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What are the top animation training programs in England?
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aardman Academy | Bristol |
| 2 | National Film and Television School | Buckinghamshire |
Our 2026 rankings of the top animation training programs in England.
For this ranking we only consider professional training programs, that is, non-degree programs such as certificate, diploma, and similar programs that are not formal 4-year bachelor's degrees. For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
1. Aardman Academy, Bristol, England, UK
Aardman Academy (Aardman) has been training animators since 2000. The academy provides in-person and online programs than can be completed in anywhere from four weeks to eight months. Examples include the four week Stop Motion, Model Making, and CG Flair programs; Stop Motion Character Animation (five weeks); Scriptwriting Professional (eight weeks); Stop Motion 1 and 2 (12 weeks); and Stop Motion Film Production (eight months).
Across programs, students benefit from courses taught by industry animators and directors; workshops; and partnerships with the experimenta.l. animation lab at the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, and Royal College of Art (RCA), among others. Upon completion of the programs, students will participate in a graduation ceremony at Aardman’s Gas Ferry Road Studios. In addition to Aardman Animations, program alumni have been hired at places such as Blue Zoo Animation Studio, Cartoon Saloon, LAIKA, Framestore, Passion Pictures, Netflix, Lupus Films, Mackinnon & Saunders, Blinkink, and Nexus Studios.
2. National Film and Television School, Beaconsfield – Buckinghamshire, England
National Film and Television School (NFTS) is home to Beaconsfield Studios, making it the only UK Film School with its own in-house television and film studio. The school also houses several advanced paths to study animation. Options include the Directing Animation MFA; the Animation for Film and Games MA; and Model Making for Animation MA program provided in partnership with Mackinnon and Saunders, with course collaborators from Aardman. Across programs students benefit from hands-on workshops; collaborative projects with students from other NFTS majors; workshops; and extensive portfolio development activities.
The culminating experience for all programs is the production of a market-ready animated film. Alumni are routinely hired at places such as Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros., Blue Zoo Animation Studio, Amazon, Blinkink, BBC, Animortal Studio, Mackinnon & Saunders, Aardman Animations, Time Based Arts, and ITV.