1. On completion of this module, you will be able to understand the mechanics of human anatomy as it relates to professional animated characters and foresee mechanical limitations and vulnerabilities of created characters.
Analysis (4)

2. On completion of this module, you will be able to work within the existing constraints of character designs through awareness of their hidden construction principles.
Learning (2)

3. On completion of this module, you will be able to create and maintain industry level characters operating in different mediums.
Application (7)

4. On completion of this module, you will be able to react appropriately to unforeseen technical aspects of working with pre-built characters.
Problem Solving (5)

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.

On submission of your completed work in the final week of the module you will receive SUMMATIVE** feedback.

This module is assessed as a portfolio worth 100% of the final mark (Learning Outcomes 4, 2, 7, 5)

Part One; Stop Motion, 33% of Portfolio.
• Stop Motion Character. (Learning Outcomes 4, 7)
• Showreel of animation exercises and stress testing. (Learning Outcomes 2, 5)

Part Two; Maya CGI, 33% of portfolio.
• Maya Polygon Character. (Learning Outcomes 4, 7)
• Showreel of animation exercises and stress testing. (Learning Outcomes 2, 5)

Part Three; 2D Digital Cut-out, 33% of portfolio.
• Toon Boom Rigged Character. (Learning Outcomes 4, 7)
• Showreel of animation exercises and stress testing. (Learning Outcomes 2, 5)

*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.

Building on life studies completed in ‘Drawing for Animation 1’ and concepts established in ‘Principles Portfolio’ you will create anatomically informed animation characters based on the human form. You will learn how anatomy is applied to character design using real world materials and processes appropriate to each media relating to your future specialism Pathway. You will create characters in Stop Motion, 3D Digital and 2D Digital methods of animation, and then stress test each character through rigorous animation exercises; aiming to find what makes a character robust yet easy to animate.

You will document the performance of each character in a blog, engaging in reflective consideration of each character and any modifications they have undergone because of testing.

You will create a showreel of your exercises throughout the semester.

On completion of this module you will understand what goes into the creation of 3 forms of animation rig and why they work the way they do. You should see your own area of specialism immerging and be able to decide which direction to follow in the following module; Anatomy for Animation 2 when you will select a specialism Pathway route.

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

Observation of practical demonstrations – repeating activity to generate suitable outcomes.
Students will be encouraged to share findings and skills to support one another.
Skills champions will facilitate this.

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.

Mattesi, Michael D (2008) Force: Character Design from Life Drawing, Focal Press.

Iijima, Takashi (2005) Action Anatomy: for gamers, animators and digital artists. Harper Design.

Murdock, Kelly (2017) Autodesk Maya 2017 : basics guide, Mission, KS : SDC Publications

Chong, Andrew (2008) Digital animation, Lausanne : AVA Academia.

Withrow, Steven (2009) Secrets of digital animation : a master class in innovative tools and techniques. RotoVision.

Shaw, Susannah (2008) Stop Motion, Craft Skills for Model Animation, Focal Press.

O'Hailey, Tina (2013) Rig it right! Maya animation rigging concepts, Focal Press.

Priebe, Ken A. (2011) The advanced art of stop-motion animation, Boston, Mass: Course Technology Cengage Learning.

You will be expected to take advantage of the extensive library facilities available within the University, keeping abreast of current developments through appropriate periodicals and being aware of the work of major practitioners in your subject.

Animation Department resources & studio spaces
Material & Make 3D Workshops - Plastics / Plaster / Metal / Wood etc.
Appropriate TI’s will be arranged.
The Drawing Studio
VLE: Blackboard / Digital Tutors / Lynda.com / other supporting Online resources
Blog will be hosted through Blackboard.

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

Co-requisites Drawing for Animation 1

Building on life studies completed in Drawing for Animation 1 and concepts established in Principles Portfolio, you will create anatomically informed animation characters based on the human form. You will learn how anatomy is applied to character design using real world materials and processes appropriate to each media relating to your future specialism Pathway. You will create characters in Stop Motion, 3D Digital and 2D Digital methods of animation, and then stress test each character through rigorous animation exercises; aiming to find what makes a character robust yet easy to animate.