The Media School

iPod view of BU animation

27 July 2009

NCCA unveils a new application for iPod Touch and iPhone users

A new application for iPod Touch and iPhone users is now available to provide mobile access to BU’s incredible catalogue of short animation and digital effects films.

The free application, which can be downloaded via iTunes, was created by Senior Lecturer Jon Macey. Macey’s aim was to make the work of students and graduates emerging from the BU-based National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) more accessible to animation enthusiasts, prospective students and representatives from industry. The initial catalogue available covers the last five years of projects generated through the world-renowned NCCA.

The application has already generated interest from the US, Japan, Canada, Australia and other parts of Europe with nearly 90 downloads in the first six days since its release.

“With a world-wide iPod touch and iPhone user base of approximately 80 million people, this application seemed a very good way of showcasing the best work of our students and graduates,” said Macey, Programme Leader for BU’s MSc in Computer Animation and Visual Effects. “Even if only a small percentage of iPhone users download our application, we should be able to reach a far wider audience than conventional marketing practices.

“We can also upload our students’ work more frequently in a format similar to our annual DVD-based showreel to let the industry to see productions more quickly to aid the recruitment of our students into jobs,” he continued.

The NCCA is the UK’s leading centre for computer animation research and study. The Centre has achieved BU’s highest research rating and enjoys close working relationships with leading companies in games, including Codemasters, Lionhead Studios and Rare, and film including Framestore CFC and Dreamworks.

In film alone, NCCA graduates have had their skills featured on most, if not all, of the world’s biggest blockbusters in recent years, including the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, the 'Harry Potter' series and the ’Shrek’ films as well as 'King Kong', 'Happy Feet', 'Madagascar' and many others.

For the past two years, 3D World magazine has rated the NCCA as the best place to study computer animation in the UK. The publication also rated the Centre as number eight in the world.