Using Live Action to Create Great Animation at Vimeo

Edward Muybridge led the way in the 1850s

The Escape Studios Vimeo Tutorial Channel is our main hub for our animation and VFX video tutorials, making it easy for our students to find tutorials to support their classroom studies.  

One challenge for all of our animation students is how to use live action reference to create great animation - as well as MoCap animation. 

Below is a list of our animation tutorials showing how live action reference and MoCap can be the animator's best friend.

Escape Visits Film London at Westminster College

Escape Studios was invited by Film London yesterday to talk to students and young professionals at Westminster Kingsway College about the animation production pipeline.  But it soon became clear that what the audience really wanted was specific guidance on how to break into the creative industries.  "How..." one audience member asked (more than once)..."can I get a job?"  

This is a very common question - and not always an easy one to answer.  The industry has big skills shortages - for example, 2D compositing is currently hugely in demand, and we have almost 100% employment among our compositing Escapees. But is compositing the right career path for that particular person? 

  

"Alma" Wins "Best Sci-Fi" at Sun Film Festival

"Alma": Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi at The Sun Film Festival

Congratulations to the makers of "Alma", which has won Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi at The Sun Film Festival.

"Alma", is the first fully motion capture CG short film created at Escape Studios. 

Alma was directed by Rola Hafez, produced by Emmanouil "Manos" Zervoudakis, and overseen by animation tutor Amedeo Beretta.

Alma has won many festival awards.  

"Tech Troubles" Best Score (Hon Mention) in Milan

"Tech Troubles" Best Score (Hon Mention) in Milan

Many congratulations to the makers of the VFX short "Tech Troubles", which has won an Honourable Mention in the category of "Best Score" at the Milan Gold Awards.  

Directed by David Akinyose and produced by Louis Gaffney,  Tech Troubles was a collaboration between undergraduate animation and vfx students, working together to create an original story.  The score was composed by Ben Salwey. 

Toonboom Visit to Escape Studios 30 Jan 2023

Escape Studios is delighted to welcome Toonboom president Francois Lalonde, Head of Sales Bradley Kravitz and Toonboom UK representative Andy Wyatt to our central London campus on Monday 30th January 2023.  

Toonboom Harmony is a software package fast establishing itself as the leading tool for 2D animation, and an important part of our new 2D Animation Pathway at Escape Studios.

Golden Acorn Wins Best Trailer at FOFA

"The Golden Acorn" wins Best Trailer at FoF Awards

Congratulations to the makers of "The Golden Acorn", which has won an award for Best Trailer at the Future of Film Awards.

"The Golden Acorn" is a movie trailer completed by 2nd year undergraduate Escape Studios Animation students, written & directed by Maciej Osuch, edited & produced by Miguel Teixeira. 

In The Golden Acorn a detective duo team up in NutTown to defeat an evil squirrel crime boss - two agents, one nutcase.  The Golden Acorn has won many festival awards.

What's in the L7 MArt at Escape Studios?

"Novem", directed by Erin Harrison

Our Level Integrated Masters Degree is back on 18th September 2023.  

Most of our undergraduate students will graduate after three years with a BA, but others will study with us for one more year, at the end of which they will graduate "Master of Arts" in chosen their subject.  

This is known as an "integrated masters" degree, because the masters' year builds on the first three years of undergraduate study.  

"Stellar Rescue" Wins "Best Micro Short" in London

"The Stellar Rescue" Best Micro Short" at LMA

Many congratulations to the makers of "The Stellar Rescue", which has won an award for "Best Micro Short" at the London Movie Awards. 

"The Stellar Rescue" was written and directed by Anthony Sarmiento, and produced by Wiktoria Swierk.  It was created as part of a group project by second-year animation students, working together as a team.   The Stellar Rescue tells the story of a young boy who must rescue a fallen baby star and return it to its parents. It has won many festival awards. 

Shelley Page to Visit Escape Studios 26 Jan 2023

Escape Studios is delighted to welcome Animation industry veteran Shelley Page to our central London campus tomorrow to give our second year animation students industry feedback on their specialism projects.

Shelley's credits include "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?", "Shrek 1-4", "Shark Tale", "Madagascar", "Kung Fu Panda", and "How to Train Your Dragon".  Shelley is currently Key Talent and Artist Liaison at Locksmith Animation in London.  

Escape Students Work on Guard Bros' "Borderland"

Felicity Jones stars in Borderland.

Escape Studios is proud to be contributing over a dozen VFX shots to the forthcoming UK indie thriller "Borderland", directed by London-based film-makers Tom and Charles Guard.

In Borderland, a retired Irish paramilitary witnesses the fatal shooting of his pregnant wife by an SAS officer, taking his revenge to the streets of 1970's London.

"Threaded Together" Best Sound Design at Onyko

"Threaded Together" Best Sound Design at Onyko Awards

Congratulations to the makers of "Threaded Together", which has won Best Sound Design at the Onyko Film Awards.

Threaded Together was directed by Shauna Ludgate and produced by Manos Zervoudakis. The original score was composed by Maria Cortes-Monroy. Sound design and foley was by Mihail Sustov.

Threaded Together tells the story of a needle who longs to be reunited with his friends.   This is the latest of many festival awards for Threaded Together. 

Why Animation Graduates Need The Rookies

All our graduating animation and VFX students at Escape Studios are in the process of creating their own page at The Rookies, now one of the leading platforms for connecting students to the creative industries. 

Creating an individual page at The Rookies helps our students to showcase their work to the wider VFX and animation community, with a view to maximising their future prospects and employability.

Being visible to industry, easy to find, and easy to hire, is one of the core professional skills learned by our students at Escape Studios.

Bouncing Ball Rig from Escapee Dave Mattock

Free bouncing ball rig from David Mattock

We're liking this new free bouncing ball rig from Escapee David Mattock, founder of the independent animation studio Full Rotation Ltd, whose clients include Netflix.

David has recently launched a new YouTube channel teaching animation, 3d modelling, and motion design; the channel also serves as a growing online community for animation artists and freelancers. 

Marc Stevenson Splash and Wave Effect Tutorial

 

Escape Studios' animation tutor Marc Stevenson has created a new tutorial on how to animate a splash and wave effect - quickly and easily.  You can find the tutorial at Marc's YouTube channel here.  Marc has built up a comprehensive library of animation video tutorials, which can be found at his personal YouTube Channel: Marc has created dozens of animation tutorials, mostly aimed at animation beginners.

Introducing "Tatty"

Escape Studios is proud to present "Tatty", the latest short film created by our third year animation and vfx students at Escape Studios.  Directed by Amelia Watson and produced by Wiktoria Swierk,  Tatty was a collaboration between undergraduate animation and vfx students at Escape Studios, working together to create an original story.  Studio projects such as this one are part of what we call The Escape Method - bringing together students with multiple talents to work in teams. 

Frederic Du Chau Visits Escape Studios 23 Jan 2023

Frederic Du Chau

Escape Studios is delighted to welcome Hollywood director Frederic Du Chau will visit our central London campus on Monday January 23rd, to meet our second year animation students, and introduce them to the principles underlying a successful Hollywood pitch. 

What is involved in a great pitch? How do aspiring artists and content creators pitch ideas to studios and production houses?  

Frederic Du Chau has directed many Hollywood films including "Quest For Camelot", "Racing Stripes" and "Underdog".  All of these projects began with a successful pitch. 

Frederic is also the author of the graphic novel "Ameluna", which has recently been released.

ToonBoom Harmony Tutorials at Vimeo

As part of our new 2D Animation Pathway at Escape Studios, we've curated a list of helpful tutorials in Toonboom Harmony, to support our new 2D animation students in their classroom studies.  

Veteran animator and Escape Studios tutor Steve Lall has curated a playlist of resources to help get our students up and running with Harmony. 

Today, Harmony animators are much in demand, as 2D animation experiences a significant revival.

"Papercut" Wins Best Micro Short at Int'l Gold Awards

"Papercut": Best Micro Short at International Gold Awards

Many congratulations to makers of the VFX short film "Papercut", which has won "Best Micro Short" at the International Gold Awards.
  

Directed by Giorgos Konstantinou and produced by Victoria Arraez, Papercut was a collaboration between 3rd year undergraduate animation and vfx students, working together to create an original short.  

MA 3D Animation Returns on 27 March 2023

Our MA (Master of Arts) in 3D Animation is back, with a new class starting on 27 March 2023.

The MA in animation will be taught both online and at our mid-town campus at 190 High Holborn in central London.

In recent years our MA animation students have created many award-winning film projects such as "Alma", "Flame", "Hat Shop", "Mafia Mix-Up" and "Moon Rockz". Many have also gone on to enjoy successful careers in industry. 

If you're looking for an animation course that teaches you how to animate to a professional level, and also leads to a formal qualification in the field, then this could be the right course for you.

Animation Short Course Starts 27 March 2023

Animation by Sunny Asada

Our 12 week animation course starts on 27 March 2023. The course is aimed at anyone who wants to learn the art and craft of 3D Animation, and aims to take students to a professional level of skill, making them studio-ready talent.

Taught by veteran animation tutor Lee Caller, our animation is designed to help our students find employment in the expanding animation and VFX industry.