University of Technology Sydney

82025 Context: Design for 2D and Hybrid Animation

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.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: Design
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 82420 Context: Animation Character Rigging Advanced

Description

This subject introduces students to pre-production processes applying lighting, staging, texturing and rendering for 2D computer animation. Modern animation production requires an appreciation of hybrid digital techniques rather than simply one set of craft skills. The subject aims to examine the creation and integration of 2D animation in a matrix of production pathways and codependencies, including photographed, 3D, physical and drawn imagery. The subject expands upon the skills and techniques introduced in 82420 3D Modelling and Rigging Advanced, exploring hybrid production techniques including integration of drawn, photographed and 2D-generated imagery.

The subject builds further understanding of the design and production of animation using industry-standard software and work practices. Students are expected to understand broad design processes in the production of 2D traditional, practical and 3D animation.
Students develop 2D digital and hybrid techniques and gain knowledge of relevant software, demonstrate design and production solutions, and develop creative responses to the problems and tasks presented in class.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Engage with and manage complexity in production
2. Create assets that display a design sensibility
3. Demonstrate an innovative use of technology
4. Express and display a creative understanding of lighting, colour, texture and cinematic composition
5. Appreciate and apply professional standard practices, techniques and workflow
6. Apply and develop solutions to problems that go beyond software-led design and aesthetics

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

  • Ability to understand and challenge disciplinary conventions and practices (I.1)
  • Ability to develop unique aesthetic and movement languages for animation (I.2)
  • Ability to recognise the creative possibilities for animation technologies and materials, to experiment, to take risks, and contribute alternative directions (I.3)
  • Ability to demonstrate a high level of craft and production values across all methods of animation process (P.2)
  • Ability to work with production complexity, to breakdown, organise, manage, delegate, define conventions and archive projects (P.3)
  • Ability to undertake primary and secondary research, exploring a wide range of visual and textual materials, and connect research process to final outcomes (R.1)
  • Ability to iterate, reflect, edit and engage in self-critique and critical thinking (R.3)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attribute categories where:

C = communication and groupwork

A = attitudes and values

P = practical and professional

R = research and critique

I = innovation and creativity.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) are linked to these categories using codes (e.g. C-1, A-3, P-4, etc.).

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is delivered as weekly 3-hour lab sessions including an instructional lecture and one on one tutorial time to carefully guide students progress and understanding of concepts and material covered in the class. ln this respect, the labs provide a framework for continual feedback throughout the subject teaching period. Students are expected to engage with tutors in the second part of the class and discuss their work in progress around assignments or class exercise material. There is an expectation of a minimum of 10 hours per week of self-directed study outside class hours.

Because the subject includes active learning experiences where ongoing feedback is provided weekly at all on-campus sessions and labs. lt is therefore imperative that students attend all on-campus engagements. A minimum of 80 per cent attendance over the session is required and students must be punctual and arrive at the scheduled start time. The complexity of the subject material will require diligence and care from students as each week I will build upon previous material. lt is important that students catch up with any class material that they may miss due to absences and tutors will be able to advise how best to get back on track.

Group learning, working on projects as creative teams, is required in this subject and reflects the collaborative nature of the animation industry and modern professional practice in animation. The ability to work cooperatively and engage with your creative partners in production and development is a highly valued skill and an attribute that is sought after in graduates from the course.

Content (topics)

  • Developing in high detail location and environment assets for use in an animation film.
  • Developing a high quality main character model and design for performance in an animation film.
  • Testing, and iterating upon all designs and final assets.
  • Review and reflect upon outcomes and techniques.
  • Understand the strengths and limitations of the techniques and assets created.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: World Building

Intent:

Design and make a production quality environment and surround sound scape for a set within which animated characters might inhabit.
Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

2, 4, 5 and 6

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

I.1, I.2, P.2 and R.1

Type: Project
Groupwork: Group, group assessed
Weight: 30%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Work showing clear logical evidence of research, connecting process to outcomes is highly valued. 25 2 R.1
Evidence of understanding and challenging convention through originality 25 6 I.1
Evidence of your own unique aesthetic and style developed through iteration and recorded in your process work and engagement in class sessions. 25 4 I.2
Your completed montage should be at a professional standard with process work available separately to the finished outcome. 25 5 P.2
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Character Development

Intent:

Methodically creating a fully realised main character asset that is ready for animation film production.
Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 3, 5 and 6

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

I.1, I.2, I.3, P.2 and P.3

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 35%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Demonstrate ability to engage with production complexity as required. 20 1 P.3
Evidence of understanding, embracing and departures from Professional convention and practice. 20 5 I.1
High level of craft and production skill in design and problem solving. 20 2 P.2
Clear relationship between process and outcomes through refinement and iteration 20 6 I.2
Evidence of originality and visual appeal with a clear audience in mind. 20 3 I.3
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Animated Performance

Intent:

Bringing together your completed character asset work from task 2, your performance recordings as your inhabited character from studio, and your world building from task 1. You will create a short animated film of your character in your world to be screened theatrically.
Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

3 and 5

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

I.2, I.3 and R.3

Type: Project
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 35%
Criteria:

Your filmed performance is your guide for your animated character.

Your surround sound will be reused and embelished for your character performance.

Your world has been composited together with your rendered animated character as a high quality theatrical outcome.

Characters are carefully integrated into the world and feel like they belong in the same world - tracking, lighting, camera.
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Strong nuanced 3D performance that draws upon the live action reference and improves upon it, in the context of your animated character. 30 5 I.2
High quality integration and compositing of all visual elements 40 3 R.3
Effective use of surround sound 30 5 I.3
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

The DAB attendance policy requires students to attend no less than 80% of formal teaching sessions (lectures and tutorials) for each class they are enrolled in to remain eligible for assessment.