Shaun Magher

Biography

At my core, I am a performance animator, eternally battling with the inner actor who is always fighting to get out. I am also a passionate storyteller in the mediums of Film and Animation, whether it is fiction or fact. I am always on the search for that compelling story to engage an audience.

Expertise

After graduating in Animation from the National Film and Television school, I worked as an Animator and Animation Director, with various studios, such as Hibbert Ralph Animation, Aardman, MPC, Slave studios, Manga studios, and then ran my own studios, working with clients such as Universal, Warner Bros, BBC, Channel 4, MCA, Virgin, Sci Fi Channel, Sony, J Walter Thompson, Saatchi and Saatchi and many more. 

Over the 4 decades I worked in industry, I developed a full understanding of making the highest quality outputs, whether short or long form, to specific deadlines and budgets, as well as fully understanding the processes of developing projects and seeing them all the way through production to final output.

I have made numerous commercials, music videos, promo’s, station brands and idents, shorts, TV series and features. I have also worked with many game developers, such as Evolution, Rare and Machine Zone.  I have won various international awards for the work I and my teams have created.

Journey to BCU

Throughout my career in industry, I have mentored studio juniors, prepping them to actively become part of our production pipelines. When I had the opportunity to become a Visiting Tutor here at BCU, initially I was reluctant, however, as soon as I began to work with students, I realised that what I had been practicing within the various studios I have worked in and run, with interns and juniors, was very similar to teaching. I discovered I had a passion for teaching and the opportunities developed within this university for me to become a full-time Academic. Although I teach full-time, I am still active within industry and I relish making various projects, but now, I always work with my students giving them valuable experiential learning opportunities, particularly working within live industry projects. I have been active in developing relationships with regional and national industry partners who are keen to help in the development of new talent for the entertainment industries.

Student successes

Many of my graduates now work as Directors, Producers, Self shooting content makers, Screenwriters, Cinematographers, Assistant Directors, Camera Operators, Sound Recordists,  Editors, Concept and Visual Development Artists, Story Artists, Animators, Character Artists, Environment Artists, Visual Effects Artists, Compositors, UI/UX Artists, Character Technical Directors and many run their own businesses throughout the UK. Many have also become primary and secondary school teachers.