82711 Animation Studio: Animation Project Pre-production
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 12 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
In this subject students develop concepts for their major project in Spring session. The emphasis here is on research, ideas generation and story development.
Students work with leading animation professionals and academic supervisors to negotiate the feasibility and length of their proposed project and production schedule. Attention must be paid to the following guidelines in terms of film duration: solo projects can be between one and two minutes in length; duo projects can be between two and three minutes in length; and trio projects can be between three and five minutes in length.
In the first session, students are expected to take their project through research and appropriate pre-production processes (such as script development, pre-visualisation of key animation concepts, and storyboard stages and/or visual scripts). They should also be negotiating the formation of their production team, paying particular attention to the capabilities of their chosen partners and the needs and demands of the proposed major project.
Students are expected to provide content and context for their proposals by identifying key source materials and collaborators beyond their own experiences and discipline. The adaptation and development of existing narrative, visual, musical and textual material, and active creative collaborations, are integral components of high-level animation content. Students are expected to explore fictional and non-fictional, historical, documentary and poetic sources for their major project proposals.
Equally important in this subject is the building of a multidisciplinary collaboration process with co-creators beyond the course such as composers, writers, sound designers and illustrators.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
| 1. | Research, identify and utilize key creative source materials and properties |
|---|---|
| 2. | Demonstrate a willingness to explore story ideas and designs through multiple iterations |
| 3. | Self-reflect and position practice in a wider animation and cultural context |
| 4. | Communicate story ideas in a clear, concise and engaging way |
| 5. | Demonstrate organisational skills for the management of complex creative projects |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Professional attitude to clarity and accuracy of communication (C.1)
- Ability to present work appropriately to context (C.3)
- Ability to appraise, develop or redirect design ideas (I.2)
- Ability to independently develop new skills and areas of knowledge (P.1)
- Ability to critically reflect on work by self and others (R.3)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject contributes to the course educational aims to produce graduates with high levels of:
Creativity through concept development.
Communication and interpersonal skills through visual and verbal presentations.
Practical and professional skills through design and animation.
Critical thinking and research skills through analysis and reflection
Teaching and learning strategies
Weekly sessions of one-hour lectures and six hours of studio based workshops and tutorials. These studio projects are focused on a Problem Based Learning (PBL) strategy that involves students in researching and developing their own solutions to complex design challenges. They are not intended as a directly instructional process.
Lectures and tutorials concentrate on elaborating on the set problem, and encouraging students to take initiative in finding their own solutions through discussion, ideas generation, research and iteration. Students will be participating in individual tutorials, group seminars and presentations throughout the semester, and formative feedback will be provided in class. Grades, marks and feedback on final design submissions will be provided through ReView.
Content (topics)
This subject focuses on the development of narrative and non-narrative concepts for animation, and builds upon the conceptual knowledge, technical skills and aesthetic sensibility developed through previous studio and context subjects.
Students will undertake an extended concept development for animation, writing and designing a major project proposal for realization in Spring Semester.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Pitch Bible, Script and Storyboard
| Intent: | 14-20 page Pitch Bible with synopsis, character and production design, 2-4 page script and 36-48 panel storyboard. * See brief for detailed description | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2 and 3 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, P.1 and R.3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Project | ||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 50% | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | Range and originality of source material 40% Iteration and experimentation in concept and design development 40% Critical reflection on feedback and guidance 20% | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Animatic Edit
| Intent: | Animatic edit in Premiere or Final Cut Pro with proxy sound. This should be to length, ie within the time constraints listed in the subject description. * See brief for detailed description | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 2, 4 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.): C.1, C.3 and I.2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Project | ||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 50% | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | Concept communication via verbal presentation and visual submission 30% Refinement of concept through iteration of ideas and design 40% Professional project management and organisation 30% | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
References
Beck, J. 2003, Outlaw Animation: Cutting Edge Cartoons from the Spike and Mike Festivals, H.N. Abrams, New York.
Hart, J. 1999, The Art of the Storyboard: Storyboarding for Film, TV and Animation, Focal Press, Boston.
Hooks, E. 2003, Acting for Animators: A Complete Guide to Performance Animation, Heinemann, Portsmouth, NH.
McDonald, B. 2010, Invisible Ink: A Practical Guide to Building Stories that Resonate, Libertary Company, Seattle.
Meyer, T. 2010, Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, Focal Press, Burlington MA.
Noble, I. 2005, Visual Research: An introduction to Research Methodologies in Graphic Design, AVA Academia, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Pilling, J. 2001, Animation: 2D and Beyond, RotoVision, Hove, UK.
Scott, J. 2002, How to Write for Animation, Overlook Press, Woodstock, NY.
Tufte E.R. 1997, Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative, Graphics Press, Cheshire Connecticut.
Wells, P. 2007, Basic Animation 01: Scriptwriting, AVA Academia, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Wells, P. 2009, The Animated Bestiary: Animals, Cartoons and Culture, Rutgers Press, New York.
Other resources
GENERAL ANIMATION
http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/
CHARACTER DESIGN
http://characterdesign.blogspot.com.au/
Ben Hibon
http://www.statelessfilms.com/main.htm
John Kricfalusi
http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com.au/2007/08/character-design-primer.html
Nicolas Marlet
http://artofnicomarlet.tumblr.com/
Adrian Johnson
http://www.adrianjohnson.org.uk/
Hanoch Piven
ANIMATION
http://www.carlosbaena.com/anim_material.html
ILLUSTRATION AND DESIGN