Esmeralda
Van Bree

Esme talks about the highlights of her first year on our Animation degree course, and tells us what she enjoys about living and studying in Nottingham.

What do you enjoy most about your course?
My classmates, tutors and technicians are so much fun, and really helpful. I feel part of a community where we all share the same passion for animation and design. We can bounce ideas and experiences off each other, it’s really creative and inspiring.

Tell us about industry professionals that have visited the course so far
We took part in a workshop with a professional puppeteer which was really cool. Working in a big group, we created a large puppet using just paper material. We were able to use the puppet to mimic movement, which we could then consider and use on screen. We also got the chance to do some stop motion animation too.

What do you think about the staff at NTU?
I can’t say enough about the staff at NTU. From the administration team to our tutors and technicians, everyone is so helpful and supportive.

My circumstances are a little different to your average student. I’m not from the UK and I have a young family, but the University is really supportive and provides me with a really personal experience. As well as a great personal support network, it also offers me great academic support from experts in animation. Our tutors have an open door policy, which is good if I’m stuck and need some advice.

What do you think about the facilities available to you?
The facilities at NTU for my course are second to none. We have 30 brand new Cintiq touch drawing screens, solely for our course – other universities don't have as many and they tend to be shared with other courses. We have access to a great store where we can book out industry-standard kit, such as photography and video equipment, at no cost to us. We also have a brand new all-purpose film studio with a greenscreen wall and industry lighting that's right next to our studio space.

What do you like about living in Nottingham?
Nottingham is a great city and offers the best of both worlds. You've got great nightlife in the city, with lots of restaurants, bars and great music venues. But you can also venture a little further out of the city centre where you can relax and enjoy the nature and the historical buildings.

Nottingham is also a really creative city, there are so many galleries and spaces that are packed full of culture.

Would you recommend your course and NTU?
Yes, NTU is a great university. You’ve got all the support of a large university, but you study and work in a community of designers and artists. Our course leader is simply amazing and is the main reason why I would recommend this course to anyone. He’s so knowledgeable and helpful. The facilities are another reason why I would recommend the course, we have the very best industry-standard equipment, and it’s all new!