1. Systematically dissect existing visual and sequential narrative works for the purpose of extracting useful methods, techniques and approaches.
Analysis

2. Appreciate and comprehend a wide array of visual and sequential narrative storytelling devices. Knowledge and Understanding

3. Present visual narrative solutions in a variety of traditional and digital media in response to specific themes and character development contexts.
Communication

4. Commit your developing knowledge and appreciation of story art devices and techniques to original, practical explorations.
Application

Students will be expected to attend all module sessions in order to benefit from the delivery and understanding of new material, gain understanding of module expectations / tasks and to engage in weekly peer-to-peer and tutor feedback.

Work-in-progress will be reviewed weekly for FORMATIVE* discussion and feedback.
Students will not have access to feedback outside of session unless in exceptional circumstances and by arrangement.

Sessions of 3 hours will be structured as follows:
Part one: Feedback - 60-90 mins
- selected Blog/Task evidence for discussion (volunteer based with tutor steering)
-
(Short comfort break)
Part Two: Topic/Task - 60 mins
- Presentation/Lecture/Task brief
- Session will allow for a 10minute Q+A window before closing.

Each task will be scored by Students (with guidance by Tutors) – this score will act as an achievement gauge ongoing and will form part of the summative assessment and feedback.

All task activity will be undertaken in Self-Managed Time (SMT) with the expectation that an individual will dedicate nominally 8 hours per week/task (80 hours to the initial tasks + 34 hours to iteration and portfolio iteration and development for submission.)

Strict formatting and presentation compliance will be mandatory for all Blog entries to ensure easy access, reading and assessment.

The STORY ART PORTFOLIO is an on-line BLOG submission of learning evidence in the form of a series of BLOG entries with meaningful annotative reflection.

On submission of your STORY ART PORTFOLIO in the final week (17) of the module you will receive SUMMATIVE** feedback.

*Formative feedback is a method used to help us monitor student learning and progression. It is often informal and can be delivered by Tutors or peer-to-peer, in a number of forms.
Formative discussion is used as a method to give ongoing feedback throughout the course that you can use to improve your learning and understanding of the module content as well as help identify strengths and weaknesses or areas that might need greater focus.
**Summative feedback is usually given at the end of the module and is used to evaluate your overall learning and understanding compared to the module learning outcomes and our course benchmarks. Summative feedback is usually written but can be given in a number of forms.

Students will gain knowledge and understanding of the key elements that go in to the conception and communication of Animation film sequences – being readily able to demonstrate practical processes in a purposeful and reflective way.

The key aim of this module is for students to develop a tool kit for all future animation character and performance designs.

The skills and understanding acquired will form the foundation to further learning in L4 Semester 2 and your Second and Third years of study.

Learners will gain confidence in the rapid and intelligent communication of ideas and will develop an iterative approach to their thinking and outcomes in general.

We will emphasize the need for and encourage participation in audience feedback (both peer group and outside parties)

Tasks will include:
- 1. Storyboarding 1: ‘No Story - Boarding’ (group activity) Full session to open module
This collaborative exercise will quickly and creatively engage the new group and immerse them in the visualisation process. Free from the confines of a script, or framework, the spontaneous origination encouraged should connect learners with the raw possibilities and power of sequences images and the need for iteration and refinement. Paper-based traditional drawing only
Photographic capture of each iteration – for later assembly into a Time lapse for comparison

Task: Turn photographic record of the storyboarding process into a simple chronological video sequence - submit to the blog

- 2. Camera and Framing: Movement and Blocking
Feedback presentations / scoring
Lecture /Task assignment
Q+A
- 3. Costume and Props
Feedback presentations / scoring
Lecture /Task assignment
Q+A
- 4. Light and Space: Environment
Lecture: Exploring film/animation examples and isolating devices
Task assignment
Q+A

5. Storyboarding 2: Professional standards
Feedback presentations / scoring
Lecture /Task assignment
Q+A

TI / Tuition Slot: Adobe CC Photoshop + Premiere Pro

- 6. Colour
Feedback presentations / scoring
Lecture /Task assignment
Q+A

- 7. Storyboarding 3
Feedback presentations / scoring
Lecture /Task assignment
Q+A

TI / Tuition Slot: Adobe CC Photoshop + Premiere Pro

- 8. Animatic 1
Feedback presentations / scoring
Lecture /Task assignment
Q+A
- 8. Animatic 2
Feedback presentations / scoring
Lecture /Task assignment
Q+A

- 9. Animatic 3
Feedback presentations / scoring
Lecture /Task assignment
Q+A
-

Following the Lecturer/Feedback/Task cycle, students will reflect on their work and learning with the objective of compiling a Portfolio for submission.

Tutorial slots will be made available on signup and group forums will be used to guide and support student progress.

The Story Art Portfolio module intends to prepare you with pre-requisite skills that will enable you to develop Animation pre-production planning techniques and content at intermediate level and further.

This module content is designed to progress in parallel with below course modules where content and wider-learning opportunities are highlighted and Dove-Tailed:
PRINCIPLES PORTFOLIO
DRAWING FOR ANIMATION: 1

A series of supporting Technical Instruction sessions (T.I.’s) will also be available to all students to further promote individual learning, knowledge and understanding of Technical software.

Students will learn to understand and utilise core animation communication skills that will enhance and contextualise animation performances.

This module is delivered in weekly unit tasks. Each week the students will start by presenting their evidence from the previous weeks practical and reflective task. This first section of the session (normally 1 hour) will be dedicated to peer and tutor discussion. After a short refreshment break, the students will then observe and contribute to a Lecturer lead thematic briefing. In this section students will be introduced to a new topic, or topic element that will form the foundation for their next practical and reflective task. A short period of time will be allocated a after the tutor lead brief for questions and trouble shooting.

All practical work and accompanying reflective passages will be compiled to form a portfolio for submission.
Crucially at this point (and through the module as a whole) we will strongly encourage further iteration and revision of work. This will be an opportunity for the students to implement any feedback previously received and develop their work.

BLOG including practical evidence originals and documentary + Reflection (adherence to Harvard Referencing system).

The strategy of this module is to deliver in manageable sections, giving as much running feedback and assessment as possible. We are emphasising speedy and immediate practical and reflective reaction to each new topic, or subject and then encouraging further iteration of work based on live peer and audience feedback.

Your work will be supported by online resources from a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) providing resources for study. As the majority of completed work is submitted digitally this is an integral part of learning on the course.

Students will also have access to a range of video tutorials from online learning resource providers.

Group critique and discussion will support your studio practice through weekly formative evaluation and will take place throughout the module as well as at critical points of the semester to review your working progress. Students are expected to engage in this process as part of the module feedback cycle.
Summative assessment takes place at the end of the module where digital / online portfolios will be presented for final assessment.

Where required, booking of equipment and facilities may be necessary by the student.

ON-LINE READING LISTS WILL BE UPDATED ANNUALLY.
THIS IS AN INDICATION OF REFERENCE TEXTS REQUIRED FOR 2019-20 ONLY.

BAZIN, A (1967 / 1973) ‘What is Cinema?’ (2 separate volumes) Berkeley: University of California Press

BENYAHIA S C & MORTIMER C (2012) ‘Doing Film Studies’ London: Routledge

BRESSON, R (2009) ‘Notes form the cinematographer: Sun and Moon Classics’

EISENSTEIN S (2010) ‘Towards a Theory of Montage Volume 2’, London: I B Tauris

GLEBES, F (2008) ‘Directing the Story: Professional Storytelling and Storyboarding Techniques for Live Action and Animation’

HAYWARD, S (2000) ‘Key Concepts in Cinema Studies, 2nd Edn.’, London: Routledge

LUCASFILM LTD. (2014) ‘Star Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy’

VAN STILL, J (2005) ‘Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know’

VILLAREJO, A (2013) ‘Film Studies: The Basics’, London: Routledge

WELLS, P (1998) ‘Understanding Animation’, London: Routledge

Animation Studio facilities.
2D line testers and light-boxes.
A3 scanners.
Digital Animation Suite – Toon Boom Harmony. Storyboard Pro. Autodesk Maya. Adobe Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects.
Seminar / Lecture room with projector.
Stop Motion Animation studios – Dragon Frame. Canon SLR digital cameras. Lighting.
VLE: Blackboard / Digital Tutors / Lynda.com / other supporting Online resources
(Blog will be hosted through Blackboard)
Material & Make 3D Workshops - Plastics / Plaster / Metal / Wood etc.
Appropriate TI’s will be arranged


University Library resources: http://www.staffs.ac.uk/uniservices/infoservices/library/
Reference books / DVD collection / Journals and periodicals (physical & online)

Students will gain knowledge and understanding of the key elements that go in to the conception and communication of Animation film sequences – being readily able to demonstrate practical processes in a purposeful and reflective way. The key aim of this module is for students to develop a tool kit for all future animation character and performance designs.