ignite creativity
Youth Animation Courses for Ages 5-18
Sparks Film School’s animation courses help children to develop their imagination, skills in animation, confidence, creativity and transferable soft skills too.
All our animation courses offer practical, hands on activities and include making real film productions.
Young animators work on their own animation projects, taking part in independent and small group productions. They produce their own animation projects, working in a range of animation styles.
Specialist Animation Courses
Hands-on training in animation using a range of styles
Project Based Learning
Our unique animation courses use real-world projects to boost skills
Expert Animation instructors
Our team of expert animation instructors are all specialists, recruited from industry backgrounds and thoroughly vetted, including DBS checks
Commitment to wellbeing
We promote positive wellbeing for all our animation students. We celebrate individuality and nurture personal strengths
Learn all about animation
Animation Courses for Ages 5-18
In Sparks animation courses, young animators work on their own animation projects, taking part in independent and small group productions.
In taking part, they produce their own animation projects. They also work on a range of styles, in classes, animators explore 2D drawn animation, stop-motion, motion graphics and 3D digital animation styles.
Our animation courses are currently available for ages 7-14, although we plan to introduce new animation courses for ages 5-18 very shortly.
Take a look at upcoming Sparks animation courses below.
Animation Summer Camps
Book Now
Fall in Love with Animation this Summer
Join in with Sparks Animation Summer Camps to boost skills, learn new techniques and fall in love with the art of animation.
Over 5 days during the summer holidays, young animators will set about making their own unique animated movie. They will explore lots of different techniques and create their own work in a variety of styles. They will also collaborate to produce an animated movie masterpiece!
By the end of the week, they’ll have their own portfolio of work including short sequences and a longer animated movie project, ready to share with family and friends at the annual red carpet cinema premiere!
Sparks Animation Classes
Launching September 2023
Sparks Animation Classes will start from September 2023.
We’re excited to welcome young animators to weekly animation classes, where they can develop their animation skills, their creativity and confidence.
What to Expect from Sparks Animation Courses
Students taking part in Animation Courses with Sparks Film School will explore lots of different techniques and styles. They’ll gain a well-rounded understanding on animation and plenty of practical skills too.
Just like our live action filmmaking courses, Sparks animation courses will focus on practical activities, hands-on opportunities and child-led creativity.
Our animation courses will offer the same high quality provision associated with our other courses. Class sizes will be small, with high staff to student ratios to ensure everyone receives plenty of personalised attention and support.
Our instructors are all highly trained, skilful professionals with lots of knowledge to share with younger animators. All our team are passionate about the magic of animation and love to inspire the next generation.
Everyone receives plenty of training, including Safeguarding training. Everyone is also DBS-checked and fully vetted under our Safer Recruitment policy.
Each animation course offers a blend of creative and technical learning, which make our courses ideal for beginners or experienced animators who are looking to develop their skills. We’re experienced in differentiating and making sure everyone is learning at their own level and at their own pace, which helps to build confidence, as well as skills.
We provide all the equipment required, which for animation courses includes access to digital environments including the Adobe Creative Cloud package.
Find Upcoming Animation Courses
Animation Courses: FAQs
When and where do Sparks animation courses take place?
Days and times for Sparks animation courses vary at each Sparks Film School, owing to local availability and school term dates. Lots of animation classes take place at the weekend, as well as after school. Holiday camps run during half terms and summer holidays.
We recommend using our Class Finder to find the dates, times, fees and availability of animation courses at your nearest Sparks Film School.
Animation courses are new programmes and so may not be available at all Sparks film schools straight away. We expect animation courses to be available nationally by September 2024.
If animation courses aren’t yet available at your nearest Sparks film school, we recommend getting in touch to join their waiting list.
What equipment do you use for animation courses?
We work with a range of equipment in animation courses, with students mostly working on iPads and a range of software. All animation courses students have access to programmes within the Adobe Creative Cloud package, including Animate and After Effects.
We also use traditional materials for traditional drawn animation styles and a range of art materials for stop-motion animation styles.
What can students expect to learn on Sparks animation courses?
Over time, students on animation courses learn about different styles of animation, including traditional, 2D, 3D digital animation, motion graphics and stop-motion.
Students taking part in weekly animation classes cover the full range of styles gradually. Students taking part in animation holiday camps are more likely to specialise in a particular style at a time.
Students learn a variety of practical skills, as well as building up their animation knowledge. At each level, they learn new techniques to improve on their work, such as facial details or speed-based movements and how to achieve different naturalistic effects. We also look at editing for animation, working with voiceover and voiceover acting, developing artistic skills in drawing and modelling.
Along with the different animation skills and knowledge, our courses also support soft-skill development. Students learn communication skills, how to collaborate, how to lead and contribute towards projects, time management skills and problem solving skills.
My child loves just one style of animation, can they focus on that?
We encourage students to try lots of different styles and to step outside of their comfort zones creatively, although we recognise when a student wants to specialise for particular reasons. We’ll still encourage them to give everything a try and to expand their skills base, but we’ll also give them space to specialise and create projects in their chosen style.
What safeguarding measures are in place for animation courses?
We take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously. Almost all our schools are Ofsted registered (or are in the process of registering) and comply with Safer Recruitment practices found in UK schools.
Everyone is DBS-checked, fully vetted and works under supervision. All our team receive training in safeguarding and agree to follow our Safeguarding Policy.
There is always a First Aider on site at any activity and all our managers are trained to Safeguarding Level 3.
See more on Safeguarding at Sparks Film School here.
How does membership to your animation courses work?
Our holiday camp programmes operate as distinct courses and can be booked individually. Membership to holiday camp programmes is usually for the duration of the course.
Our animation classes run year-round and most students stay with us for several years as they progress through our syllabus. Membership to animation classes is available on a rolling pay-monthly basis, or on a termly basis.
For more information, please see details of our course fees here.
Do you accept childcare vouchers for animation courses?
Many of our film schools accept childcare vouchers.
We recommend getting in touch to see if your local film school accepts vouchers.
