Course Title: Design animation and digital visual effects

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2015

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

 

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:

2 Generate and assess ideas.

Performance Criteria:

5.Generate a range of design ideas that respond sympathetically to the brief and provide creative solutions to design issues
6.Assess ideas and collaborate, as required, with relevant personnel to maximise contribution of ideas to initial concepts
7.Continuously reflect on and appraise ideas for implications on cost, technical feasibility, and creative requirements

Element:

3 Conduct research and experimentation

Performance Criteria:

8.Research aspects of content and target audiencecharacteristics that might influence production styles and techniques
9.Trial various techniques to test the suitability of their use in given design projects
10.Organise research and experimentation material for ease of access by relevant personnel during the design development process
11.Analyse and document research and experimentation findings for use during the design phase

Element:

4 Produce draft design specifications.

Performance Criteria:

12.In consultation with relevant personnel, evaluate initial concept ideas in light of research and experimentation findings and select the most appropriate approach
13.Ensure that agreement is reached with relevant personnel on a consistent interpretation of design and visual details
14.Create storyboards as required
15.Prepare or supervise the preparation of sample material to be included in design specifications as required
16.Write draft design specifications to include relevant advice to design and development teams
17.Discuss draft design specifications with relevant personnel to ensure that all requirements have been addressed

Element:

5 Finalise design specifications

Performance Criteria:

18.Present draft design specifications to relevant personnel for review
19.Participate in the initial and ongoing evaluation of design specifications
20.Negotiate and agree to additions or modifications and amend design specifications as required
21.Clarify the ongoing role of the designer during the production phase and in the evaluation of the final animations or digital visual effects
22.Review process of designing animation and digital visual effects and note areas for future improvement

Element:

1 Clarify design requirements.

Performance Criteria:

1.With reference to production documentation identify the scope of design projects
2.Identify factors that may have an impact on the design process
3.Participate in preliminary concept meetings to clarify understanding of design requirements
4.With reference to production documentation, itemise elements that need to be addressed during the design phase


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
  • teacher directed group activities/projects

Out-of-class activities:

  • independent project based work
  • online and other research
  • independent study
     


Teaching Schedule

Week Class content - semester 1
Assessments CUFANM503A
1

Introduction - Principles of animation
Introducing Assessment task 01:
Post-it note morph
Create a sequence of animation start with the initials of your name and have them morph into something.
Utilise the following principles of animation
- timing
- squash and stretch
- pose to pose animation or straight ahead animation

   3
2

Timing, squash and stretch, pose to pose animation or straight ahead animation
Continue working on assessment task 01:
Post-it note morph

  1, 3
3

Scanning and assemble Post-it note Morph.
Flash basics – using it to composite your animation sequence
Briefing  for Animation Project Semester 1 - Haunted hotel (Combined 2D and 3D Animation project).

    3
4

Post-it Note morphs to be presented at the start of class.
Briefing for Assessment task 02: Preproduction documentation for Animation Project Semester 1 - Haunted hotel

Assessment task 01 Post-it Note Morph due
 
 2
5

Character design - what makes a good animated character?

  3
6

Present rough character designs in class
Storyboards – what are they? Why are they important?

   1
7

Students will have class time to continue working on their assessment task and have an opportunity to present a  draft of Assessment task 02:Preproduction documentation for Animation Project Semester 1 - Haunted hotel – to get feedback prior to week 8 submission.

   1, 2, 3, 4, 5
8

Week 8
Presentation of Animation Project Semester 1 - Haunted hotel (Combined 2D and 3D Animation project).
Pre-production document.
Students to individually present their pre-production document

Presentation of Assessment task 02: Preproduction documentation for Animation Project Semester 1 - Haunted hotel  1, 2, 3, 4, 5
9 Briefing for Assessment task 03: Create a hand-drawn Walk cycle pencil test   3
10

Present your pencil test walk cycle in class
Different animation styles
– Frame by frame animation
– puppet style animation
Briefing for Assessment task 04: Creating a puppet style walk cycle in Flash

Assessment task 03:
Walk cycle pencil test due
 3
11

A look at walk cycles
Assessment task 04: Creating a puppet style walk cycle
in class assessment.

Assessment task 04: Creating a puppet style walk cycle 3
12

Briefing for Assessment task 05: Complete animation and title sequence for Animation Project for Semester 1 - Haunted hotel (Combined 2D and 3D Animation project) and presentation.  

   1, 2, 3
13

Work on Assessment task 05: Complete animation and title sequence for Animation Project for Semester 1 - Haunted hotel (Combined 2D and 3D Animation project) and get feedback and looking at different animation software and techniques.

   1, 2, 3
14 Work on Assessment task 05: Complete animation and title sequence for Animation Project for Semester 1 - Haunted hotel (Combined 2D and 3D Animation project) and get feedback and looking at different animation software and techniques.   1, 2, 3
15 Work on Assessment task 05: Complete animation and title sequence for Animation Project for Semester 1 - Haunted hotel (Combined 2D and 3D Animation project) and get feedback and looking at different animation software and techniques. Assessment task 05: Complete animation and title sequence for Animation Project for Semester 1 - Haunted hotel and presentation. 1, 2, 3
16 Presentation of Work on Assessment task 05: Complete animation and title sequence for Animation Project for Semester 1 - Haunted hotel  and get feedback and looking at different animation software and techniques.   1, 2, 3
       
Week Class content - semester 2 - TBA Assessments CUFANM503A
       


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

Williams, R, The Animator’s Survival Kit
Blair, P, Cartoon Animation

You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information.


Other Resources

You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information.

Williams, R, The Animator’s Survival Kit
Blair, P, Cartoon Animation

Other resources

You need to purchase tracing paper. Pencils, pens.

Students work needs to be backed up so some  sort of hard drive needs to be purchased for this purpose.


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 ongoing throughout the course and will include both ungraded and graded assessments. To demonstrate competency in this course you need to complete each one of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive verbal feedback on all assessment from either your teacher or peer (student) feedback.

SEMESTER 1

Assessment task 01: Post-it note morph
Create a sequence of animation start with the initials of your name and have them morph into something.
Utilise the following principles of animation
- timing
- squash and stretch
- pose to pose animation or straight ahead animation
Due: Week 04
(A detailed Assessment Task brief will be available on Blackboard in the Design Studio 1 Assessment task folder).
(Ungraded)

Assessment task 02: Preproduction documentation for Animation Project Semester 1 - Haunted hotel and presentation.
(A detailed Assessment Task brief will be available on Blackboard in the Design Studio 1 Assessment task folder).
Due: week 08
(Graded)
(This assessment task forms part of the assessment the following units of competency:
Design animation and digital visual effects CUFANM503A and
Create 3D digital environments CUFANM502A.)


Assessment task 03: Create a hand-drawn Walk cycle pencil test
(A detailed Assessment Task brief will be available on Blackboard in the Design Studio 1 Assessment task folder).
Due: Week 10
(Ungraded)

Assessment task 04: Creating a puppet style walk cycle in Flash
in class assessment.
(A detailed Assessment Task brief will be available on Blackboard in the Design Studio 1 Assessment task folder).
Due: Week 11
(Ungraded)

Assessment task 05: Complete animation and title sequence for Animation Project for Semester 1 - Haunted hotel (Combined 2D and 3D Animation project) and presentation.
(A detailed Assessment Task brief will be available on Blackboard in the Design Studio 1 Assessment task folder).
Due: Week 15
(Graded)
(This assessment task forms part of the assessment the following units of competency:
Design animation and digital visual effects CUFANM503A and Create 3D digital environments CUFANM502A.)

See Assessment task briefs for full details in the Animation 01 Assessment task folder on Blackboard.

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
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment


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 you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Cover Sheet for Submissions
You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work. This signed sheet acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process through which people can gain entry to, or credit in, recognised courses based on competencies gained. The competencies may have been gained through experience in the workplace, in voluntary work, in social or domestic activities or through informal or formal training or other life experiences. Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) applies if a student has previously successfully completed the requirements of a unit of competency or module and is now required to be reassessed to ensure that the competency has been maintained.

Assessment and Feedback
You will receive verbal feedback during scheduled class times, and written feedback from teachers on your work . Where appropriate, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential.

Special consideration for 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. You can apply in writing for up to a week’s extension from your course teacher. If you need a longer extension, you will need to apply for special consideration.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity

Course Overview: Access Course Overview