"It Doesn't Work": How to Fix Tech Problems

Why Doesn't It Work?

"It doesn't work"  is a problem frequently encountered by our students at Escape Studios.

Remember that every technical problem, no matter how infuriating, has a solution. One of the key skills our students learn at Escape is how to solve problems - and find solutions, so that production work can continue. Digital artists face an endless stream of technical hiccups.

Seeker Wins Best VFX (Hon Mention) at LIMFF

"Seeker" wins Best VFX (Hon. Mention) at LIMFF

Congratulations to Escapee Rassoul Edji, whose short film "Seeker" has won an Honourable Mention in the category of Best VFX at the LIMFF. 

 "Seeker" is a short sci-fi film directed by Rassoul Edji and produced by Tosin Ogunleye, about a giant robot running amok in suburban England.  Seeker has won many festival awards. 

Toonboom Harmony Course Starts 28 March

Escape Studios is launching a brand-new 12 Week 2D Animation Short Course in Toonboom Harmony starting on 28 March 2022.

Learn the to become an animator using Toonboom Harmony, one of the leading software packages for the creation of 2D animation.

In recent years 2D animation has experienced a significant revival, both in the UK and overseas, as Studios such as Blue Zoo, Aardman Animation, and Brown Bag Films adopt the software.

Graduation Ceremony 7 December 2021

Graduation 2021

Graduation is back at last.  This year's long-delayed graduation ceremony will be on the 7th December 2021 at the Mermaid Theatre,  Blackfriars, London. 

We look forward to welcoming all our graduating students from 2021, 2020 and 2019 for the graduation ceremony and reception afterwards. 

The graduation ceremony is a formal occasion to celebrate our students' achievement, and has only been possible at last since the relaxation of Covid restrictions. 

New Books for the Animation Library

New books for the library

We've got some new books for the Escape Studios Animation Library - two more copies of two of our most popular books:  The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams and "Prepare to Board" by Nancy Beiman, on the Art of Storyboarding. 

The Escape Studios Animation Library is located on the Third Floor at 190 High Holborn, outside Toontown and Winterfell classrooms. 

All the books are free to borrow and read, but you must sign them out with the little Orange Library Book (see below). 

Celine Davies Storyboard Artist at Disney

Celine Davies

Congratulations to Escapee Celine Davies who has joined Walt Disney Animation as a Storyboard Artist.

Celine took our MA in Storyboarding and Previsualisation at Escape Studios, learning the art and craft of storyboarding with industry veteran Iliana Franklin.

Our MA in Storyboarding and Previsualisation first ran in 2019, and was the first MA of its kind. 

In creating the course, we worked closely with industry to identify key skills shortages in the UK animation industry, aiming to supply our students with the necessary skills to work at a professional level. 

CR5001 Anim Specialism starts 10 Jan 2022

BAA Awards - Ident Challenge!

Module CR5001 "Animation Specialism" starts on January 10th 2022. 

The second year of animation studies at Escape Studios is where our students begin to focus on individual proficiency in the craft of animation.

The Specialism Module (Module Code CR5001) is a self-study module in which students select an area of specialism and develop their skills. 

CR5001 runs for five weeks, culminating in a portfolio presentation.  This year we are collaborating with the biennial BAA Awards to create a series of idents for next year's BAA Awards Ceremony on 10 March 2022.  The final deadline for submission is Wednesday 9 February 2022. 

BoxBots Wins Best VFX at Art Film Fest

Many congratulations to the makers of "BoxBots", which has won Best VFX at the Art Film Awards. 

Directed by Jordan Coles and Ross Green, and produced by Priya Shah, "BoxBots" is about a contest between two toys who compete for the "World Plasticweight Championship".

BoxBots has won many festival awards. 

Copyright For Animators - What You Must Know

Copyright Law is a common area of confusion for animators. What does copyright mean? How does it come about? What do terms like "public domain" mean? Many of these terms are widely used but often misunderstood. Copyright law forms part of a complex system of global laws which vary from one country to another,  but the basics of copyright law are easy to grasp and understand.  Watch the short video about for a basic introduction to copyright law, and how it works for animators.

Joe Wins Best VFX at Cinematic Film Fest

Joe wins Best VFX at the CEFF

Many congratulations to the makers of Joe, which has won Best VFX at the Cinematic European Film Festival.

 "Joe" is a short film directed by Callum Reeve and produced by Aidan Lonergan, completed as part of animation Module PR6001,  a Studio Project worth 60 Credits. 

Joe is a story about a cleanup robot that goes wrong.

Joe has won many festival awards. 

Offcut Wins Best VFX at Kosice Fest

Offcut wins Best VFX at Kosice Film Fest

Many congratulations to the makers of "Offcut", which has won Best VFX at the Kosice International Film Festival.

Offcut is a short film directed by Petroc Menuhin, produced by Tosin Ogunleye and Ethen Dent, which follows the adventures of a discarded scrap of wood who comes to life and finds meaning in music.   "Offcut" has won many festival awards.  

Adam & Eve Mk II Best Sci Fi at Art Film Fest

Many congratulations to Sebastian Kuder, director of "Adam & Eve Mk II", which has won Best Sci-Fi at the Art Film Awards.

Adam & Eve Mk II, is a sci-fi re-telling of the Genesis story, directed by Escapee Sebastian Kuder, now working as a cinematographer at The Third Floor.  

Adam & Eve Mk II has won many festival awards.  

  

Paloma Zhu Animator at MPC

Paloma Zhu

Congratulations to Escapee Paloma Zhu who has started work as an animator at MPC Episodic. 

MPC is one of London's longest-established VFX and animation houses; responsible for hits such as The Lion King and The Jungle Book

While at Escape Studios, Paloma Zhu directed two award-winning films: "Hotel Aloha" and "Kiwi's Dream" and contributed her talent as an animator and art director to many others.  Paloma also worked at Escape Studios as a Studio Assistant, and also recorded video tutorials to our expanding Vimeo Channel.

Little Gestures Best VFX at Tokyo Film Fest

Many congratulations to the makers of "Little Gestures", which has won an award for Best VFX at the Tokyo Film Festival. 

This is the latest award for "Little Gestures", a short story about an artist's maquette which comes to life. 

The film was directed by Richard O'Hanlon and Daniel Brand-Sinyinza, and produced by Nickoel Izharudin and Dominic Strachan. 

"Little Gestures" was completed as part of the third year animation Module PR6001, a Studio Project worth 60 Credits, overseen by UG Program Leader Michael Davies.

MA Character Creation Returns 26 Sept 2022

Creature by Max Brazier-Jones

Our new MA in Character and Creature Creation, is returning on 26 September 2022.

The MA in Character & Creature Creation is about designing, modeling, and rigging your own characters.  

In this Master's Degree, students learn the stages of character creation from design through modeling, rigging, texturing and final render. 

To apply, visit the official course page here.  You can read about it at AWN.com here.

Home Sweet Home Best VFX at Argenteuil

Many congratulations to the makers of "Home Sweet Home", which has won "Best VFX" at the Argenteuil International Film Festival.

  

Home Sweet Home is about a gang of discarded sweets trying to get back to their sweet shop home. 

Home Sweet Home was directed by Maria Robertson, co-directed by Harry Pearson and produced by Maddison Gould.  

AN4001 Starts 10 January 2022

"Foxy Tail" animation by Maria Robertson

For our first year undergraduates, our core animation module - Animation 1 - starts on Monday 10th January 2022.

AN4001 is a 15 Credit module that introduces students to the fundamentals of character and creature animation. 

The module, which is taught by veteran animation Marc Stevenson, lasts for four weeks, and covers all the basic principles of animation.

The Crash Best Micro Short at Dreamachine

The Crash wins Best Micro Short at Dreamachine Fest

Many congratulations to the makers of "The Crash", a short film created by VFX students at Escape Studios, which has won "Best Micro Short" at the Dreamachine Film Festival.

"The Crash" is a sci-fi VFX short written and directed by Lewys Rhodes, and produced by Daniel Rowe, who earlier this year produced the multi-award-winning short film "Kiwi's Dream".   

Beauty of Nature Best Micro Short at Vesuvius

Beauty of Nature Best Micro Short at Vesuvius Fest

Congratulations to the makers of "The Beauty of Nature", which has won Best Micro Short at the Vesuvius Film Festival.  

Directed by Eliezer Girma and produced by Liam Mann, "The Beauty of Nature" was animated in Maya, edited in Adobe Premiere and rendered in Unreal Engine. 

Velvet Brandon Technical Animator at Eyes Out

Velvet Brandon

Many congratulations to Escapee Velvet Brandon, who has started work as a technical animator at the LA-based studio Eyes Out.

While studying the Art of Computer Animation at Escape Studios, Velvet worked as an animator and VFX artist on two successful short films: "Jerich0" and also "Minuet", both of which have won multiple festival awards. 

During the course of her studies, Velvet specialised in animation and rigging.