IT'S a long way from the animated frolics of Wallace and Grommit, but students in Swansea have been learning all about animation — including how to break into the world of computer games.

This week has seen the Swansea Animation Days event return to the city's two universities, bringing the creme de la creme of British animation to the designers of the future.

Yesterday's lectures included one from Matthew Jeffery, global head of talent brand for Electronic Arts, the company behind computer games such as Fifa, The Sims, and the new game for Christmas, Mirror's Edge. He talked about how everyone can be a gaming animator, regardless of their background.

"The key is unlocking your potential and understanding how games are made and how you can break into the industry," he told the students.

He said he was looking for future designers to create characters and worlds which gamers can feel they have an "emotional connection" with.

"You have to be able to suspend your disbelief. When you look at Finding Nemo or Cars you're never seeing real talking fish or talking cars but because you can emotionally believe in those characters you'll suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride you're on.

"The key for us is that people have fun and entertainment in these difficult financial times."

Yesterday's lecture was held at the Taliesin Arts Centre within the grounds of Swansea University, but Sand, as the week-long event is known, is organised by Swansea Metropolitan University.

Pixar, DreamWorks, Ken Russell, Double Negative and Aardman Associates were all signed up to share their knowledge, while computer generated imagery experts behind such films as Dark Knight, Narnia, and The Incredible Hulk gave the week a Hollywood flavour.

The event is due to run until Friday, culminating with a showing of The Dark Night, starring the late Heath Ledger.

A spokesman said: "From humble beginnings, Sand has transformed itself into one of the world's most prestigious computer graphic imagery events."