ONLINEÂ INDUSTRY TRAINING COURSES
The all-in-one, 12-week, Stop Motion training course.
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Character Body; Mime and Pantomime
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• 12 weeks.
• Weekly masterclasses, live online lectures, meet-ups, drop-ins, feedback and one-to-one mentor meetings.
• Full-body advanced and bespoke armature, sent to your home at no extra cost.
• In-person graduation event at Aardman HQ.
Our flagship animation course devised and created by world-leading professionals from the multi-award-winning and independent studio Aardman.
The all-in-one, 12-week, Stop Motion training course with a focus on full performance including lip-sync.
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Full Face & Body Character Performance
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• 12 weeks.
• Weekly masterclasses, live online lectures, meet-ups, drop-ins, feedback and one-to-one mentor meetings.
• Full-head with replacement mouthset, tools and materials sent to your home at no extra cost.
• In-person graduation event at our Gas Ferry Road Studios.
Our second 12-week animation course, takes on the wonderfully challenging world of lip-sync and full body performance to sound.
You are not required to take part in Stop Motion 1 before you join, but we do ask that you provide a showreel that demonstrates a good understanding of Stop Motion.
IN-PERSON, IN-STUDIO TRAINING COURSES
Complete in-studio stop motion film production.
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• 8-month course. 6 months of which take place at our studios.
• Same number of teaching weeks as a standard Masters Degree.
• Full time. 5 days a week.
• Face-to-face teaching from world-leading professionals.
What’s the story you want to tell? In-studio stop motion is a unique opportunity to come and be part of the Aardman family for six months, learn from the experts here and work with our team to produce your own short animation.
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Our highest level of stop motion character animation training.Â
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• 5 weeks. Full time. 5 days a week.
• Face-to-face teaching from world-leading stop motion professionals.
Take your animation skills to the next level with hands-on, industry level learning at the esteemed Aardman Academy.
Taught by Aardman staff with up-to-the-minute industry expertise, you will focus on developing a professional body of work, culminating in an industry-relevant showreel to highlight your skills to global talent finders.
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Bridging the gap between industry and education.
Led by Aardman’s Stuart Messinger and featuring guest speakers from across the studio, this two-day event at our Gas Ferry Road headquarters is designed for academics, advisors, technical demonstrators and educational institutions.
Through talks, workshops and behind-the-scenes insights, you’ll explore ways to bridge the gap between industry practice and education, gaining practical tools and up-to-date knowledge to take back to your own teaching and training.
CORE FOUNDATION COURSES
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Taught by Will Becher and Carmen Bromfield-Mason
Led by Academy Award-nominated director Will Becher and veteran Aardman animator Carmen Bromfield-Mason, this four-week online programme combines practical masterclasses, weekly animation tasks, and an interactive online community.
With credits including Shaun the Sheep, Wallace & Gromit, Early Man and Robin Robin, Will and Carmen bring decades of stop motion expertise to guide you through core principles such as timing, spacing, weight, anticipation and performance.
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Taught by Jay Clarke
Led by world-famous storyboard artist and Aardman Academy alumnus Jay Clarke - whose credits include collaborating with Wes Anderson since The Grand Budapest Hotel -Â this four-week online programme combines practical masterclasses, weekly creative tasks, and an interactive online community.
You’ll build a strong foundation in the core principles of storyboarding, including staging, composition, shot flow, and visual continuity, guided by one of the industry’s most celebrated story artists.
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Taught by Jim Parkyn
Led by master model maker and long-time Aardman collaborator Jim Parkyn, this four-week online programme combines practical masterclasses, weekly hands-on tasks, and an interactive online community.
You’ll develop a solid grounding in the core principles of model making - from sculpting, wire armature building to detailing and finishing - guided by one of the most respected and instantly recognisable makers in the animation industry.
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Taught by Dan Gerhardt and Eva Bennett
Led by senior CG character animators Dan Gerhardt and Eva Bennett, this four-week online programme combines practical masterclasses, weekly creative tasks, and an interactive online community.
With credits spanning Guardians of the Galaxy, Gravity, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and Early Man, Dan and Eva bring world-class expertise to help you build on your existing CG skills - adding the extra polish, performance, and flair that define Aardman’s animation style.
Requires prior experience of software.
Find Your Aardman Academy Course
Answer a few quick questions to see which course fits your experience and goals.
Educator or trainer?
Which subject are you interested in?
Do you have prior animation experience?
Where would you like to study?
Choose your next step at Aardman
Choose your next step at home
Would you like a short introduction or a longer, more in-depth training?
CG Flair Foundation is ideal for animators with prior CG software experience.
Stop Motion 1
Beginner-friendly, at-home, 12-week training with weekly 1-to-1 mentoring.
- No experience needed; also great as a refresher for experienced animators.
- Full-body advanced armature shipped to your home at no extra cost.
- Live masterclasses, meet-ups, drop-ins, and one-to-one mentor meetings.
- Focus: character body, mime and pantomime; core performance principles.
- In-person graduation event at Aardman HQ.
Stop Motion 2
Next-level, online, 12-week training focused on full performance and lip-sync.
- Showreel required to demonstrate solid stop motion fundamentals.
- Full-head with replacement mouth set, tools and materials shipped to you.
- Live masterclasses, meet-ups, drop-ins, feedback and 1-to-1 mentoring.
- Focus: full face & body character performance to sound.
- In-person graduation at our Gas Ferry Road Studios.
Stop Motion Filmmaking
Complete in-studio production of your own short film.
- 8 months total with 6 months in Aardman’s studios; full-time, 5 days/week.
- Same number of teaching weeks as a standard Master’s degree.
- Face-to-face teaching from world-leading professionals.
- Develop and produce your story with support from the Aardman team.
Stop Motion Professional
Our highest-level, in-person character animation training.
- 5 weeks, full-time, 5 days/week, taught by Aardman staff.
- Hands-on, industry-level learning with up-to-the-minute expertise.
- Create an industry-relevant showreel to showcase your skills.
Stop Motion Foundation
Four-week online foundation in stop motion animation, taught by Will Becher & Carmen Bromfield-Mason.
- No experience needed; practical masterclasses and weekly animation tasks.
- Core principles: timing, spacing, weight, anticipation, performance.
- Online community, Q&A with Aardman talent, Alumni access.
Model Making Foundation
Four-week online foundation led by Jim Parkyn.
- No experience needed; practical masterclasses and weekly hands-on tasks.
- Core skills: sculpting, wire armatures, detailing and finishing.
- Online community, Q&A with Aardman talent, Alumni access.
Storyboarding Foundation
Four-week online foundation with world-renowned storyboard artist Jay Clarke.
- No experience needed; practical masterclasses and weekly creative tasks.
- Core skills: staging, composition, shot flow, visual continuity.
- Online community, Q&A with Aardman talent, Alumni access.
CG Flair Foundation
Four-week online programme to add polish and performance to your CG work.
- Requires prior software experience; taught by Dan Gerhardt & Eva Bennett.
- Practical masterclasses, weekly creative tasks, and online community.
- Build the extra “flair” that defines Aardman’s animation style.
- Invitation to Q&A with Aardman talent; Alumni access.
Lecturer Development Course
Bridging the gap between industry and education.
- Two-day event at our Gas Ferry Road headquarters.
- Led by Aardman’s Stuart Messinger with guest speakers from across the studio.
- Talks, workshops and behind-the-scenes insights for academics and trainers.
- Take away practical tools and up-to-date knowledge for your teaching.
