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.