Master in Stop-Motion Animation
Master the techniques of Stop-Motion animation by creating and developing projects to capture the attention of the viewer through this expressive, direct, material and transversal language.
Description of the curriculum
- Edition: 12th
- Teaching period: from October 2026 to June 2027. Final master's project presentation: June 2027
- Schedule: from Monday to Thursday from 4pm to 7pm. From April to June: 4h/week to be determined
- Modality: on-site
- Language: English
- Price: 10.520 €
- Qualification: Master's Degree in Stop Motion Animation awarded by the URV
- Credits: 60 ECTS
Presentation
The Master in Stop-Motion Animation offers a unique training at an international level of Stop Motion animation professionals, both in the authorial and technical aspects of the field.
The curriculum combines craftsmanship with technology, being both comprehensive and eminently practical. The study plan enhances the global and artistic vision of project direction/production along with the acquisition of a solid foundation in the fundamentals of animation.
All of this is combined with the learning of different Stop Motion techniques: clay, cut-out, pixilation, sand, light animation, rotoscoping, among others, with special emphasis on puppet animation. The educational model of the Master in Stop Motion Animation is based on the direct transmission of advanced knowledge and the experience of a multidisciplinary team of active professionals with extensive careers in both practice and teaching, including internationally recognized directors/animators.
Additionally, contact through workshops and masterclasses with authors, directors, scriptwriters, musicians, animators, producers, distributors, festivals, and multidisciplinary animation film artists allows students to acquire a broad and up-to-date perspective of the professional and artistic reality of Stop Motion animation.
The final goal of this Master is to provide students with the necessary knowledge to create, articulate a narrative discourse, animate, explore artistic possibilities, and build conceptual and aesthetic proposals through a final group project in the form of a short film.
Syllabus
The Master in Stop-Motion Animation is structured in three modules:
An initial module that covers animation production and direction, in which an exhaustive analysis of the processes of direction, pre-production and production is carried out — distinguishing the elements of Stop Motion animation — with a theoretical/practical methodology.
A second module of practical specialization in Stop Motion animation, in which animation with characters and the different Stop Motion animation techniques are explored in depth.
A third elaboration module, which consists of a final group project where students must demonstrate all the skills acquired and their autonomy before a panel of professional experts.
The classes of Modules 1 and 2 are taught intensively for three hours daily from Monday to Thursday (including some Fridays with additional activities); in Module III the teaching load is reduced to 3/6 hours per week to guide and supervise the progress of the final project.
The program incorporates a series of workshops with national and international guests, experts in specific subjects of the program, which will vary depending on the availability of the guests.
Module 1 – Direction and Production of Stop Motion Animation
In-depth theoretical and practical analysis of the processes of direction, preproduction and production — distinguishing elements of Stop Motion animation — based on an exhaustive knowledge of the cultural references of the technique.
- Direction and production
- Script. Audiovisual narrative
- Production, methodology and budget
- Cinematography
- Sound / Soundtrack for animation
- Postproduction/FX
- Character design
Module 2 – Principles of Stop Motion Animation, Techniques and Construction Processes
Theoretical-practical workshops will be carried out in which outstanding examples of each technique will be analyzed. During these workshops, students must experiment with the principles of animation and construction processes and apply them in the different Stop Motion techniques through exercises and guided practices in each technique and sub-technique.
Dragonframe (stop-motion software)
Fundamentals and theory of animation
Character animation:
- Part 1 / Introduction & body mechanics: Introduction to character animation, understanding armature, strike that pose, blocking, pose-to-pose animation + character, walk cycle…
- Part 2 / Weight & action: Run cycle, learn how to make a character run and introduction to rigs, jumps and impact, action shots, jumps, falls, rolls… weight lift I, character dealing with weight, heavy or light…
- Part 3 / Acting: Acting character performance going through an emotional state, two character acting, interaction between characters, acting + Lipsync I…
Animation techniques:
- Cut-out animation
- Sand animation
- Pixilation animation
- Experimental animation
- Light animation
- Rotoscoping animation
Character construction:
- Structure/skeletons/rigs
- Modeling
- Costume
Set construction:
- Theoretical and constructive fundamentals
Module 3 – Final Master’s Project (TFM)
Production of a short film in groups (4 people and maximum duration of 2’30”) that will require students to demonstrate all the acquired competences, as well as their autonomy in the development of the acquired knowledge. Once finished, said short film must be presented before a panel of experts.
- Script: proposals and development of the final proposal
- Production plan of the final short film
- Management and production
- Animation monitoring
- Editing and postproduction of the final short film
- Preparation of a project report
- Communication and public defense
Projects
Momma doesn't notice shit
by Sonya Nikitina, Juliette Gangl, Vitaly Ushakov
Teachers
Guest lecturers
In previous editions the Master has included the participation of:
- Tim Allen. International Stop-Motion animator
- Will Becher. Animator and director for hire Award winning stop -motion animation. From advertisings campaigns featuring to personal projects
- Paul Bush. Specialist in pixilation
- Thiago Calçado. International Stop-Motion animator
- Abi Feijo. Sand animator
- Carlos and Jordi Grangel. Character designers for animated films
- Caroline Leaf. International director and Stop-Motion animator
- Antoni Pinent. Experimental filmmaker and independent contemporary art curator
- Barry Purves. International director and Stop-Motion animator
- Adriana Vila. Experimental filmmaker
Collaborating companies
In previous editions the master has collaborated with:
Awards and recognitions
Throughout its eleven editions, the Master’s in Stop Motion program has produced more than thirty short films that have achieved remarkable recognition within the international animation circuit.
The works developed within the program have been selected and awarded over 200 times, participating in some of the most prestigious festivals in the world.
Among them stand out the Málaga Film Festival, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (France), the ANNY Awards in New York, and the Cannes Film Festival (France), along with specialized animation events such as Mecal (Barcelona), Animac (Lleida), the LAUS Awards (Barcelona), StopTrik (Slovenia and Poland), Animateka (Slovenia), the Manchester Animation Festival (United Kingdom), Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (Germany), Monstra (Portugal), Anima (Belgium), Chilemonos (Chile), Animation Dingle (Ireland), Animasyros (Greece), the Festival of Animation Berlin (FAB), Bucheon International Animation Festival (South Korea), Athens Animfest (Greece), and the Thessaloniki Animation Festival (TAF), among others.
This prominent presence at festivals reflects the artistic and technical excellence of the master’s program, as well as its ability to nurture new voices in the field of stop motion animation, establishing itself as an international benchmark in audiovisual education and production.
Carreer opportunities
- Direction, production and animation of audiovisual content in Stop Motion in short films, advertising pieces, bumpers, video clips or television series for advertising agencies, communication agencies, production companies, new media and multiplatform content.
- Creation of own animation projects, distribution for festivals and search for funding to create self-employment opportunities.
- Teaching of subjects related to animation and the techniques and processes of Stop Motion production in creative fields, primary schools, secondary schools, etc.
Admission and enrolment
Pre-enrolment and Admission
To apply for a master’s or postgraduate program at BAU, you must request your admission through the pre-enrolment process. Each application is evaluated by the program’s academic coordination team to balance the group composition and provide high-quality training.
BAU's master's and postgraduate programs have limited spots. The pre-enrolment process is carried out through admission rounds and remains open until all available spots are completed. Therefore, we recommend applying early to ensure your place in the program.
For detailed information on the required documents, the admission rounds and the steps to follow, please check the enrolment process for a master’s or postgraduate program.
Enrolment
Once the admission is confirmed, you will receive an email with the result and the instructions to complete your enrolment and confirm your place.
Two payment options are offered:
- Single payment (2% discount).
- Payment in 3 installments, with no additional charges.
Check here for full details on payment options and for scholarships and grants.
BAU students and alumni who have completed at least 50% of the credits for the Bachelor's Degree, Higher Degree in Design, or Graphic Design Diploma, or 100% of the credits for a Master’s or Postgraduate program, will receive a 10% discount.
Academic regulations for Masters and Postgraduate Degrees of BAU.
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