Games, Animation and VFX

OneSearch is a good place to start your research. However as you progress through your course you will need to develop your searching skills to incorporate other sources.

Watch the tutorial below for an introduction to searching or access our Finding Information page for more advice.

How to search

Click on the image above or use this link to view the tutorial: How to search tutorial

You can also sign up to our webinar for guidance on how you can develop your search skills.

We have selected some key eresources and individual journal titles to help you locate relevant material for your subject.

Eresources

Eresources are databases of articles from academic journals and specialist magzines as well as other scholarly content. Some eresources are subject specific and provide more tailored results. 

In addition to these key eresources you can also explore our full A-Z of eresources.

Eresource		Description
	SAGE	SAGE is a multidisciplinary database of peer-reviewed journals that features key titles in games and digital media such as Games and Culture, Animation and New Media and Society.
	ProQuest Psychology Collection	Full-text, peer-reviewed scholarly and scientific articles in psychology. If you're researching aspects of gaming behaviour, education or social contexts, this database is very useful.
	ScienceDirect	Leading database of top-quality science and technology journals. Titles are peer-reviewed and primarily comprise research reports. Good coverage for psychological and theoretical aspects of gaming.
	Taylor and Francis Online	Being multidisciplinary, this database is a good place to search for material on aspects of games, VFX and animation as applied in education, therapeutics, addiction and many others.
	ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global	ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global is the world's most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses with a strong representation from the visual arts. Theses are very useful for research as they contain rich bibliographies that you can use to expand your reading.
The below resources are useful for market research and industry information
	Mintel	Mintel is a market intelligence company, providing detailed insights into consumer and business market sectors. Here you can access up-to-date industry information on topics such as VR, streaming and game sales. Company profiles and trend forecasts are also useful.
	Statista	Statista is an online statistics, market research and business intelligence portal that contains reports, infographics and statistics on the gaming and film industry. You can also find information on specific companies and studios.
	Gartner	Industry analysis on trends and sectors within IT and media. Good content on VR and AR, UX and interface design and hype cycles.

Individual Journal Titles

These are the key journals and magazines we subscribe to for your subject. Browse the print journal collection at Brampton Road Library to discover many more. For a full range of titles check our A-Z of journals via Journals Search.

Journal		Description
	Computer Animation and Virtual Worlds	Peer-reviewed journal exploring theoretical aspects of animation processes, AI, virtual and augmented reality and 3D visualisation
	Animation Studies	Peer-reviewed jounal for animation history and theory from the Society of Animation Studies
	Imagine FX	Fantasy and sci-fi concept art and digital painting. Available in print in the Library from 2018.
	Cinefex	Magazine dedicated to use of visual effects in film with in-depth interviews and case studies. In the Library in print from 1999.
	Character Design Quarterly	New magazine featuring inspirational and educational articles, tutorials and interviews from top industry professionals on character design. Available in print in the Library from 2019.
	International Journal of Computer Games Technology	Peer-reviewed, open access journal on the developmental and technical aspects of games design. Available online from 2008.
	Journal of Gaming and Virtual Worlds	Leading academic journal containing theoretical and applied research into games, VR and AR. Online from 2017.
	Games and Culture	An international peer-reviewed journal that publishes innovative theoretical and empirical research on topics such as representation, narrative and economics of gaming.
	Animation	One of the few academic journals dedicated to research into the processes and products of the field of animation.

Use your university login to access films, documentaries and tutorials streamed straight to your device.

Streaming resource		Description
	LinkedIn Learning	Online tutorials on software including ZBrush, 3DSMax, Blender, Photoshop, AfterEffects, Nuke, Maya, Premiere Pro...and any other programme you may encounter in your course. There's also content on principles of games design, storyboarding, lighting and more.
	Academic Video Online (AVON)	Multidisciplinary video resource on a range of topics including social and cultural documentaries, news items and films.
	Anatomy.TV	An interactive 3D atlas of the human body. View layers of bone and muscle structures as well as animations to better inform your 3D modeling and rigging.
	Bloomsbury Video Library	Streaming platform featuring documentaries, masterclasses and films from all areas of culture and the creative arts. Search for video games or animation or use the browse function.

When using visual resources, you must be aware of copyright. The databases below provide access to copyright-cleared images for educational use. Remember that you need to provide references for any images of or works you use in your studio projects.

Appropriation is a legitimate creative practice that involves the reuse of images or works without making any changes to the original. However, unauthorised or unattributed use of images of art works may mean you are in breach of copyright legislation. This video from LinkedIn Learning explains the difference between appropriation and copyright infringement. 

Images		Description
	Creative Commons	Locate images under Creative Commons licenses for use in studio work and as reference.
	VADS	VADS is a carefully curated online archive of art and design. The archive can be searched by keyword or you can browse individual collections that pique your interest.