Undergraduate Taster Day 6 December 2025

Sat 6th Dec 2025 - Undergraduate (UG) Taster Day

Join us on Saturday 6th December 2025 for our next Undergraduate (UG) Taster Day for an introduction to our undergraduate degrees in animation, games and vfx.  Come along and find out what it's like to study at Escape Studios. 

"Meet The Masters" with Dan Shutt 15 Dec 2025

Meet The Masters with Dan Shutt 15th Dec 2025

Join us on Monday 15th December at 6pm for a free "Meet The Masters" Event with veteran VFX artist Dan Shutt. 

Dan Shutt is one of our most experienced VFX tutors, with over 23 years’ experience in a wide variety of 3D fields, from feature film effects and games graphics, to TV commercials and architectural rendering.  Dan has been with Escape Studios since 2009.  To sign up, follow this link. 

"Dusty Memories" Wins "Best Super Short" in NYC

Dusty Memories wins "Best Super Short Film"  in NYC  

Many congratulations to the makers of "Dusty Memories", which has won "Best Super Short Film"  at the New York Movie Awards.  

"Dusty Memories" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects.   "Dusty Memories" was written and directed by Grace Lam, and edited and produced by Max Ebdon.  This is its third festival award. 

Why Animators Always Start With a Story

Storytelling animation by Sunny Asadi

Animators are story tellers; animation should always have an idea behind it, one that tells a story.

Junior animators focus on learning technique - and technique is important. But it is also important to think carefully about the story behind your shot.

Who is your character, and why are they doing what they are doing?  What is the scene about? What do they want, and what do they fear?  These things are important because if your shots forms part of an interesting story, it will be much more interesting to watch.

Escapee Erminas Surgautas Joins Framestore

Erminas Surgautas

Many congratulations to Escapee Erminas Surgautas who has joined Framestore, one of the UK's leading VFX and animation houses. 

Erminas Surgautas studied the Art of Animation at Escape Studios, and contributed to many award-winning short film projects, including Checkmate, Mob Boss Barkino, Night Terrors and Reconnected.  

Undergraduate Q&A with Ian Palmer 9 Dec 2025

Join us on Tuesday 9th Dec from 5pm - 6pm GMT for an online undergraduate Q&A with Escape Studios' Principal Ian Palmer. 

This online event is an opportunity to find out more about Escape Studios from the man who knows us best - Professor Ian Palmer.  To sign up for this free event, follow this link. 

"Keep Cooking" Wins Best Super Short at Gold Awards

"Keep Cooking" wins "Best Animation" at Int'l Gold Awards

Congratulations to the makers of "Keep Cooking", which has won "Best Animation" at the International Gold Awards.   Keep Cooking was created by our third year graduating class of 2D Animation students at Escape Studios.  

Keep Cooking was written and directed by Nathan Blackman and produced by Mai Lu.  Chieri Kagata was the Lead Animator, and Gustav Chin was the Art Director.  This is its third festival award. 

Evening With...Escapee Josh Kiddie 3 Dec 2025

We're delighted to announce our next "Evening With" Event on Wednesday 3 December 2025 at 5.30pm.  

Escapee and games artist Josh Kiddie returns to Escape Studios to discuss his career in the games industry. 

"Bloom" Wins Best Animation Award in Florence

"Bloom", wins "Best Animation" at Florence Film Awards

Congratulations to the makers of "Bloom", which has won "Best Animated Film" at the Florence Film Awards. "Bloom" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects.

Bloom was written and directed by Vanessa Marques-Navaratnasingam and produced by Grace Lam. This is its third festival award.

Cherelle Owusu Screening at Royal Society of Arts

Cherelle Owusu

Many congratulations to Escapee Cherelle Owusu whose short film "Flame" will be screened at the Royal Society of Arts on Tuesday, December 16th @ 6pm as part of the Nolly-Oh! Nationwide Tour,  part of the BFI Too Much Melodrama Blockbuster Season.   

Cherelle's short film "Flame" has won multiple festival awards, and in 2020 secured a commercial licensing deal with a major US Airline.   

Cherelle took our MA in 3D Animation at Escape Studios, and joined The Third Floor as a previsualisation artist. Her film credits include The Meg and How To Train Your Dragon.

"Barkino" Wins "Best Super Short" in London

"Mob Boss Barkino" wins "Best Super Short Film" in London

Congratulations to the makers of "Mob Boss Barkino", which has won Best Super Short Film at the London Movie Awards. 

Mob Boss Barkino was written and directed by Leon Lau, and produced by Angharad Mathias.  The lead animator was Maisy Rogers, and the Editor was Tobi Ajibola.  Industry feedback was generously provided by Charlie Tetlow and Felipe De Lanteuil from Industrial Light & Magic.  This its fourth festival award. 

2025 Motion Graphics Demo Reel

Congratulations to our Motion Graphics students and tutors on the excellent new 2025 Motion Graphics Demo Reel from Escape Studios. The video above is a compilation of the best work done by Motion Graphics students studying on our short courses, evening classes, and postgraduate classes.  

"Keep Cooking" wins "Best Animation" in NYC

"Keep Cooking" wins "Best Animation" in NYC

Congratulations to the makers of "Keep Cooking", which has won "Best Animation" at the New York Movie Awards.   Keep Cooking was created by our third year graduating class of 2D Animation students at Escape Studios.  

Keep Cooking was written and directed by Nathan Blackman and produced by Mai Lu.  Chieri Kagata was the Lead Animator, and Gustav Chin was the Art Director.  This is its third festival award. 

UCAS Applications Now Open

UCAS - deadline 14 January 2026.

UCAS applications for Escape Studios for September 2026 are now open - the deadline to apply to study with us next academic year is 14 January 2026.  

If you are thinking of applying to Escape Studios to study the Art of Animation, Games, Concept Art, Motion Graphics or Visual effects, it's time to get your application in through UCAS. 

"Held Back" Wins "Best Animation" at EEFF

Held Back wins "Best Animation" at the EEFF  

Congratulations to the makers of the animated short film Held Back which has won "Best Animation" at the Eastern Europe Film Awards.  

Held Back was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects.   Held Back was directed by Lewis Sims and produced by Hassan Mahdi.  This its first festival award. 

Escape Studios Visits DNEG

Escape Studios visits DNEG

Many thanks to Andrew Schlussel and everyone at DNEG for the inspiring tour of the Great Portland St Studio yesterday. 

The visit was a great opportunity for our students to visit one of the UK's longest-established VFX and animation houses; responsible for multiple blockbuster hits.  

"Mini Mail" Wins "Best Student Film" in Hollywood

 Mini Mail wins "Best Student Film" in Hollywood

Congratulations to the makers of the VFX Short film Mini Mail, which has won "Best Student Film" at the Hollywood Gold Awards.

Mini Mail was created by our third year graduating class of VFX students at Escape Studios; it was written and directed by Thomas Greensmith and produced by Nilufer Refet.  This is its fourth festival award. 

Animation Demo Reels - To Light or Not to Light?

Chameleon by Dave Novis

A strong animation demo reel isn’t just about great animation — it’s also about great presentation.  

Many student reels rely on greyshade renders or raw playblasts, but taking the time to add simple lighting can make a huge difference to how your work is received. 

You don’t need to be a lighting artist to benefit from a basic setup.  A little polish goes a long way, and you can follow one of our super simple lighting tutorials to get a great result in just a few minutes. 

"Keep Cooking" Wins "Best Anim" at Makizhmithran

Keep Cooking wins "Best Animation" in Makizhmithran

Congratulations to the makers of "Keep Cooking", which has won "Best Animation" at the Makizhmithran Film Festival.   Keep Cooking was created by our third year graduating class of 2D Animation students at Escape Studios.  

Keep Cooking was written and directed by Nathan Blackman and produced by Mai Lu.  Chieri Kagata was the Lead Animator, and Gustav Chin was the Art Director.  

This is its second festival award. 

Klaudija Cermak Elected to VES Board of Directors

Escape Studios is proud to congratulate compositing tutor Klaudija Cermak who has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Visual Effects Society (VES), London Section.

Klaudija has over 25 years experience on commercials, broadcast TV and feature films.  Klaudija has worked at most of the major post-production houses in London including MPC, Mill, Millfilm, Framestore, Double Negative and Glassworks.

The Visual Effects Society is an entertainment industry organization representing visual effects artists with 5,000 members in 50 countries.  Since 2002 it has produced the Visual Effects Society Awards, which honours vfx excellence in multiple categories. 

Escapee Scott Middleton Finalist at "Young Arrows"

Scott Middleton (right) finalist at the "Young Arrow" Awards

Many congratulations to Escapee Scott Middleton who is a finalist in the annual "Young Arrows" awards, having received three nominations for Best VFX. 

Scott Middleton studied The Art of Visual Effects at Escape Studios, specialising in compositing in Nuke.

While at Escape Studios, Scott Middleton directed the multiple-award-winning VFX short "Russell".

Why Animators Embed Their Demo Reel at Linkedin

Animation recruiters "live at Linkedin" 

A strong demo reel is essential for launching an animation career — but it only works if people see it. Too many graduates upload their reel to YouTube or Vimeo and stop there. 

One of the smartest places to share your reel is LinkedIn.  It’s quick, it’s professional, and it’s where animation recruiters are already looking. Your reel is your most important asset. Don’t hide it. Put it where the industry can find you easily.

Congratulations To All Our Graduates

Congratulations to all our graduates who attended this year's Graduation Ceremony yesterday at The Indigo at the O2 in North Greenwich. 

On Graduation Day we welcomed all our graduating students for the graduation ceremony and for the reception afterwards. 

It's a day to celebrate hard work and remarkable achievement. 

November "Tasters" at Escape Studios

November Tasters at Escape Studios

We're running a series of "Taster Events" at Escape Studios all through November for prospective students keen to try out our courses. 

To get started with Maya, ZBrush, Nuke, Python and Unreal Engine, follow this link. 

"The Hunt" Wins Hon Mention at CEFF

"The Hunt" wins Hon Mention for "Best Animation"

Congratulations to the makers of the short animated film "The Hunt" which has won an Honourable Mention in the category of "Best Animation" at the Cinematic European Film Awards. 

"The Hunt" was completed as part of Studio Module PR5001, a collaborative module in which second-year animation students work together on short film projects.  

The Hunt was directed by Eva Gifford and produced by Grace Chandler.  Rose Brooksby-Conroy was the art director.  This is its second festival award. 

Escape Studios Top 12 at Rookies for 2D Animation

Ranked 12 for Production Excellence in 2D Animation

We’re proud to announce that Escape Studios has been ranked 12th in the world for Production Excellence in 2D Animation by The Rookies.  

This recognition underlines our commitment to giving our students an education that mirrors real-studio pipelines, fosters creative risk, and prepares them for the animation industry.

Comics and Visual Storytelling Launches Sept 2027

Comics & Visual Storytelling - Sept 2027

Escape Studios is excited to announce the launch of our new undergraduate degree on comics and visual storytelling. 

To deliver this, we have teamed up with Comic Book UK to launch this groundbreaking new undergraduate degree, starting September 2027. 

This industry-led course is designed to help aspiring Comic Creators, Illustrators, and Storytellers break into the world of publishing, animation, and games. 

From Manga to Marvel, students will explore global comic traditions and collaborate on cross-media projects. 

To find out more, visit the official site here: https://lnkd.in/eSQqjHan