Bachelor Of 2D Animation
AIT is well-known for unique specialist 2D Animation courses, with our grads going on to work for some of the biggest Australian and global production houses; just having AIT on your CV puts you ahead of the competition.
What To Expect
As experts in the 2D animation industry, we have designed our animation course to reflect the practices of top professional animation studios. We provide guidance and support as you become part of the next generation to pursue your dream career in 2D animation. With our program, you can confidently step into the animation industry at your own pace and achieve the future you’ve always envisioned with the new skills you’ve learnt at AIT.
Skills You Will Gain
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Technical Instruction - Experienced knowledgeable educators -
Creative Teamwork - Teams of like-minded collaborators -
Current Knowledge - Current software, technology and insights -
Professional Skills - Embedded employability training -
Skills practice - Practical hands-on learning -
Project work - relevant project-based assessments -
Expert feedback - Broad engagement with industry -
Industry input - Work opportunities in professional contexts
Softwares You Will Master
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Celtx -
Toon Boom Harmony -
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro -
Adobe Photoshop -
Adobe After Effects -
Adobe Premiere Pro
AIT Campus
Two thirds of your course will be taught on campus in our industry-grade 2D Animation studios, side by side with like-minded creatives.
In today’s world of 2D animation, the technology and software you use can make all the difference – and that’s why we at AIT invest heavily in providing our students with the latest and greatest professional-grade tools for all of our animation courses.
In our facilities with access to our animation studios, equipped with high-end computers, animation light boxes, and clay modelling equipment, as well as our state-of-the-art post-production studio, green screen rooms, and audio studios, you’ll have everything you need to bring your vision to life and make your magic.
Our Cloud Campus
Experience the convenience and flexibility of online learning with our cloud campus – a space designed for high-quality virtual education. Access all your 2D animation course material, including interactive activities, videos, and discussion boards, as well as email, library, and technical support services, all in one place.
Our cloud campus also offers assessment and study support, as well as access to welfare services to ensure you receive the support you need to succeed. We understand choosing where to study 2D animation is a big decision, so why not try out your new cloud campus before enrolling?
Student work: ‘Rose, Revolutionary Leader Sculpt’ by Tarik Takasu
Course Content
Year 1 - Learn
The Creative Drawing Lab subject introduces the primary skills required to create drawings for animation. It explores a variety of theories, styles, elements and practices of drawing and how to apply them to different genres, themes and mediums. You will learn the animation principles as well as the digital tools for telling a story using an animated character.
Key Professional Skills Development:
- Responding to feedback
- Iterative design
- Reflection
- Concept communication
Learn about film and digital language through an exploration of the fundamental themes, concepts and principles that apply to film and 2D animation. You will focus on film history, genre, style, mood and context, and will also learn about foundational animation techniques, like stop motion and illustration with movement.
Key professional skills development:
- Reflection and research skills
- Understanding the impact of technology on the moving image
Learn how to apply powerful visual storytelling design and composition methods to bring your stories to life. From script writing and drawing to storyboard creation, animatics, and camera composition conventions, you’ll develop the skills you need to visualise and prepare your stories for production.
We’ll also introduce you to scene structures and character development, and show you how to apply planning principles to a range of media formats, including animation and film. With our practical, hands-on approach, you’ll gain the confidence and expertise to take your storytelling to the next level.
Key professional skills development:
- Creativity
- Story structure and organisation
- Presentation techniques
- Responding to feedback
You will learn the skills involved in the creation of characters and environments for animation worlds. The backgrounds and objects that provide the setting for animated action require careful artistic treatment and have a significant influence on the look and feel of animated films.
Character design also requires specific skills in creating expression, implying the history and culture of characters and suggesting traits and attributes. You will design and refine environments and characters, costumes and props, exploring the finer details of animated worlds.
Key professional skills development:
- Creative thinking
- Professional communication
- Research
- Plot analysis
- The ability to communicate stories through concepts
Acquire the skills for creating both simple and sophisticated animations. The principles of animation will be examined in greater detail, and the methods used to develop animation through keyframing, tweening and frame-by-frame animation will be used in the creation of short animations. Animation development software will be implemented and you will experiment with animation on paths, walk cycles and sound for animation.
The 2D animation process requires animators to continually seek feedback and adapt and refine their work in response, which will be applied over the duration of this subject.
Key professional skills development:
- Responding to a brief
- Integration of processes into the production cycle
- Advanced time management
Get ready to dive into script and screenwriting for film and animation! This course will expand your ability to create captivating sequential art and develop characters with depth and subtext. You’ll learn how to apply film language to your writing to create mood, tension, pacing, and drama that truly captivates your audience. With a focus on plot development, creative writing, and visual illustration, you’ll gain the skills to create stories that come to life on the screen.
Key professional skills development:
- Learning to seek feedback
- Reflect and adapt during the screenwriting process
Immersive Animation Experience 1
To create compelling animated characters, it’s essential to have a solid understanding of acting techniques. In this subject, you’ll learn how to apply gesture, posture, facial expressions, and voice intonation to bring your characters to life. You’ll research and analyse animated characters, studying their unique characteristics and vocal and visual styles.
Through advanced 2D character design, and storyboard and animatic production, you’ll develop a simple character from concept to completion, responding to briefs and feedback from peers and professionals. You’ll also consider mood, environment, and context when designing your characters, giving you the skills to create truly captivating animations.
Key Professional Skills Development:
- Aspects of planning
- Professional communication
- Problem-solving
- Conflict resolution
- Self-reflection
Year 2 - Explore
Explore the creative and technical aspects of sound design in digital media. Learn to record and process sounds, and how to implement them in a range of contexts. Applying sound design principles, you’ll discover how to enhance communication, meaning and emotion in your work, whether it’s film, animation, or games.
Develop skills in sound editing, musical score selection, location recording, noise reduction, compression and reverberation, and sound production workflow. You’ll also receive feedback and reflect on your high quality work, making necessary improvements to create dynamic and engaging soundtracks.
Key Professional Skills Development:
- Teamwork and time management
- Copyright and legal considerations
- Critical listening skills
Motion design, or motion graphics, is an ever increasing presence in online communication, and this subject will provide you with the tools and techniques to design and construct effective motion graphic communications. You will deconstruct logos, build 2D objects and characters, and animate them using industry standard software.
Graphic design principles and typography design concepts will be explored and applied to text motion, motion tracking and frame composition. You will learn to design title sequences and their place in the production process.
Key professional skills development:
- Following briefs
- Creative thinking and problem solving
- Professional communication
- Digital asset management
In this subject you will learn how to apply bones to 2D animated characters, enabling the use of skeletal pivot points to manipulate the movement of limbs and body movements. You will study the history and context of rigging so you understand their context and application. This will help you create consistent patterns of movement and will save time on individual frame illustrations.
Characters will be designed, built and rigged, and the use of pre-built character rigs will be explained, with this knowledge enabling you to apply existing rigs to your unique character designs. The limitations and range of applications for 2D rigs will be considered and you will do a variety of 2D character rigging practical activities.
Key professional skills development:
- Responding to briefs
- Iterative development in response to feedback
- Research and critique of different forms
- Presentation skills and professional communication
In Animation FX you will encounter the world of realistic visual effects for 2D animation. You will learn to create liquid movement effects such as splashes, ripples, puddles, bubbles and mud, and also to illustrate smoke, dust, sparkles and fire. It will develop your skills in tone, shadow and highlighting, which will allow for the design of graphics like explosions, electrical energy and other complex visual forms.
Key professional skills development:
- Responding to a brief
- Modifying work in response to feedback
- Utilising time management
- Project management and presentation skills while creating and exhibiting advanced 2D animated effects
You will learn about the art of background design, scene planning and 2D layout. You will create backgrounds in response to narrative guidelines and storyboards, and demonstrate awareness of artistic style, film and animation genres and a variety of illustration techniques.
Key professional skills development:
- Storyboarding
- Simulated cinematography
- Scene planning
- Layout techniques
- Plot development and iterative design will be progressed
- An understanding of production pipelines, problem-solving and project management
The interface between creative arts and culture will be examined in this subject, as theories of genre, communication, cultural reference and semiotics are applied to a selection of prominent examples taken from historical and contemporary sources.
You will explore the theoretical underpinning of creative arts practice and will critique works through the lens of a range of theoretical perspectives.
Social, political and ideological considerations will be discussed and applied to case studies in a variety of forms including film, animation, games and social media. You will look at audience behaviours and demographics, and explore examples of significant directors, designers, artists and art movements.
Key professional skills development:
- Academic writing skills
- Engaging in meaningful discussion of contemporary art and media
- Using critical thinking skills to present
- Debate and argue positions regarding social analysis and ideology
Immersive Animation Experience 2
This subject involves the design and animation of creatures. It will explore the unique requirements of animation techniques for various animal motions. Content will include analysis and practical application of animal animation techniques (e.g. animating four-legged animals, birds, sea animals, and snakes). You will collaborate and adapt as you research, review and design creatures together. You will create an animation considering shot framing, composition, timing, and final assembly.
Key Professional Skills Development:
- Creative thinking
- Interpersonal skills
- Conflict resolution
- Reflecting on their own work and responding to feedback
Year 3 - Launch
The rise of freelancing in media and games has seen it become one of the major forms of employment. Professional Freelancing aims to equip you with essential skills needed to succeed as an independent entrepreneur in the creative industries.
You’ll learn about legal requirements, finance, monetisation, business models, documentation, admin, budgeting, pitching, and promotional skills. The course will analyse successful freelance artists, and you’ll research and identify areas of opportunity within your field.
Key Professional Skills Development:
- Networking
- Professional communication
- Planning and presentation skills
This subject explores the future of the creative media industry, including new technologies, potential applications, and how they may impact media and games.
You’ll study contemporary theories and processes and try out new and current technologies to predict future trends. This knowledge will help you plan your future creative and career directions in media and games.
Key professional skills development:
- Maintaining knowledge currency
- Product analysis
- Industry networking
- Professional communication
- Presentation and reporting
Immersive Animation Experience 3
Following a brief and using industry standard production management, you will follow the full production cycle to create a complex 2D animation. This will include script writing, character, environment and sound design, storyboard art, animation illustrations, a final animatic, editing and output, as well as professional documentation and file management procedures.
Key Professional Skills Development:
- Accepting feedback
- Making iterative modifications to your work
- Presenting and discussing your work with an audience
Student work: ‘Jeff and Henry’ by Nathan Myihtoi and Matthew Deligeorges
Your final four subjects are all about taking your place as an industry contributor. You’ve got this!
Forge 1 is the first half of a two-term subject where you’ll learn to work in a professional team under workplace-like pressure to complete a project to contemporary industry standards.
In Forge 1, you’ll focus on researching client needs and preparing pre-production materials required for an industry project. This course will sharpen your planning and project management skills and help develop pre-visualisation of narrative content to deliver comprehensive planning materials for a substantial production in Forge 2, in the final trimester of study.
Option 1: The Professional Internship Program
You will be placed in a professional industry organisation where you will develop relevant skills oriented toward your chosen career. It will provide you with an opportunity to apply what you know, be mentored, receive feedback and seek opportunities for development in a real-world setting, as well as be exposed to emerging trends and technology impacting your industry.
Prior to commencement of the internship, AIT will determine a suitable placement company based on your individual needs and interests.
Option 2: Professional Project
You will complete an industry project of your choosing, related to your area of study. While support and feedback will be provided, in this subject you will experience working independently on a creative project off campus with minimal academic interaction. It may be completed independently or in collaboration with peers.
The project will be conceived and developed for a relevant contextual setting, and be presented as a proposal of a specific task, or solution to a problem or opportunity faced by an organisation or industry. The subject is an opportunity for you to develop and demonstrate self-regulated, independent research and study skills, time and project management and professional communication.
Here we help you search for and prepare yourself for employment. We provide guidelines for how to prepare effective resources that enhance your employment prospects.
You will be introduced to interview techniques and personal branding while building a professional internet and social media presence. You will also learn how to produce effective presentations of your highest-grade work for future employers.
The Forge 2 is part two of a subject that runs across two terms, where you will complete your final 2D animation major work. The production, to be completed in teams, will be presented to industry representatives at the completion of the project. A key aim of the subject is to develop your speed and efficiency in a collaborative work environment.
The process of briefing, planning, executing, presenting and reflecting will help you become accustomed to professional project-based work. The subject will also challenge you to innovate, learn from both success and failure,“know yourself”, and learn how to work with others. You will be mentored, critiqued and assessed during this process, with industry experts providing feedback on project outcomes.
Course Outcomes
- Animator
- FX Animator
- Storyboard Artist
- Script Writer
- Motion Graphics Animator
- Concept Artist
- Animation Background Artist
- Animation Production Manager
- Animation Layout Artist
- Independent Animated Filmmaker
- Celtx
- Toon Boom Harmony
- Toon Boom Storyboard Pro
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Pitch creation
- Scriptwriting
- Scheduling/Production Management
- Storyboarding
- Character Posing
- Perspective
- Colour Harmony
- Character and Location Artwork Creation
- Digital Hand-drawn Animation
- 2D Puppet Animation
- Sound Design
- Motion Graphics
- Editing
- Production
- Character concept designs showing evolution and working to a brief
- Character turnaround artwork ready for production
- Location concept artwork demonstrating evolution and working to a brief
- Script and treatment samples demonstrating development of an idea, conveying a message and following industry protocols
- Background Layouts demonstrating understanding of perspective, depth, composition and camera angle
- Finished Background artwork demonstrating colour harmony and composition
- Storyboard Artwork demonstrating sequential storytelling and construction of a narrative
- Animation samples demonstrating motion graphics applications, character performance and dialogue, creature action, and use of a 2D rig
- A short animated film of your own creation working from a brief
- A short animated film created as a team working from a brief.
Our Student Work
Operation: Recess
James Dickson, Tiffany Kho, Crystal Thurley & Vy V Dinh Ngoc
Halloweenies
Nariese Lovenfosse, Isabella Evans & Ashley Thompson
Insectum Noctis
Claire Lloyd
The Call of Caelum
Natasha Perrett, Dominique Eichenberger, James Dickson, Tony Phan, Isaac Biala and Joshua Romero
Iron Knight
Talish McKenzie
Social Surfer
Chole Lambley, Jack Nicholls, Jeremy Abood & Hai Nam Phung
Read our Student Testimonials
“I am so glad that I chose the right school – AIT. AIT gives me support and direction. For an overseas student, the learning environment of AIT allows me to quickly adapt to the Australian environment and atmosphere. I found that at AIT, effort and hard work is never overlooked, and your work is always honoured and respected.”
“AIT has provided exceptional support and tolls to pursue my passion successfully, and I am proud and confident to be a woman in STEM.”
“AIT has been one of the best experiences for me, I was able to learn all about the fundamentals in 3D and even became an Enrolment Advisor for AIT. If you are looking for a place that provides great opportunities with a close-knit environment, then AIT is the way to go. ”
“Interesting courses in a well-formed subject table, it's so cool having teachers that actually work in the industry as well!”
How to apply
Here at AIT, we care about your creativity, not your ATAR. If you’re a domestic student, then you can apply directly to AIT or via UAC and VTAC. If you’re an international student, then our registered agent partners can help you to organise everything you’ll need for your AIT application and your application to study in Australia.
Find out exactly what studying at AIT will cost, with our transparent list of student fees plus learn more about the generous scholarships for both international and domestic students.
Student work: ‘Hairy Situation’ by Shaleise-Rose Leishman
