54419 Storyboard Development
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): (82120 Animation Studio: Foundations in Animation Language OR 54403 Studio: Foundations in Animation Language) AND (54409 Context: Introduction to Hybrid Animation OR 82221 Context: Introduction to 3D and 2D Hybrid Animation)
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 54416 Storyboard Development AND 88408 Animation Story Development
Description
In this subject, students learn the principles of how to approach and develop a storyboard for animated film and television and the specific creative and technical responsibilities required, relevant to industry practice.
Working from a supplied script, topics covered include cinema language, use of camera, continuity, composition, and storytelling. Students visualise a script using storyboard techniques and experiment with ways to communicate ideas through sequential narrative, resulting in a high-level pre-production storyboard and animatic with sound.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| a. | Understand cinema language |
|---|---|
| b. | Develop ability to visually communicate narrative structure |
| c. | Explore iteration and editorial process |
| d. | Engage in professional standards and practice |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
- Apply fundamental and higher-level animation and cinematic principles with understanding and professional proficiency. (1.1)
- Integrate risk taking and experimentation through development of unique aesthetics, techniques and movement languages in animation. (2.4)
- Possess well-developed skills and proficiencies to present and communicate narrative, complexity and abstract ideas with precision. (6.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject includes weekly tutorials, providing active learning experiences conducted in computer labs . Students are also encouraged to take initiative in finding their own solutions through self-initiated study, critical thinking and research skills through analysis of examples and texts suggested in class.
The subject employs design professionals as mentors to ensure that all content and tasks are relevant to current professional practice in a global context.
In the computer labs, students work on the fundamentals of visual storytelling, with a mentor. Presentation of relevant weekly content, framed within global contemporary practice, will include videos, and discussion of case studies. Students are provided with individual feedback during the class as they work on individual tasks and will receive further feedback in Review at each assessment task submission. Verbal feedback is provided pre census dates and remains ongoing throughout the semester.
It is the students' responsibility to keep a written documentation of any feedback provided in the studio classes and during presentations.
Weekly computer lab workshops are complemented by independent student learning of a minimum of 3hrs/wk of self-directed study. Independent study is supported by online content provided in the weekly program in Canvas.
Content (topics)
Topics covered involve the language of cinema, script analysis, effective visual storytelling, and pre-production processes in the Animation studio pipeline relevant to contemporary Industry practice.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Storyboard Exercises and Script -Work in Progress
| Objective(s): | a, b and c | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1.PDF submission of 20 -25 slides of the in-class storyboard exercises. 2. Submission of visual storyboard panels of the WIP of the script, in two different formats- a. PDF, aprox 20 – 25 slides. b. QuickTime mov. file as an animatic with sound and dialogue. Aprox 30 -50 seconds. | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Final Storyboard and Animatic
| Objective(s): | a, b, c and d | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 60% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1.Final, QuickTime mov.file, aprox 1. 5 – 2 minutes long, containing fully developed and timed out animatic with dialogue and sound. 2.Finished storyboard as a PDF document, of the above. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
Attendance Requirement
Attendance at classes is essential in this subject. Classes are based on a collaborative approach that involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas with other students and the tutor to build capacities towards meeting the subject learning objectives. A roll will be taken at each class (whether on campus or online). Students who have more than two absences from class will be refused marking of their final assessment (see Rule 3.8)
References
Blazer, L. (2019). Animated Storytelling. Peachpit Press.
Buchan, S. (Ed.). (2007). Animated Worlds. Indiana University Press.
Furniss, M. (2007).?Art in motion?: animation aesthetics?(2nd ed.). John Libbey.
Hans Bacher. (2012).?Dream Worlds: Production Design for Animation. CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780080926926
Hooks, E. (2017). Acting for animators. Routledge.
Mateu-Mestre, M. (2010). Framed ink: drawing and composition for visual storytellers. Design Studio Press.
Murch, W. (2001).?In the blink of an eye?: a perspective on film editing?(2nd ed.). Silman-James Press.
Parr, P. (2016).?Sketching for animation?: developing ideas, characters and layouts in your sketchbook?([First edition].). Fairchild Books, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Von Rosen, A., & Kjellmer, V. (Eds.). (2021). Scenography and Art History: Performance Design and Visual Culture. Bloomsbury Publishing.