Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2024

Course Code: VART6543C

Course Title: Create 2D digital animations

School: 515T Creative Industries

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4422 - Certificate IV in Screen and Media

Course Contact: Suzanne Thomson

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 8428

Course Contact Email: suzanne.thomson@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 35

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

In this course you will develop the skills and knowledge required to plan and implement design concepts and use industry animation software to create 2D animations for inclusion in interactive media products, short stand-alone animated sequences and basic games. This applies to any individuals who work in a team environment and report to a senior animator, designer, director or producer.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	CUAANM301 Create 2D digital animations
Element:	1. Identify animation requirements
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Clarify 2D animation requirements, including design specifications and storyboard in consultation with relevant people 1.2 Clarify target users or audience and requirements with regard to output formats and delivery platforms
Element:	2. Generate and assess ideas
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Review animations, artworks and other creative sources that may inspire design ideas 2.2 Generate a range of animation ideas that are technically feasible, respond to specifications and provide creative solutions to all design issues 2.3 Discuss animation ideas with relevant people
Element:	3. Plan approach
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Assess the range of 2D animation software to determine compatibility with design specifications 3.2 Select the most appropriate 2D animation software in consultation with relevant people 3.3 Evaluate initial design ideas and discuss with relevant people to select final design concept to meet production requirements and timelines
Element:	4. Produce animations
Performance Criteria:	4.1 Apply basic screen, visual design, communication and animation principles and animation techniques to produce animated sequences based on concept 4.2 Use animation software to import or generate sufficient quantity of key frames to establish required actions 4.3 Check copyright conditions on images from external sources 4.4 Combine animated objects to produce single sequences according to creative requirements and specifications 4.5 Integrate audio assets where necessary 4.6 Adopt safe ergonomic practices when using screens and keyboards for long periods of time 4.7 Save and store animations using appropriate output file formats and standard naming conventions
Element:	5. Finalise animations
Performance Criteria:	5.1 Review animations to assess creative solutions to design specifications, appropriateness to users or audience and technical feasibility 5.2 Discuss and confirm with relevant people additional requirements or modifications to overall designs or animations and undertake necessary amendments

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements. 

Details of Learning Activities

This course consists of 2 Units of Competency that are clustered together for delivery and assessment. The other unit of competency in this clustered course is: CUAANM301 Create 2D digital animations

In class learning activities may include, but are not limited to:

• lectures and/or lab work
• teacher directed group activities and projects
• group discussions and class presentations
• peer and teacher feedback
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection

Out of class activities may include, but are not limited to:

• maintaining secure daily backups of all assessment and project data to your RMIT OneDrive account
• accessing online tutorial resources
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection
• class excursions to events and locations outside of RMIT

Teaching Schedule

WeekTopicAssessment / Learning activities

Week 1	Introduction to the course. storyboards and basic shots. Commence AT1 Part A 1. Safe ergonomic practice and 2. Digital Integrity. Introduction to character design. Part B 1.
Week 2	A look at storyboards AT1 Part B 2. Different types of storyboards different kinds of shots. 3. Linear and non-linear storyboards. Part C Animation basics – introduction.
Week 3	Continue working on Part C animation basics.	AT 1 storyboard, research, animation research and tutorial.
Week 4	Attend briefing for AT2 Commence Part A: briefing, research, animation tutorials. Generating ideas.
Week 5	Work on the draft storyboards and character designs based on the brief.
Week 6	Present rough thumbnail storyboard and character design in class -  get feedback and document feedback Commence Part B refined storyboards – refined character design and  tutorials	Submit thumbnail and refined storyboard & walk cycle tutorial 1. AT2 Part A
Week 7	Work on  Part B refined storyboards - refined character design and  tutorials
Week 8	Work on Part B refined character design.  Complete tutorials.	AT2 Part B Submit refined and refined storyboard & walk cycle 2 tutorial.
Week 9	Work on Part C: animation   - work on the movement of the character.
Week 10	Work on Part C: animation   - continue working on the character movement. WIP -  work in progress
Week 11	Work on Part C: animation   - Finalise the character movement and finalise the background. Review the project.	AT2 Part C Submit  and animation
Week 12	Introducing AT3. Attend briefing. Undertake research. Generate ideas for draft storyboards and character designs. A look at Lip synching
Week 13	Present draft storyboards and character designs to the teacher. Commence work  on Refined storyboard and character design	Submit t AT3 Part A
Week 14	Finalise refined storyboard and character designs.	Submit AT3 Part B
Week 15	Work on animation – work on the character movement and lip synch and background. work in Progress
Week 16	Work on animation – character movement lip synch and background review the animation	Submit AT3 Part C
Week 17	Review and finalise assessments.

 

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral/written presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights. Full assessment briefs will be provided and can be found on CANVAS.

Assessment Tasks

Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency.  To be assessed competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.

You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria

Assessment 01: Animation and storyboard basics

In this assessment, you will research and explore storyboarding and animation basics, as well as demonstrate an understanding of the safe ergonomic practice and digital integrity. 

Due Week 3

Assessment 02: Storyboard and animation Project 1

In this assessment, you will research, plan, and refine storyboards according to an animation brief. 

Due Week 11

Assessment 03: Storyboard and animation Project 2

Building on your skills from Assessment 2, you will research, plan, and refine storyboards according to an animation brief. 

Due Week 16

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix for this course demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the unit of competency. These matrices are available through Program Administration.

Other Information

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview