Animation Taster on Tuesday 21 July 2026

We're hosting a new Animation Taster on Tuesday 21 July 2026 at Noon to 1.30pm UK time, taught by short course and MA animation tutor Lee Caller.

Animation Taster  Sessions are a great chance to learn about character and creature animation, and find out how we teach at Escape Studios. 

This Animation Taster on Tuesday 21 July 2026  offers an introduction to the art of 3D Animation, exploring what it’s like to work as a professional animator. 

You will learn how to use Autodesk Maya and get a hands-on introduction to 3D Animation techniques. No prior knowledge of Maya - or any software - is required.   

"Unknown" Wins "Best Anim" at Cinematic Film Fest

Congratulations to Escape Studios' animation student Alessia Gori whose short film "Unknown" has won the award for "Best Animation" at the Cinematic European Film Festival. 

Alessia Gori is studying for her master's degree in the Art of 3D Animation at Escape Studios.  

This is Alessia Gori's first film, and her second festival award. 

"Protose" Wins "Best VFX" at Athens Film Festival

Congratulations to the makers of "Protose" which has won "Best VFX" at the Athens Art Film Festival. 

"Protose" tells the story of a meatless steak invention that goes horribly wrong. 

"Protose" was created by our graduating class of students at Escape Studios. 

It was produced and directed by Yusuf Uddin.  Adam Armstrong stars as the chef.  This is the film's second festival award. 

Escape Studios Visits King Bee Animation

King Bee Animation and Martyn Niman

Escape Studios visited King Bee Animation this week, for a one day animation workshop introducing students to the art and craft of animation.

King Bee is located in the historic Elstree Studios in North London, notable for being the location of the original 1977 Star Wars movie.   

Introducing BLISS

Introducing BLISS, the latest short film from our second year animation students at Escape Studios, working together on a group project. BLISS is a satire on modern digital consumerism, and was directed by Cedeal Al-Mawery and produced by Vansh Bhathela.  Axel Camacho was the writer and art director. 

Learn Blender with Escape Animator Thomas Potter

Create Low Poly Characters in Blender with Thomas Potter

Many congratulations to Escape Studios' animation student Thomas Potter whose Blender Modeling Channel now has over 30,000 subscribers at YouTube. 

Thomas Potter has created his own YouTube channel which teaches students how to model low poly 3d characters step by step.  All of Thomas's Blender content is completely free. 

"KattiBao" Wins "Best Super Short" in Florence

KattiBao - An Embrace wins "Best Super Short in Florence

Congratulations to the makers of "KattiBao - An Embrace" which has won "Best Super Short" at the Florence Film Awards.  

KattiBao was a collaboration between students studying the Art of Games, The Art of Animation, and Character Creation.  KattiBao was written, directed and produced by Grace Lam.  Arin Awojobi was the Art Director, and Mia Cliff was the cinematographer. This is its first festival award. 

How Much Do Animators Earn?

How much do animators earn? This 2025 salary guide from the Animation & VFX Union BECTU gives a good picture of the current market rates in the UK.

Salary transparency is something our industry doesn't always do well, so rates cards like this are very useful, especially for junior artists negotiating a salary for a new role, trying to get a realistic idea of what they can expect to earn. 

Note that much depends where you live in the UK. The difference in the cost of living between London/the South East and the rest of the UK is significant.  If you're further away from London, your expenses are usually lower, but salaries also tend to be lower. 

So whether these are good rates really depends a lot on your location.  In addition rates are, of course, lower for junior roles, for folks looking to break into the industry for the first time. 

Escapees Akash Modi, Grace Redi, Allie Maraqan & Matt O'Reilly Join ILM's Jedi Academy

Akash Modi, Grace Reid, Matt O'Reilly & Allie Maraqan

Many congratulations to Escapees Akash Modi, Grace Reid, Matt O'Reilly and Allie Maraqan who are all joining ILM's Jedi Academy as VFX "Padawans". 

Industrial Light & Magic's Jedi Academy is a six month paid internship at ILM, arguably the world's leading VFX house, responsible for multiple hit movies and series. 

Escape Students Visit Blinkink Animation Studio

Escape Studios visits Blinkink - July 2026

Escape Studios thanks animation studio Blinkink for their kind hospitality in welcoming our students for a Studio Tour of their their North London premises.

Blinkink is one of the UK's leading animation houses, responsible for multiple hit films and TV series, and winners of many awards - including an Oscar nomination.  

Animator's Survival Kit in The Animation Library

Animator's Survival Kit

We have recently added more copies of Animator's Survival Kit - our most popular book on animation - to the Animation & VFX Library on the 11th Floor at 6 Mitre Passage.

The Animator's Survival Kit is the standard textbook for animators and the most comprehensive book available for learning animation.  

We now have just under a dozen copies of the Animator's Survival Kit (with more on the way) in the 11th Floor Animation & VFX Library at 6 Mitre Passage.  The ASK can also be bought as an eBook download for the iPad.  

"Scars" Wins Best Animation at London Movie Awards

"Scars" wins "Best Animated Short" in London

Many congratulations to the makers of "Scars", which has won "Best Animated Short" at the London Movie Awards.  

The film was a collaboration between our graduating class of students studying the Art of Games, The Art of Animation and Character Creation - working together across disciplines to create a group project.  

Scars was directed by Charlie O'Sullivan, edited by Sam Blackburn and produced by Alex Sparks. Theo Craig was the Editor and Art Director.  This is the film's first festival award. 

Animation Taster Tuesday 21 July 2026 at Noon

Animation Taster on Tuesday 21 July 2026 

We're hosting a new Animation Taster on Tuesday 21 July 2026 at Noon to 1.30pm UK time, taught by short course and MA animation tutor Lee Caller.

Animation Taster  Sessions are a great chance to learn about character and creature animation, and find out how we teach at Escape Studios. 

"Protose" Wins "Best VFX" at Makizhmithran Awards

"Protose" wins "Best VFX" at Makizhmithran Film Fest

Congratulations to the makers of "Protose", one of the latest VFX shorts from our graduating class of students at Escape Studios, which has won "Best VFX" at the Makizhmithran Film Festival. 

"Protose" tells the story of a meatless steak invention that goes horribly wrong. 

"Protose" was produced and directed by Yusuf Uddin.  Adam Armstrong stars as the chef. This is the film's first festival award. 

Undergraduate Open Day on Wednesday 15 July 2026

Undergraduate Open Day on Wednesday 15th July 2026

Escape Studios is hosting a new Undergraduate Open Day on Wednesday 15th July 2026. 

The event takes place from 1:30pm to 4:30pm both in person at our North Greenwich Campus and also online.  Escape Studios' Open Days are a chance to find out about our undergraduate degrees - join us and find out more about what we do and how we teach. 

Concept Art Taster wih Mirco Pinna 14 July 2026

Concept Art Taster with Tutor Mirco Pinna 14 July

Join us on Tuesday 14th July at 12pm UK time for a free "Concept Art Taster" with Escape Studios Concept Art tutor Mirco Pinna. 

Our live online taster offers an insight into what we teach on our postgraduate and short courses at Escape Studios. Join us on 14 July to find out more. 

Tokyo Study Week for Escape Animation Students

Digital Hollywood University September 7-11 2026

Escape Studios is excited to announce a "Tokyo Study Week" for our animation students to study for five days at Digital Hollywood University in Tokyo.  

The Tokyo Study Week will run from Monday 7 September to Friday 11 September 2026 and is a chance to learn Japanese animation techniques, with a focus on the unique Japanese visual styles of anime and manga.  Classes will take place every morning, with afternoons left free for students to explore Tokyo and potentially visit animation sites such as the Studio Ghibli Museum and Studio Ghibli Park.  

Introducing "Anarchy"

"Anarchy"

Introducing "Anarchy", the trailer for a combat video game created by our graduating class of Escape Studios' students, studying The Art of Video Games.  

"Anarchy" is inspired by the style of early 2000s video games. 

James McGinty was the Lead Game Designer  and Yousif Abdullah was the Art Director and Animation Lead. 

The Roger Allers Legacy Scholarship: Deadline 4 July

The Roger Allers Legacy Scholarship Award 

The Roger Allers Legacy Scholarship Award is now open.  Applications for upcoming Directors, Story Artists and Librettists can be made here at the official CTN site. The deadline to apply is 4 July 2026. 

The Roger Allers Legacy Scholarship Award honours the legacy of Roger Allers, "an acclaimed filmmaker whose work has shaped generations through the power of stage, screen, and storytelling". 

Roger is best known for directing the global blockbuster film The Lion King (1994) and earning a Tony Award nomination for adapting it into the highest grossing Broadway musical of all time.  

Escape Studios at Annecy Animation Festival 2026

Escapees at Annecy 2026 

A group of intrepid Escapees and current students, as well as some of our some of our recent graduates, travelled to the 2026 Annecy Animation Festival last week.

Braving the heatwave, they spent a week at the world's leading animation event, going to screenings, attending events and talks, and making contacts in the global animation industry.