11.12.07
Aardman launches Digital Animation degree at Falmouth

"Farewell to the analogue world, welcome to the digital age, and may you create some wonderful work here," declared co-founder and Executive Chairman of Aardman, David Sproxton CBE, as he officially opened University College Falmouth's new Digital Animation Studio at its Tremough Campus on Friday.

David Sproxton also met staff and the first intake of students from the College's new BA(Hons) in Digital Animation as well as key figures from the regional animation industry, before delivering a keynote address that touched on how the world famous studio is now using digital animation techniques alongside their more traditional model animation processes, and revealed some of Aardman's animation secrets, ably assisted by Wallace, Gromit and the Were-rabbit, of course.

Aardman, which was founded in 1972 by David Sproxton and Peter Lord, has a deserved reputation as a world leader in model animation. Their award-winning work continues to lead the field. The studio has been nominated for an Oscar® seven times, and has won four.

From the now legendary BBC children's character Morph and the advertising antics of Creature Comforts, to Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, Aardman's work continues to delight audiences of all ages from one to 100.

UCF's new BA(Hons) in Digital Animation is located in The Lanyon Building, which was formally named by His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex as a tribute to St Ives painter, Peter Lanyon, earlier this month, as part of the multi-million pound expansion of the creative hub of the Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative.

The three-year course combines cutting-edge animation practice with the study of animation theory, film language, drawing and traditional animation processes. The new Digital Animation Studio – about which David Sproxton said that the same number of people who currently use this wonderful facility would be crammed into a space about a tenth of the size in London – is equipped with the latest software, an interactive whiteboard, specialist desks and lighting for animation drawing – and even a skeleton to enable students to capture movement in their characterisations.

"It was a delight to welcome DavidSproxton to view the fantastic facilities we have in the Animation Studio at Tremough, and his visit marks the start of an important connection with one of the most famous and important animation companies in the world," said course leader Andy Wyatt. "Here at UCF we strive to maintain strong relationships with industry, and this event has sealed many important links for the future."

University College Falmouth is a founding partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC), a unique initiative to promote regional economic regeneration through Higher Education. The CUC is funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall County Council.

For further information about BA(Hons) Digital Animation at University College Falmouth, please visit: www.falmouth.ac.uk, email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 213851.

For further information about Aardman, please visit www.aardman.com.

For further information please contact Jilly Easterby, Head of Public Affairs, University College Falmouth on 01326 213792 or email jilly.easterby@falmouth.ac.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project, both Phase 1 and Phase 2, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). University College Falmouth is a partner of the CUC.

Editor's notes:

Clare Morgan
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