Vital Tip for Animation Graduates

What's the single most important thing that animation graduates need to do when applying for work? Of course, the main thing a professional animator needs is a great demo reel, which is why we spend so much time at BNU focusing on helping our students to prepare a great demo reel. But that reel is no good unless a future employer can find it quickly. To make sure the person doing the hiring can find your work easily, make sure to embed your demo reel at the top of your CV or resume. And, it goes without saying, check that the embedded link actually works. 

Happy Birthday Blue Zoo!

Blue Zoo 25th Anniversary Party

Last week the BAFTA-winning animation studio Blue Zoo celebrated their 25th birthday with a huge party that brought together past and present team members, collaborators, and friends of the studio.

The event celebrated a quarter-century of award-winning creativity, from groundbreaking children’s TV shows to acclaimed commercials.  

The Best Books To Learn Animation

The Animator's Survival Kit

What are the key books that animation students  should buy to learn the craft of animation?

Books may be a bit old school these days, but a good book is still a great place to start learning about and exploring the world of character animation.

The best books will teach you, immerse you - and inspire you to do your very best work. So, what are the top five books?

Why Animators Like Assymetry

Mickey Mouse from "The Illusion of Life"

One of the most common mistakes made by junior animators is for their character poses to be too stiff and symmetrical.  One of the fastest ways to make a character feel stiff and lifeless is to pose them symmetrically.  

Perfectly mirrored limbs, identical angles, and evenly balanced weight all scream “mannequin,” not “living being.” Real life — and good animation — is full of asymmetry.

Why Animators Need to Hold Poses Longer

Animation by Mark Masters

One of the common mistakes made by junior animators is the “default face.” A character smiles, frowns, gasps — and then, almost instantly, snaps back to a bland neutral expression.  It’s as if the performance forgets itself. 

This also happens in lipsync; where the character will make a vowel or consonant; then snap back into a default mouth shape much too quickly. Much better to hold the vowel or consonant longer, and really get the most out of the pose. 

ScreenSkills Animation Trainee Finder 2025

Apply at Screen Skills' official site

On September 1st Screen Skills launched a new paid placement scheme for graduates, The "Animation Trainee Finder". Applications for the scheme are now open, and close on Friday 26th September 2025.

"Animation Trainee Finder" places trainees on animation productions and aims to ensure a steady supply of talent for the UK animation industry. 

COM7025 (Professional Prep) Starts 6 Oct 2025

Animation by BNU graduate Robin Herrmann

Module COM7025 (Professional Prep) Starts 6 Oct 2025.  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 12th December 2025, before 2pm.  Demo Reel & Portfolio is due on Friday 9th January 2026, before 2pm. 

Letters of Recommendation for BNU Graduates

For animation graduates, a Letter of Recommendation is often requested when applying for jobs, internships, or postgraduate opportunities.  Here at BNU we write such letters on a regular basis.

Employers and studios want to know what you’re like to work with, and a letter from a trusted tutor or mentor can help convey that.  Are you a team player? Do you show up on time? These are the "soft skills" that employers look for.

Here are some tips to make the process of getting a reference or letter or recommendation as smooth as possible: