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Short course

Drawn Animation For Beginners Short Course

Drawn Animation For Beginners Short Course | On campus
Discover the fundamentals of traditional animation and bring your drawings to life.

Next start months
March 2026
July 2026
Tutor(s)
Sacha Beeley
Price
From £760.00

Course description

Course overview

This will be a hands on, playful week that will give you an introduction to frame by frame animation. The tutor will work closely with you as you experiment with animating on paper. The tutor will guide you as you make loops and develop a short sequence driven by the Principles of Animation.

This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of animation with the intention to explore and experiment. It will focus on the ideas behind animation such as character design, weight and timing. It will take you through the process of character development, storyboarding, animatics and animating giving you the foundation and support to develop your own path in animation. This is a craft-based look at animation. The course will have a practical approach with your work recorded and analysed on the spot.

Who this course is for

This is the perfect introduction course for anyone interested in hand drawn animation.

Key information

Topics covered

  • Storytelling and short film making
  • Character design: creation and style
  • Primary research, Self Portraits and drawing from life
  • Storyboarding, Animatics; their function in the industry
  • Sound design in animation
  • Walk Cycles, timing, weight
  • How to make a GIF
  • Animation festivals and introduction to different roles in animation

Learning outcomes

  • Familiarity with frame-by-frame animation
  • Learn to experiment with animating on paper
  • Develop a short sequence driven by the Principles of Animation
  • Have the foundation and support to develop your own path in animation
  • Digital badge and certificate of attendance

Materials

Please bring with you to the first session:

  • A notepad and pen
  • A USB stick or access to equivalent cloud storage
  • Smartphone with 'Stop Motion Studio' app downloaded (This is a free piece of software)

Optional:

  • Your favourite drawing pens, eg ink brush pens
  • Procreate dreams (iPad app)
  • iPad or tablet with stylus

All other materials are provided.

Tutor

Sacha Beeley

Sacha Beeley is an animator, illustrator and director known for her playful work with her distinctive design, lively colour palette and natural comic timing. Inanimate objects come to life in unusual ways, and her characters are instantly recognisable with exaggerated proportions and relaxed, loose performances. Sacha has directed spots for MTV, Amazon, Adult Swim, Ted, Netflix and viral campaign work with Gillette Venus. Sacha’s vibrant, tongue-in-cheek style has earned her winning titles from the Shots Awards and the Creative Circle.

Book a course

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