Ian Friend

Ian Friend serves as Senior Lecturer in Animation and Course Leader for the BA Animation program at the University of the West of England's Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries, and Education (ACE). With over 25 years of industry experience since 1997, he has collaborated with Sony, BBC, Channel 4, Dreamworks, and Fox Kids on projects including Tweenies, Jellykins, and Frankenstein’s Cat.

His educational credentials include a BA degree and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) status, reflecting his teaching expertise. Research interests span Animation, Character Design, Storyboarding, 2D/3D Animation, and Audience Studies, informed by both industry practice and academic engagement.

Ian actively disseminates knowledge through conference presentations at Media Journeys, Manchester Animation Festival, and the Society of Animation Studies. As Course Leader, he oversees curriculum development for animation production and design, integrating 14 years of higher education experience with real-world studio practices to mentor students from conceptualization to final production.