Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit consolidates your studio working practices, while supporting you to develop advanced skills and concepts in computer animation, character development, cinematic narrative and storytelling and directing. An important part of Advanced Concepts in Computer Animation is to encourage you to pitch, direct and project-manage animated works. This will bring a depth and breadth to your practice and provide you with the production management and direction skills required of an emergent animation professional.

Aims

NB: Information in this Unit Outline is subject to change prior to commencement of semester
This unit aims to deepen and develop your understanding of the design and production process in the context of an animated work through the exploration of narrative and cinematic exposition, production management and direction.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. communicate and pitch ideas and proposals with an emphasis on professionalism, design, efficiency and context;
2. produce project management documents such as scripts, storyboards, models, environment, colour roughs, animatics, design iterations, character backgrounds, time budgets, character rigs;
3. apply design solutions using advanced software;
4. understand the principles of narrative and cinematic exposition, specific to the field of animation and situate your own practice within this field;
5. reflect upon your work within journal documentation.

Content

This unit addresses content such as:
- the role of the director, in pitching and documenting conceptual content through animation
- advanced understandings of character animation - weight, balance, form, symmetry, single and multiple character animation, quadruped animation
- advanced computer animation skills such as how advanced animation concepts and technical processes are translated in software, including rigging, shaders, dynamics, editing and compositing
- how studio processes like storyboarding, acting, and drawing from life are consolidated
- design practice in the context of an animated work with reference to cinematic exposition, narrative and storytelling.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The teaching and learning approaches of this unit combine theory and practice. They incorporate studio content and the delivery of masterclasses, tutorials, industry presentations, guest lecturers, mentoring and peer critique. Production studios are structured as an intensive production environment, where studio work, will be supported by ongoing processes of reflection and critique. From time to time, there will be opportunity to work on University or Industry-based research and/or production tasks.

Assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information see the Blackboard site for this unit. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
The studio environment allows for ongoing communication and feedback with relevant teaching staff and peers. Weight: 0%

You will be awarded a final grade on a 1 to 7 scale.

Assessment name: Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description: (Formative and Summative) You are required to produce a Design Proposal that pitches a project by articulating the concept, context and proposed development of an animated project. You will be required to present this proposal and garner feedback from your peers.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Early Semester

Assessment name: Project (applied)
Description: (Formative and Summative) You are required to develop and present a series of project milestones which further articulates the concept, context and development of the animated Narrative. Supporting material must include a style guide, contextual review, timelines and process documentation.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 & 5
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Design
Description: (Formative and Summative) You will produce an animated project which exemplifies best practice animation principles and process, and explores a specific issue, idea or concept emerging from a contemporary context.
Relates to objectives: 3 & 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Late Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Required Texts

There is no set text for this unit.

Recommended References

Author Perrin, Richard (2008) Real world project practices, and project methodologies. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons

Gray, C. and Malins, J. (2004) Visualising Research: a guide to the research process in art and design. England: Burlington

Hearn, G. and Foth, G. (2004) Action Research in the Design of New Media and ICT Systems, Current Issues in Communications and Media Research. New York: Nova Science

Henderson, M. C. and Rich, F. (2001) Mielziner: Master of Modern Stage Design. New York: Back Stage.

Katz, S. (1991) Film Directing Shot by Shot : Visualizing from Concept to Screen. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions

Katz, S. D. (1992) Film Directing, Cinematic Motion: A Workshop for Staging Scenes. Studio City, CA: M. Wiese Productions

Miller, Eric (2008) Autodesk Maya techniques : hyper-realistic creature creation. San Rafael, CA: Autodesk, 2008.

Muybridge, E. (1955) Animals in Motion. New York: Dover Publications

Muybridge, E. (1955) The Human Figure in Motion. New York: Dover Publications

Perisic, Z. (2000) Visual Effects Cinematography. Boston: Focal Press

Reiss, Geoff (2007) Project management demystified. London; New York: Taylor & Francis

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 01-Mar-2013