UTS Animal Logic Academy

LEARN ANIMATION THE WAY IT’S MADE

What if studying animation felt more like working in a studio than sitting in a classroom?

At the Animal Logic Academy, students learn by doing - working together in specialised roles to create real 3D animated films from concept through to final frame.

In this piece, we go behind the scenes of ‘Alone’, a short film created as part of the Master of Animation and Visualisation, and explore how this collaborative, production-based approach shapes the way students learn.

Hear from graduates Sam Reilly and Ildy Izso as they share what it’s like to be part of that process - navigating challenges, working as a team, and building the skills needed to step into industry.

It’s a look at how hands-on experience can transform the way you learn animation and where that journey can lead.

https://www.uts.edu.au/stories/animation-behind-the-scenes

KICKING OFF STUDIO 2!

Studio 2 is now underway for our Master of Animation and Visualisation students.

In Week 1, students worked in interdisciplinary teams to develop and pitch their project ideas, bringing together creative direction and technical thinking from the outset. This studio focuses on emerging visualisation technologies, challenging students to respond to a client-style brief and carry a project through a full production pipeline.

At the end of the week, teams presented their concepts to an industry panel featuring Juri Bryan (Alt.vfx), Phil Lange (Fin Design + Effects), and Matt Estela (Google), gaining valuable feedback as they prepare to move into production.

Over the coming weeks, students will refine their work within small, studio-style teams, taking part in regular review sessions that mirror industry practice. Alongside collaboration and problem-solving, they will explore emerging workflows and technologies while building a deeper understanding of how creative and technical decisions come together in production.

It is great to see these ideas begin to take shape as teams start their journey from pitch to final delivery!

ONLINE PREMIERE - ONIKO

We’re excited to finally share 'Oniko' online following its world premiere at the Melbourne International Animation Festival 2026.

Created by our 2025 Master of Animation and Visualisation cohort, the film is a dark, stylised animated short set in Edo-period Japan. It follows a hunted princess fleeing through snow and storm with her newborn child, forced to confront a terrifying secret in order to survive.

Blending hand-drawn aesthetics with a modern 3D pipeline, it showcases how stylised visual design and technical workflows come together to shape a cinematic look.

Congratulations to the talented team of students who brought this ambitious project to life. From its striking visual direction to its technical innovation, 'Oniko' is a fantastic example of the creativity, collaboration, and craft developed throughout the master’s program.

Watch it on YouTube now!

Oniko (Full Film) 'Oniko' is a dark, stylised animated short set in Edo-period Japan, where a princess is forced to flee her snowbound castle with her newborn as samurai hunt ...

WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING OF ‘ONIKO’ – MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL 2026

We are proud to share that both of our 2025 Master of Animation and Visualisation student projects, ‘Oniko’ and ‘Occupational Hazard’, have been selected to compete at the Melbourne International Animation Festival 2026 -

https://miaf.net/

‘Occupational Hazard’ will screen in the Australian Student Showcase, followed by the world premiere of ‘Oniko’ in the Australian Showcase, as part of the Opening Night program.

Created as major collaborative projects, these films reflect the creativity, innovation, and technical skill our students develop throughout their studies.

Discover how you can be part of future projects like these by exploring our postgraduate programs -

https://www.uts.edu.au/about/faculties/design-and-society/animal-logic-academy

We’ve reached a major milestone on this year’s studio project - the approval of our 2D character lineup!

As part of our animated feature pipeline, we invest heavily in pre-production, particularly in the exploration and design of our characters. This phase is where ideas are tested, pushed, and refined to ensure each character feels distinct, engaging, and grounded in the world of the film.

Once approved, these designs are handed over to our 3D modelling team, where they begin the transition from concept to fully realised assets.

It’s a critical stage of the process, and one that has a huge impact on the strength of the final film.

If this kind of work interests you, keep an eye out - applications for next year’s program will be opening soon.

We’re excited to welcome our tenth Master of Animation and Visualisation cohort as they begin their journey with us here at the Academy.

Following a packed orientation full of creative challenges, students began developing story ideas for their 3D animated short film. They’re now hard at work in their specialised departments, moving into the early stages of production and bringing their big ideas to life.

And this is only the beginning – keep an eye out for behind-the-scenes moments and project updates as the year unfolds!