Course Title: Design animation and digital visual effects
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2013
Course Code: COSC5381C
Course Title: Design animation and digital visual effects
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5218 - Diploma of Interactive Digital Media
Course Contact : Program Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4585
Course Contact Email:mcvet@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Ms Nicole McKinnon
Phone: 99254375
Email: nicole.mckinnon@rmit.edu.au
Teacher: Jessie DiBlasi
Email: jessie.diblasi@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 80
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This unit of competency is delivered in the class Animation 1. The unit covers the skills required to design animation and digital visual effects for a screen based productions.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CUFANM503A Design animation and digital visual effects |
Element: |
1 Clarify design requirements. |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 With reference to production documentation identify the scope of design projects |
Element: |
2 Generate and assess ideas. |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Generate a range of design ideas that respond sympathetically to the brief and provide creative solutions to design issues |
Element: |
3 Conduct research and experimentation |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Research aspects of content and target audience characteristics that might influence production styles and techniques |
Element: |
4 Produce draft design specifications. |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 In consultation with relevant personnel, evaluate initial concept ideas in light of research and experimentation findings and select the most appropriate approach |
Element: |
5 Finalise design specifications |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Present draft design specifications to relevant personnel for review |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will have developed the skills required to design animation and digital visual effects for a screen based production.
Details of Learning Activities
In-class activities:
- teacher guided instruction
- peer teaching and class presentations
- online research
- group discussion
- independent project based work
- workshopping of students’ own projects
- screenings
- guest lecturers
- teacher directed group activities/projects
Out-of-class activities:
- independent project based work
- online and other research
- independent study
Teaching Schedule
Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.
| Week | Class Content | Assessment | Elements |
| 1 | Course Overview: Design Animation + Dig Visual Effects Photoshop: Alpha channels/Advanced masking |
1, 2, 3 | |
| 2 | Simple shapes character design - The Simpsons. Draw recognisable Simpsons characters using geometric shapes. Scan drawings and colour in Photoshop |
Photoshop Quiz 01 (Formative)- Demonstrate your ability to make and refine alpha channels in Photoshop (Formative) | 1, 2, 3 |
| 3 | Photoshop: Pen Tool |
Summative A01 concept presentations (Formative) Present your concepts for Summative Assessment A01, concept art for an animated cartoon character based on simple shapes |
1, 2. 3, 4, 5 |
| 4 | Photoshop Quiz 02 (Formative) - Demonstrate your ability to create and refine paths using the Pen Tool in Photoshop | 1, 2. 3, 4, 5 | |
| 5 | Project structure/asset management |
Photoshop Timed Test 01 (Formative) Photoshop test to be completed in class. |
1, 2, 4, 5 |
| 6 | Studio class/re-testing | 4, 5 | |
| 7 |
Summative A01 - Design Character Concept Art – class presentation Character design class presentations/feedback - Present your plans, development, designs and series of high-resolution images (printed) that show your animation character in various scenarios |
1, 2. 3, 4, 5 | |
| 8 | Intro Summative 02 - Character Animatic |
Group Research Activity: Animatic (Formative) Research and present your findings on key elements of an Animatic to the class |
1, 2. 3, 4, 5 |
| 9 |
Summative A02 concept presentations (Formative) Present your concepts for Summative Assessment A02, concept + story for your animatic |
1, 2. 3, 4, 5 | |
| 10 | Photoshop: Replace studio background |
Group Research Activity: Script breakdown, timing and animatics (Formative) Research and present your findings on key elements of script breakdown, timing and animatics to the class |
1, 2. 3, 4, 5 |
| 11 | Studio class |
Photoshop Quiz 03 (Formative) Demonstrate your ability to replace a studio background in Photoshop |
1, 2. 3, 4, 5 |
| 12 |
A02a. Character Animatic presentation (summative) Present your 7 sec (Quicktime) animatic to the class using your character from assessment one. (Due in class Week 12). |
1, 2. 3, 4, 5 | |
| 13 | Photoshop: Fuzzyard Poster design + Group Critique |
|
1, 2, 3 |
| 14 | Photography portrait session - Take portraits in pairs using a basic photographic studio set-up |
Photoshop Quiz 04 (Formative) Demonstrate your ability to successfully create a PERFECT hair mask in Photoshop |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
| 15 |
Photoshop: Replace studio background + Group Critique (Formative) - Create an image using photographs (portrait) from last weeks studio session by replacing the studio background. A02b. Character Animatic documentation, and final animation critique (summative) - Submit your final animatic documentation/support material (via Blackboard) for your 7 sec (Quicktime) animatic. (Due in class Week 15). |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | |
| 16 | Studio Class/re-testing | 4, 5 |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
www.lynda.com |
|
Galer & Andrews, 2010, Photoshop CS5 Essential Skills, Focal Press |
Other Resources
You need to purchase tracing paper. Pencils, pens.
Overview of assessment
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, practical project work and through the application of learned skills.
Assessment Tasks
Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered as essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks.
To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete each of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment and a grade for the summative assessments.
Formative Assessment
Photoshop Online Quiz 01: Alpha Channels and Advanced Masking
Demonstrate your ability to make and refine alpha channels in Photoshop (Due online Week 2)
Summative Assessment A01 concept presentations
Present your concepts for Summative Assessment 1A, concept art for an animated cartoon character based on simple shapes (Due in class Week 3).
Photoshop Online Quiz 02: Pen Tool
Demonstrate your ability to create and refine paths using the Pen Tool in Photoshop (Due online Week 3).
Photoshop Timed Test
Demonstrate your ability to complete a Photoshop task within a strict time limit. To be completed and assessed in class (Week 05).
Group Research activity 01: Animatic
Research and present your findings to the class in small groups (Completed in class Week 8).
Summative Assessment A02 concept presentations
Present your concepts for Summative Assessment A02, concept + story for your animatic (Due in class Week 9).
Group Research Activity 02: Script breakdown, timing and animatics
Research and present your findings to the class in small groups (Completed in class Week 10).
Photoshop Online Quiz 03: Replace a Studio Background
Demonstrate your ability to replace a studio background in Photoshop (Due online Week 11).
Photoshop Online Quiz 04: Hair Masking
Demonstrate your ability to successfully create a PERFECT hair mask in Photoshop (Due online Week 14).
Photoshop: Replace studio background + Group Critique (Due in class Week 15)
Summative Assessments
A01 Character Concept Art
Plan, develop, design and create a series of high-resolution images for print that illustrate an animation character in various scenarios (Due in class Week 7).
A02a. Character Animatic presentation (summative)
Present your 7 sec (Quicktime) animatic to the class using your character from assessment one. (Due in class Week 12).
A02b. Character Animatic documentation, and final animation critique (summative)
Submit your final animatic documentation/support material (via Blackboard) for your 7 sec (Quicktime) animatic. (Due in class Week 15).
For further information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.
Grades which apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment, but which also use graded assessment:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competence achieved - graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment
For further information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program administration
Other Information
Attendance
The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. It is strongly advised that students attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.
Cover Sheet for Submissions
All students must complete a submission cover sheet for each piece of submitted work.
Plagiarism - RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. For more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity
Copyright
All students have access to the myRMIT copyright shell. The myRMIT copyright shell contains information on copyright, plus also examples on how to use copyright works as part of your projects and assignments.
Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration/online
Student Progress Committee
This committee promotes the early identification of students who are not achieving acceptable academic performance. The committee provides identified students with assistance and seeks to ensure such students are aware of the range of support services available to them at the University. Student Progress Committee (SPC)
Student Feedback
Students are offered opportunities to provide feedback through a variety of mechanisms including online surveys conducted at the end of each course or semester, student complaints and Student Staff Consultative Committees
Course Overview: Access Course Overview