Dive into the magic of animation...
Northern Ireland Screen's Animation Academy is a unique industry-led training programme for young people aged 16–19 focusing on 2D animation skills, providing training and exploration of key job roles within the animation industry.
Whether you are already exploring animation, or only just getting started, the academy is designed to allow you to both create and develop your own animated projects. Using industry standard software with the support of creators working in the industry you will complete the academy with a portfolio to help you in pursuing a career in the animation industry.
The Screen Academy is offering sign ups for both Belfast (W5 LIFE, Odyssey Place) and Derry~Londonderry (Nerve Centre, 7–8 Magazine Street).
Course starts Thursday 2 October in both Belfast and Derry, with Derry's academy running weekly until Saturday 22 November and sessions in Belfast's academy taking place until Thursday 26 March 2026. Individual dates are listed in application forms below.
What's Involved
• You will be introduced to the animation production process from an industry perspective;
• Under the guidance of experienced professionals, you'll get to create your very own animated sequence step by step;
• Develop a portfolio to assist with applying for University, further education or work placements;
• Visit a number of the leading animation studios in Northern Ireland and connect with talented individuals working in different creative roles in the local industry;
• And the best part? You'll also get to meet other young enthusiasts like yourself and have an absolute blast while crafting your own awesome animations.
What You Will Learn
- Introduction to the Academy
- Adobe Animate and/or Procreate Dreams software
- Scriptwriting for Animation
- Art Direction and Design
- Character Design
- Storyboarding and Animatics
- Rigging Characters
- Animation
- Audio and Post Production
- Animation Series
About NI Screen Academies
NI Screen Academies offer young people aged 16–19 the chance to dive into the exciting world of the screen industries. Whether you're into film, animation, games, or visual effects, our academies provide free, hands-on training and mentorship to help you kickstart your career.
Courses vary throughout the year so check back to see what's on offer.
