Character Creation and Animation

Whether you are a student, alumni, or pro — if you are feeling stuck in a 3D environment you do not understand, come hang out! We promise you will leave with your own character, your own pipeline, and a lot less fear of clicking the wrong button and burning down your workstation.

Type and duration

10-day hybrid course, full time

Course dates

14-25 September 2026

Course fee

None / free

Application deadline

7 September

ECTS

The course is not associated with ECTS credits

Course structure

Week 1 

  • Day 1 — 2D Character Design
  • Day 2 — Introduction to Blender and Modeling Tools
  • Day 4 — Character Modeling
  • Day 4 — Character Texturing
  • Day 5 — Character Rigging and Skinning 

Week 2 

  • Day 1 — Introduction to Unreal Engine and Asset Migration 
  • Day 2 — Control Rig using Modules 
  • Day 3 — Pantomime Animation Blocking 
  • Day 4 — Pantomime Animation Spline 
  • Day 5 — Polishing and Export 

Programme

9:00-12:00: Class

12:00-13:00: Lunch break

13:00-16:00: Class

Key takeaways 

In our creative and supportive learning environment, you will have the opportunity to learn from active professionals develop your technical skills in the art of 3D. Through lectures, assignments, and continuous feedback, you will develop the technical fluency to work across 3D software without fear, and the creative confidence to keep building your own characters from scratch.

Who is it for?

Animation students, alumni, and professionals seeking creative independence in CG – ready to expand their knowledge into Blender and Unreal Engine.

Prerequisites

  • Foundational understand of 3D concepts – models, textures, rigs (no deeper knowledge needed; we will build from here)
  • A solid grasp of animation principles
  • Openness to learning unfamiliar software without prior experience
  • Willingness to feel out of your depth – and keep going anyway

Deliverables and final output

A 15–30 second pantomime animation, performed by a stylised character you've designed, rigged, and animated yourself. 

Software and hardware

Software

Unreal Engine 5.7, Blender, 2D Image Editor (Photoshop,  GIMP, Krita, Procreate, etc.)

Hardware

  • OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit) – macOS not supported
  • CPU: Quad-core Intel or AMD, 2.5 GHz or faster - RAM: 16GB minimum, 32GB recommended
  • GPU: Dedicated NVIDIA or AMD card with at least 8GB  VRAM (e.g. RTX 3060, RX 6600 or better)
  • Storage: at least 50 GB free space

AVENUE

This course is part of the AVENUE - Audiovisual Education and Training Network for European Vocational Excellence.

AVENUE is a European network of Centres of Vocational Excellence that collaborates across five ecosystems to address the need for professional training and educational development in the creative visual industry.

Please see avenuecove.eu for more information about the many other AVENUE courses and excellent project partners.

AVENUE is funded by the European Union’s ERASMUS+ programme.

Avenue logo    Co-founded by the EU logo

Teachers

Fallback Description
  • Elana Felici

  • Animation Artist
    • Epic Games · The LEGO Group · Bobbypills
    • Artist telling tragedies through comedies and tinkering with Real Time tools
Fallback Description
  • Valentina Pantaleoni

  • Game Artist
    • Mood Visuals · NEAR Studio · Wooga
    • Concept Artist with a love for design and obsession for tiny details

Contact