A Guide to Taxes for Freelance Animators

This short video offers a short introductory guide to taxes for freelance animators.  At BNU we can't offer our students formal legal or tax advice, but we can explain the basic rules of freelancing.  Freelancing need not be complicated. You don't need a license to offer your services to clients and, as long as you pay your taxes to HMRC at the end of the tax year, doing small freelance animation jobs can be a great way to get started in the animation industry. 

Eight Rules for Success with a New Client

Above is a short video setting out what we believe to be the eight rules for success when dealing with your first client.  For our students at BNU studying on the MA in 3D Animation for Professionals, dealing with their first client is part of our academic program.  During Module COM7028 "Client Brief" our students seek out a client (this could be a friend, a company, a charity, or a small business) that needs a short piece of animation.  The video above explains how to make the experience of working with a new client as smooth as possible. You can also find out more by reading this blog post.

Why Animation Grads Still Need a Website

Why do animation graduates need their own blog or website? Because it remains the case today that having your own blog or website is still the best way to own your own professional slice of the internet. Your blog or website is your showcase for your talent; you can style it and curate it any way you want, and show the world what you are capable of.  The video above explains why our animation graduates still need their own online space to show their work. 

Why Animation Graduates Still Need a CV

Do animators still need a cv or resume? We think so. Animators still need a cv because employers will need a brief summary of all the relevant detail about your skills, academic qualifications, citizenship (this matters for your right to work), job history and - crucially - all your contact details. Contact details should include your email address, your phone number - and also your physical address. 

Why BNU Animation Grads Still Need Linkedin

Animators need Linkedin because now more than ever Linkedin has become the default platform for animation graduates looking for work. Linkedin is a "one stop shop" for animation recruiters, who can find fresh talent, see their job history, watch their demo reel and - crucially - forward the link to their clients. The video above explains why our animation graduates need Linkedin, and how to take advantage of its features. 

MA Animation Now Recruiting for Sept 2025

Animation by BNU graduate Neil Whitman

It is time to book your place on our MA in 3D Animation for Professionals, now recruiting for September 2025.

The online MA in animation at BNU was launched in 2015 and was the very first of its kind - the first online MA in animation which could be undertaken by students anywhere in the world.  

Our MA 3D Animation for Professionals continues to partner with the online animation school www.animationapprentice.org, ensuring that all our MA Students graduate with industry-level skills.  Teaching starts in September 2025.

COM7024 Animals & Creatures Starts 7 July 25

COM7024 Animals & Creatures Starts 7 July 2025

For our MA students studying for their Online MA in Animation, Module COM704 (Animals and Creatures) started on Monday 7 July 2025. This is the fourth module tackled by our students on our Online MA in Animation.

COM7024 focuses on animal and creature animation, with an emphasis on the kind of photo-realistic animation in which London VFX houses specialise.  COM7024 PR1 is due on Friday 12th September 2025 at 2pm.

COM7023 Performance Starts 7 April 2025

Animation by BNU Student Joshua Reynolds

COM7023, the third animation module on our online masters' degree in 3D animation, starts on Monday 7 April 2025.

The module is titled COM7023 - Character Performance, and builds up to an entry into the Eleven Second Club competition.  

In this module students learn how to tackle character performance, dialogue and lipsync.  COM7023 PR1 is due on Friday 13th June 2025 at 2pm.

COM7028 "Client Brief" Starts 6 Jan 2025

Module COM7028 "Client Brief" started on 6 January 2025 (you can see a full list of academic deadlines here).  In COM7028 students learn how to complete a short piece of animation for a client, and also contextualise the practical outcome with a written assignment of 1,500-2000 words. 

 

The deadline for the Client Project is Friday 14th March 2025, before 2pm.  The deadline for the Written Assignment is Friday 11th April 2025 before 2pm.

2025 Animation Masters' Demo Reel

We're proud to present the latest edit of the best work done by our animation masters' degree students (MA Animation for Professionals) at Buckinghamshire New University over the past year.  Our 2025 Animation Masters' Demo Reel is a selection of the best work completed on our MA in 3D Animation for Professionals, delivered in partnership with the online school Animation Apprentice.  Congratulations to all our students on their excellent work. 

COM7022 Anim Mechanics Starts 6 Jan 2025

Animation by Lee Caller

For our Animation Masters Students at BNU, the next module - COM7022 - Animation Mechanics - starts on Monday 6 January 2025.  

In this module, Students create one or more physical actions and combine them into a single shot to create a performance.  

As always, we have many video tutorials to support the study of the art and craft of animation.  COM7022 PR1 is due on Friday 14th March 2025. 

Welcome to the MA 3D Animation Sept 2024

Animation by BNU graduate Mark Masters

To all our new MA Animation students at Bucks - welcome! Formal teaching starts on Monday 23 September 2024.  

Below is some useful information for our new students starting with us on the Online MA in 3D Animation. 

Our MA students' first animation module is COM7021 - Locomotion, tackling walks and runs. 

Academic Deadlines MA Animation 2024-26

2021-2023 deadlines

Below is a list of deadlines for our online MA in 3D Animation for Professionals. This is for our new cohort of student animators, those who are joining us in September 2024, and will graduate "Master of Arts" in the summer of 2026.

Note that this list of deadlines is a draft list only, and is subject to change. Students should always check the appropriate Module Guide and Assignment Brief to be certain of the correct submission date. And, of course, check with your tutor.

This list gives our MA students a broad idea of what to expect over the coming 18 months.  But always double-check these dates - if in doubt, email your tutor.

COM7025 (Professional Prep) Starts 7 Oct 2024

Animation by BNU graduate Robin Herrmann

Module COM7025 (Professional Prep) Starts 7 Oct 2024.  In this module, which aims to get students ready for the animation industry, students put together a professional-level animation demo reel, and also write a report on the animation industry.   

The theoretical Assignment (Animation Industry Report) is due on Friday 13th December 2024, before 2pm.  Demo Reel & Portfolio is due on Friday 10th January 2025, before 2pm. 

Which Country Has The Most Animation Studios?

UK Animation is thriving

Which Country has the most animation studios? The answer, of course, is the USA, with over 6,000 animation studios, of which around 1,100 have employees (ie not just a sole freelancer working alone).  

But who is number two? You might be surprised to learn that the number two spot is taken - not by India, Japan or China - but by...

Academic Deadlines MA Animation 2023-25

2023-26 Deadlines

Below is a list of deadlines for our online MA in 3D Animation for Professionals. This is for our cohort of student animators who joined us in September 2023, and will graduate "Master of Arts" in the summer of 2025.

The next deadline for our 2023-25 students is COM7024 PR1 "Animals & Creatures", due on Friday 13th September 2024 at 2pm.

The following deadline is Friday 13th December 2024, when students write a written report on the state of the animation industry, COM7025 CW1. 

Last Call for Online MA in Animation Sept 2024

Animation by BNU graduate Neil Whitman

Last chance to book your place on our MA in 3D Animation for Professionals.

The online MA in animation at BNU was launched in 2015 and was the very first of its kind - the first online MA in animation which could be undertaken by students anywhere in the world.  

Our MA 3D Animation for Professionals continues to partner with the online animation school www.animationapprentice.org, ensuring that all our MA Students graduate with industry-level skills.  Teaching starts on Monday 30 September 2024.

COM7021 Locomotion Starts 30 Sept 2024

COM7021 - Animation Locomotion - is the first module that our new animation students will encounter at BNU on the MA 3D Animation for Professionals.

COM7021 starts on Monday 30 September 2024, and is taught primarily in Autodesk Maya. The module deals with animation basics, such as walks, runs and jumps.

It starts with simple actions such as a bouncing ball, and builds up to more complex physical actions. There is one assignment due: COM7021 PR1. COM7021 PR1 is due on Friday 13th December 2024 at 2pm. 

COM7024 Animals & Creatures Starts 17 June 24

For our MA students studying for their Online MA in Animation, Module COM704 (Animals and Creatures) started on 17 June 2024. This is the fourth module tackled by our students on our Online MA in Animation.

COM7024 focuses on animal and creature animation, with an emphasis on the kind of photo-realistic animation in which London VFX houses specialise.  COM7024 PR1 is due on Friday 13th September 2024 at 2pm.

"Young Comics Maestro" Competition

"Young Comics Maestro" Competition

The Alison Brown "Young Comics Maestro" Competition closes in 11 days, on 30 June.  London's Cartoon Museum is looking for the next big "18 or Under" comic artist.

Send in your best comic strip to the Cartoon Museum, three pages max, to enter the competition and get your work in front of judges from The Beano, The Phoenix, and The Cartoon Museum. The deadline is Sunday 30 June at 6pm. 

Young Animator of the Year Competition Opens

Young Animator of the Year 2024

The Young Animator of the Year UK ("Yay!") 2024 Competition is now open for entries. Entries are welcomed from UK-based animators between the ages of 11 and 18 years.  All they have to do is submit their film to http://younganimator.uk by September 16th 2024.