88308 VC Moving Image Design: 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.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject introduces students to the fundamental principles of 2D animation within a design context. The subject is concerned with the application of practical 2D animation techniques on emerging and established consumer technologies.
Topics covered include materiality, visual metaphor, art animation, abstract animation, kinetic typography, animation techniques, screen design, timing and production processes.
Students are taught to develop a concept for 2D animated content through the application of professional production techniques. This involves researching and developing a concept, creating design boards and 2D animated sequences.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
| 1. | Rigorously and coherently research, process, document and present information to a professional standard |
|---|---|
| 2. | Apply appropriate levels of technical skill in the use of new forms and/or technologies in visual communication design |
| 3. | Demonstrate conceptual and critical thinking in the production of a creative concept and final outcome |
| 4. | Demonstrate project management skills through the development and completion of final outcome |
| 5. | Develop original visual language evidenced through visual processing in creating an aesthetically resolved final outcome |
| 6. | Critically compare mediums and reflect on insights from assigned references |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Communicate an informed well-researched viewpoint. (C.2)
- Create designs that respond to their context in formally or conceptually innovative ways. (I.1)
- Advance ideas through an exploratory and iterative design process. (I.2)
- Independent development of high level technical and craft skills for the production, presentation and documentation of work. (I.3)
- An ability to critique your own work and the work of others with reference to standards drawn from contemporary design practice. (P.1)
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
Weekly 3 hours studio with the occasional in-studio lecture. A PBL (problem-based learning strategy) is adopted. Students are required to bring their own graphics tablet to the studio classes.
Students continue to develop their analytical skills, critically reflecting on the development of their work and its context. The studios are a mix of lecture and practical exercises. Lectures explore the historical and technical developments and contemporary uses of animation in the context of visual communication design.
Students engage in practical activities and collaborative peer group feedback sessions, with assistance by studio leaders. In addition to the subject outline, students are given briefing documents for each of the three individual projects and their assessable items.
In-studio lecture
The in-studio lectures will concentrate on briefing and elaborating on the problem at hand, the presentation of ideas concerning design, methodology, technology and production and the history and context of 2d animation
Studio
In the studio classes, students will be lead through practical 2d animation exercises covering the principles of animation and production process centred around visual communications design.
Individually students develop their ability to operate effectively as a team member and to improve their interpersonal communication skills.
Students will have time in the computer lab tutorials to develop their projects and receive feedback from studio leaders and their peers. Project-based individual and group learning activities involve practice-oriented research, visual investigation, idea generation, creative problem solving, critical reflection, analysis, progressive refinement and visual, oral and written presentation of completed work.
Students will be introduced to Photoshop software as well as working by hand in stop motion using Dragon software.
Pre-work
Students will engage in off-campus practical and online activities, the outcomes of which will be presented and discussed in the studio.
Further details about pre-work activities and assessment tasks are described in the program section of this outline and in the 3 project pdfs, available on UTSOnline.
Content (topics)
This subject will introduce students to the history, fundamental principles, and theory of designing for 2d animation in visual communications design.
Students will explore methodologies that reflect contemporary practice for 2d animation.
Through in-class studio exercises and computer lab tutorials students develop technical skills and knowledge to create their own unique visual language and apply this to differing 2d animation mediums.
Students gain an understanding of the role of 2d animation in visual communication outcomes and gain the ability to use technology to communicate.
There are 3 outcomes which investigate and introduce students to the processes of 2d animation design and production. The 3 project-based outcomes are as follows:
- Through observation and research, students will analyse and discuss how 2d animation communicates narrative, conveys motion and utilises visual design.
- Develop the elements for an interactive 2d animated sequence.
- Apply the elements for a 2d animated sequence that to emerging consumer technologies.
Formal assessment focuses on students’ conceptual approach including evidence of iterative design processes and visual refinement of the final outcomes.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Exercises
| Intent: | The purpose of Task 1 is to introduce students to the foundational principles of animation through practical in class exercises. These principles are the primary concepts that the students will be engaging with throughout the subject. You will do this by following the directions given in class and applying the principles learnt in the exercise onto your final task. The assessment focuses on gaining an understanding of animation techniques, visual approaches to 2d animation and how they can be applied to non traditional animation outcomes. Refer to Canvas for the project brief. | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2 and 4 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.2, I.2 and I.3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Exercises | ||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 30% | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Process
| Intent: | The purpose of Task 2 is to structure the student's understanding of the processes in developing applied animation outcomes. Through a series of pre-visualisation processes for print and 2d animation sequences, students will develop their work for Assesment Task 3 Through the completion of the pre-visualisation processes, you will further your understanding of professional design production methodologies, and generate design solutions as evidenced by the work developed for Task 3. Refer to UTSOnline for project | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 3, 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 and P.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Design/drawing/plan/sketch | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Project
| Intent: | The purpose of Task 3 is to practice the application of 2d animation techniques to emerging and established design contexts. Refer to UTSOnline for project brief. | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 2, 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.1, I.2 and P.1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Project | ||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 30% | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
The following text must be added: 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.
Required texts
see "other resources"
References
see "other resources"
Other resources
Animation Practical
THE ILLUSION OF LIFE : DISNEY ANIMATION, Thomas, Frank ,, New York : Hyperion, [1995]
THE ANIMATOR’S SURVIVAL KIT DVD set, Williams, Richard, 2008
THE ANIMATOR’S SURVIVAL KIT (print) / Richard Williams. London : Faber, 2001.
ACTING FOR ANIMATORS : A COMPLETE GUIDE TO PERFORMANCE ANIMATION / Ed Hooks ; foreword by Brad Bird ; illustrations by Paul Naas. Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, 2003.
ANIME MANIA : HOW TO DRAW CHARACTERS FOR JAPANESE ANIMATION / Christopher Hart. New York : Watson-Guptill Publications, c2002.
HOW TO WRITE FOR ANIMATION / Jeffrey Scott. Woodstock, NY : Overlook Press, 2002.
GARDNER’S GUIDE TO FEATURE ANIMATION WRITING : THE WRITER’S ROAD MAP / Marilyn Webber. Washington, D.C. : Garth Gardner Co., c2002.
SECRETS OF CLAY ANIMATION REVEALED / by Marc Spess. O’Fallon, Missouri : MinuteMan Press, c2000.
ANIMATING THE LOONEY TUNES WAY / with Tony Cervone. Laguna Hills, CA : Walter Foster Pub., c2000.
THE ANIMATION BIBLE : A GUIDE TO EVERYTHING - FROM FLIPBOOKS TO FLASH, Furniss, Maureen, London : Laurence King, 2008.
Story Boards, Information Architecture and Sequential Art
PREPARE TO BOARD! : CREATING STORY AND CHARACTERS FOR ANIMATED FEATURES AND SHORTS, Beiman, Nancy, Amsterdam ; Boston : Elsevier Focal Press, c2007.
THE ART OF THE STORYBOARD : STORYBOARDING FOR FILM, TV, AND ANIMATION / John Hart. Boston : Focal Press, c1999.
UNDERSTANDING COMICS : THE INVISIBLE ART, McCloud, Scott, Northampton, MA : Kitchen Sink Press, 1993.
DRAWING WORDS & WRITING PICTURES : MAKING COMICS : MANGA, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND BEYOND, Abel, Jessica and Madden, Matt. New York : First Second, 2008.
MAKING COMICS : STORYTELLING SECRETS OF COMICS, MANGA AND GRAPHIC NOVELS, McCloud, Scott 1960-, New York : HarperPerennial, c2006.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE FOR DESIGNERS : STRUCTURING WEBSITES FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS, Dijck, Peter Van, Mies, Switzerland ; Hove : RotoVision, 2003.
Software
ANIMATING WITH FLASH 8 : CREATIVE ANIMATION TECHNIQUES, Michael, Alex, Oxford : Focal, 2006.
ADOB
ANIMATION PRINCIPLES WITH FLASH [electronic resource] / with Chris Casady. Ojai, Calif. : lynda.com, 2001.
THE ANIMATOR’S GUIDE TO 2D COMPUTER ANIMATION / Hedley Griffin.Oxford : Focal, 2000.
CREATING MOTION GRAPHICS WITH AFTER EFFECTS, Meyer, Trish, Burlington, MA : Focal Press/Elsevier, c2010.
ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS CLASSROOM IN A BOOK : THE OFFICIAL TRAINING WORKBOOK FROM ADOBE SYSTEMS, San Jose, Calif. : Adobe Press, c2010.
Visual Research
VISUAL RESEARCH AN INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES IN GRAPHIC DESIGN, Noble, Ian, Lausanne, Switzerland : AVA Academia, 2005
THE VISUAL DISPLAY OF QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION, Tufte, Edward R 1942-, Cheshire, Conn. : Graphics Press, c2001.
VISUAL EXPLANATIONS : IMAGES AND QUANTITIES, EVIDENCE AND NARRATIVE, Tufte, Edward R 1942-, Cheshire, Conn. : Graphics Press, c1997.
BEAUTIFUL EVIDENCE, Tufte, Edward R 1942-, Cheshire, Conn. : Graphics Press, c2006.
Animation History
OUTLAW ANIMATION : CUTTING-EDGE CARTOONS FROM THE SPIKE & MIKE FESTIVALS / Jerry Beck ; foreword by Todd McFarlane. New York : H.N. Abrams, 2003.
ANIMATION UNLIMITED : INNOVATIVE SHORT FILMS SINCE 1940 / Liz Faber and Helen Walters.London : Laurence King, 2003.
PRIME-TIME ANIMATION / edited by Carol Stabile and Mark Harrison.London ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2003.
THE ART OF FINDING NEMO / by Mark Cotta Vaz ; forewords by John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton. San Francisco : Chronicle Books, c2003.
MAKIN’ TOONS : INSIDE THE MOST POPULAR ANIMATED TV SHOWS AND FEATURES / by Allan Neuwirth. New York : Allworth Press, c2003.
ANIMATION : 2D AND BEYOND / Jayne Pilling. Crans-Pr{225}es-C{226}eligny ; Hove : RotoVision, 2001.
PRODUCING ANIMATION / by Catherine Winder and Zahra Dowlatabadi. Boston, MA : Focal Press, 2001.
THE ART OF MONSTERS, INC. / Disney/Pixar ; introduction by John Lasseter and Peter Docter ; designed by Laura Lovett and Patrick Barber. San Francisco, Calif. : Chronicle, 2001.
WAKING LIFE [videorecording]. United States : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, [2001]
ANIME FROM AKIRA TO PRINCESS MONONOKE : EXERCISEPERIENCING CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE ANIMATION / Susan J. Napier. New York : Palgrave, 2001.
GREAT ANIMATION STUDIOS. FLEISCHER STUDIOS [videorecording].[United States] : Winstar Home Entertainment, c2000.
THE CARTOONS OF HALAS & BATCHELOR [videorecording] / The Halas * Batchelor Collection. S.l. : distributed by Hen’s Tooth Video, c2000.
THE STOP-MOTION FILMOGRAPHY : A CRITICAL GUIDE TO 297 FEATURES USING PUPPET ANIMATION / by Neil Pettigrew with a foreword by Ray Harryhausen.Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, 1999.
HOLLYWOOD CARTOONS : AMERICAN ANIMATION IN ITS GOLDEN AGE / Michael Barrier.New York : Oxford University Press, 1999.
Animation Theory
THE ILLUSION OF LIFE : ESSAYS ON ANIMATION, Sydney : Power Publications, in association with the Australian Film Commission, Sydney, 1991.
THE ILLUSION OF LIFE 2 : MORE ESSAYS ON ANIMATION, Sydney : Power Publications, c2007.