Course Title: Write animation

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: COMM5927

Course Title: Write animation

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6088 - Advanced Diploma of Screenwriting

Course Contact : Program administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4368

Course Contact Email:Brendan.lee@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Ann Shenfield
Email: ann.shenfield@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 70

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

Enrolment in this course at RMIT requires you to have completed all first year courses.

Course Description

This course delivers the skills and knowledge required to write scripts for animation in both individual works and for an animation series.



National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VPAU312 Write animation

Element:

1. Develop story.

Performance Criteria:

Sustainable premise is created, suitable to an audience, production requirements and any program brief.
Story concept appropriate to animation is established for discussion.
Story concept is refined in story meetings with appropriate personnel.
Appropriate theme and story strands are formulated.
Sustainable character arcs are plotted.

Element:

2. Create scene breakdown.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Major dramatic beats are designed.
2.2 Scene sequences are shaped to develop story or story strands.
2.3 Beats of character arcs are designed and integrated into story.
2.4 Character point of view is established.
2.5 Visual and aural elements are integrated into narrative.

Element:

3, Write script.

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Script is documented in appropriate industry format.
3.2 Scene breakdown is followed taking into account any requested changes.
3.3 Visual elements are refined.
3.4 Dialogue is developed in character.
3.5 Drafts are revised where required and provided punctually.


Learning Outcomes



On successful completion of this course, you will be able to develop a story and write a script for an animation



Details of Learning Activities

In this course you learn through:
1. In-class activities:
lectures
lab work
teacher directed group activities/projects
peer teaching and class presentations
group discussion
class exercises to review discussions/lectures
workshopping of students’ own projects
analysis/critique of your work

2. Out-of-class activities:
independent project based work
writing and reading assignments
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.

SEMESTER 1
 Week starting  Class content Assessment due  Elements
 Week 1
(7 Feb)

 Introduction to animation production process



   
 Week 2
(14 Feb)
 Is there a preferred animation story? 
Visual storytelling and thinking,

   1
 Week 3
(21 Feb)
 Distilling simplicity in animation

   1
 Week 4
(28 Feb)
 Character: Creating effective, memorable characters


   1, 2
 Week 5
(7 March)
 Analysing techniques: toon/cel

   1
 Week 6
(14 March)
 LABOUR DAY    
 Week 7
(21 March)
 Analysing techniques: Stop motion

  1 
 Week 8
(28 March)
 Analysing techniques: under the camera

   2
 Week 9
(4 April)
 Analysing techniques: computer graphics

   1, 2, 3
 Week 10
(11 April)
 Analysing techniques: rotoscoping

   1, 2, 3
 Week 11
(18 April)
 Analysing techniques: cut out/collage

   1, 2, 3
   Mid-semester break (21/4 – 27/4)    
 Week 12
(2 May)
 Animation for Children

   1, 2, 3
 Week 13
(9 May)
 The documentary animation

   1, 2, 3
 Week 14
(16 May)
 Creating a surreal world

   1, 2, 3
 Week 15
(23 May)
 Writing for Animation vs. writing liveaction

   1, 2, 3
 Week 16
(30 May)
 Working with animators, establishing connections etc... Guest speaker


   1, 2, 3
 Week 17
(6 June)
 Assessment Week    


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Extracts, readings and additional references are provided throughout the course. In addition to hard copy handouts, some readings are made available on the class website, Blackboard, and others can be accessed via the web.
Recommended books will be discussed in class.


References

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


Other Resources

You require access to a computer and to the internet for this course


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, workshopping, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing tasks.


Assessment Tasks

To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment.

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 presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing tasks.

Assessment Tasks
1. Research presentation
Research presentation on an animator or area of animation to be chosen by the student (Due date to be arranged with teacher) 25%

2. Animation script and script synopsis
Write a final draft animation script and script synopsis. Students will need to also provide 1st and 2nd drafts alongside their final draft (Due May 20) 50%

4. Class exercises 15%

5. Workshopping
Drafting and workshopping of script 10%

Grades used in this course are as follows:

80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail

For further details on these assessment tasks and 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

Feedback:
You will receive spoken and /or written feedback from your teacher on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Late Submissions
Please refer to the course blackboard site for policy information including information on late submissions and plagiarism

Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

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:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;


Course Overview: Access Course Overview