The Senior Art department is extremely excited to begin running Animation as an after school club every Thursday. We have launched our sessions with a superb webinar from our very own alumna, Felicity Neal (2020), who talked us through her time studying a BA Animation course at Westminster. Currently in her third year she openly discussed the expansive opportunities provided such as visiting animation studios and sampling a range of animated techniques such as Stop Motion, traditional and 3D animation (using industry wide software). We were able to see some examples of her work in progress (animated shorts) as well as ask her questions about the creative sector itself, her course, and future prospects. 

Following Felicity’s presentation we felt it best to really establish the basics in our own club. We have discussed the origins of narrative, movement, sequencing and the all important animation principles. We have produced zoetropes, flick books and GIFs in our creative hub. Inspired by the genius of Nick Park and Aardman Animation we are now venturing into lip sync movements using plasticine and inanimate objects to make them talk. The claymation is proving a lot of fun and the Creature Comfort shorts have been essential viewing as part of our learning experience! We look forward to delving into the world of Stop Motion and computer animated techniques as the weeks and terms unfold. Watch this space… 

Felicity Neal’s University Animation – 

Mrs J Barrett, Mr J Lockhart and the Senior School Animation Team