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Character & Creature Creation short course

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Apply now (14 weeks) Apply now (21 weeks)

Course details

Location

Start date

15th September 2025

23rd February 2026

Duration

14 or 21 weeks

Contact time

2.5 days per week

Entry Requirements

  • Be over 18
  • Have a good understanding of written and spoken English (we recommend a B2 level)
  • Feel comfortable using a computer

Fees

14 weeks - London campus: £7,845

14 weeks - Live online: £6,100

21 weeks - London campus: £11,080 

21 weeks - Live online: £8,590

Apply now

September 2025:

February 2026:

Discounts

To be eligible for our discounts, apply by:

  • 23rd June (September 2025 intake)
  • 1st December (February 2026 intake)

Find out more

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COURSE OVERVIEW

Design and create your own characters before bringing them to life.

Our short courses give you the opportunity to study the first 14 or 21 weeks of our MA Character & Creature Creation degree. This option is suited to students who want intensive training without academic qualifications. You'll complete the first 2-3 modules of the programme and learn how to design, model, texture and present your creations to a portfolio-ready standard.

Why choose this course

  • Designed with industry - our advisory board of experts, from the likes of DNEG, Framestore, Rocksteady and MPC help keep this course relevant.
  • Learn from expert Tutor, Aidan Lonergan who's worked at the likes of Rise Visual Effects, MPC and Factory 42.
  • Get to grips with the software used in industry, including Houdini, Unreal Engine and ZBrush.
  • Work on industry-standard briefs and experience real-life scenarios, just like in a professional studio.
  • Receive feedback from industry professionals - an opportunity to level-up your work and build connections, ready to embark on your creative career. Previous studio partners for our Character and Creature Creation course have included VFX and games studios like Framestore, Rocksteady and Improbable 
  • AfterCare package - we'll help you polish your showreel and find the right job, with access to our studios and showreel clinics for 12 months.
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Meet your Tutor, Aidan Lonergan

Aidan has previously worked at Rise visual effects and MPC, one of the UK's longest-established VFX and animation houses, where he worked as a Rigging Artist. He also worked at Factory 42, an immersive and television content production studio, when he graduated from Escape Studios.

While at Escape Studios, Aidan worked on many award-winning films. He produced "Joe", which won Best Genre Film at the Heroes Film Fest, as well as the "Director's Choice" award at the Sci-On film festival and a "Four Stars Award" at the British International Amateur Film Festival.   

Having worked with our industry partners and studied at Escape Studios, Aidan knows exactly what it takes to break into industry and can support students studying on our Character and Creature Creation programmes. Helping them to hone their design, modeling, and rigging skills to bring their original characters to life.

Please note tutors are subject to change.

Course modules

These modules are common with the first 14 to 21 weeks of our MA Character & Creature Creation degree.

Module 1 - Character and creature design
6 weeks
  • Character and creature design theory
    • Moodboards
    • The importance of research, body language and expressions
  • Tools and techniques for creating character and creature concepts
    • Colour and background
    • Beat boards
    • Light and shadow
  • Using anatomy of characters and creatures in design choices
  • Analysing an established style to create character and creature concepts
  • Functional fashion in character and creature concepts
    • Costume design
    • Costume language
  • Establishing new styles
    • How to prepare a character or creature design bible for animation, outsourcing and videogames, and a pitch for comic publishing

Module 2 - Character and creature modelling
6 weeks
  • Introduction to ZBrush
    • Character and creature anatomy
    • High-detail sculpting
  • Introduction to Maya
    • How Maya works
    • Retopology
    • Anatomy
    • Asset setup
  • Introduction to texturing
    • Introduction to Substance Painter and Mari
  •  VFX and games pipelines
    • Differences and similarities
  • Lighting and rendering
    • Rendering in Arnold and Unreal Engine
  • Presenting characters and creatures for portfolios
    • Introduction to rigging for creating character poses
    • Directed project time

Module 3 - Character and creature technical direction
6 weeks
  • Character rigging in Maya
    • Creating advanced character rig setups
    • Introduction to python
    • How Maya really works
  • Creating cloth and soft surface simulations in
    • Maya and Houdini
    • FEM and Vellum workflows
  • Creating muscle systems in Maya
    • Advanced anatomy
    • Character FX pipelines
  • Fur and hair groom
    • Long and short hair/fur with dynamics
  • Creating character cycles for presentation
    • Walks and runs ready for final showreel presentation
  • Project catch-up week

For more details about modules, see the programme and module specifications.

More information


Entry requirements

Minimum requirements

We welcome and encourage applications from students with a variety of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

To study this short course, you must:

  • Be over 18
  • Have a good understanding of written and spoken English (we recommend a B2 level)
  • Feel comfortable using a computer.

If you’d like to discuss your circumstances before applying, contact us!

Non-UK students

We accept international students for our short courses, with no difference in course fees or administration costs. 

The Standard Visitor visa allows students to come to the UK to study for a course of up to six months at an accredited institution. Depending on your nationality, you may need to apply for a standard visitor visa prior to departure from your home country. For more information visit:  

Contact us on admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk or +44 (0) 204 570 5091 for any questions.


Online study requirements

We can provide remote access to our workstations during teaching time. Due to availability restrictions, we highly advise you to have your own set up at home to study in your own time.

More things you’ll need:

  • A strong internet connection
  • Cloud storage or external hard drive to back up your work, 1TB+ recommended
  • A three-button mouse or graphics tablet. Please note, the Wacom Intuos Pro range of tablets have the best support for our remote desktop software and provide the best experience.
  • A computer microphone (and optionally a webcam)
  • Note-taking materials.

If you have any questions about learning online or if you need help with what to buy, get in touch at hello@escapestudios.ac.uk.


How to apply

To apply, complete the relevant online application form linked below.

15th September 2025:

23rd February 2026:

If you have any questions about your application, your portfolio or our entry requirements, get in touch!

There isn't a formal application deadline for most of our short courses, but you may need to apply by a certain date to be eligible for our short course discounts.

As part of the application process, you will need to agree to our terms and conditions for your place on the course to be secured.

Fees and funding

Fees 

14 weeks - London campus: £7,845

14 weeks - Live online: £6,100

21 weeks - London campus: £11,080 

21 weeks - Live online: £8,590

Payment plans

We offer payment plan options for all courses. Following an initial deposit at registration stage, your chosen payment plan will break down your remaining fees into up to three instalments, to be paid before the end of the course.

Visit our admissions page for any questions about fees, funding and payment plans.


Software
  • Houdini*
  • Python / VS Code*
  • Wrap3D*
  • ZBrush
  • Unreal Engine
  • Marvellous Designer
  • Substance Painter
  • Mari
  • Adobe Suite
  • Maya

*Taught on the 18 week course (and MA) only.

Career opportunities

“Animation in the UK has a strong track record in character development and storytelling. It also leverages the UK’s global leadership in the artistic and technical aspects of the visual product.” (source Animation UK)

You’ll leave with an Escape Studios Certificate of Achievement, along with strong creative and technical skills and some great pieces of work for your portfolio, which you can add to with help from our Aftercare programme. Ready to apply for jobs in the industry!

Some of the opportunities you can consider once you’ve finished your studies include: 

  • CG Generalist 
  • Character Artist 

Our students have gone to work as both specialist and generalist artists in creative studios, across films, TV, games and visual effects. Read some of our Escapee success stories.

Check out our Careers Guide for more information about career opportunities and progression routes.



Why Escape Studios?

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