniques