This module will build your knowledge and appreciation of animation character development and generation.

With a focus on the following:

Character design methodologies following traditional visual principles.

Technical character creations and animation exploring suitability of various designs.

Software skills and knowledge

Applied animation principles to show viability of character design.

Character analysis from multiple media and audience ranges.

Impact of characters on audiences through design and staging / presentation of that design.

Creating appeal and expressiveness through design.

Style guides and consistency through over-arching project design.

Lip-syncing as whole-body performance.

Working with audio; foley and vocals.

L.A.V.

Acting for animation as a tool for animation performance.


You will study the core pathways specialisms: 2D Digital, 3D, and Stop Motion.

Journal (LO 2, 3)

You will be assessed individually based on an Iterative visual and written post describing and illuminating steps and stages of a learning journey incorporating appropriate visual and theoretical references and materials that have aided knowledge and skills development



Portfolio (LO 1, 4)

You will present a montage of character performance clips, vignettes, or cycles and still design concepts in a range of animation techniques

Equivalent of 6 Hours per week over 13 weeks

Delivered as several sessions of 1-3 hours each) dependant of the relevant pathway requirements).

A variety of Lectures, Workshops, Demonstrations and technical instruction.

Alternating pattern of pathway delivery allowing focused teaching a learning.

Assignments will invite students to practice techniques and explore methodologies towards the development of several character creations outcomes.

1. ON COMPLETION OF THIS MODULE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SELECT APPROPRIATE TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES TO CREATE & PRESENT STILL AND MOVING ANIMATION CHARACTER OUTCOMES.

APPLICATION


2. ON COMPLETION OF THIS MODULE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ELUCIDATE CHARACTER CREATION KNOWLEDGE BY APPROPRIATELY DOCUMENTING PROCESSES AND METHODOLOGIES AND SIGNPOSTING DEVELOPING COMPETENCIES.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING


3. ON COMPLETION OF THIS MODULE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE YOU CAN INDEPENDENTLY DEVELOP YOUR COMPETENCIES BY ADAPTING YOUR APPROACH TO ANIMATION CHARACTER CREATION CHALLENGES AND IMPROVING OUTCOMES ITERATIVELY

LEARNING

PROBLEM SOLVING


4. ON COMPLETION OF THIS MODULE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO APPROPRIATELY PRESENT ANIMATION CHARACTER CREATIONS FOR FEEDBACK

REFLECTION

COMMUNICATION

2D Design, Visualisation and Animation Software

3D Design, Visualisation and Animation Software

Stop Motion fabrication tools, facilities and Capture Software

(Specific software and equipment will develop in accordance with evolving creative industry requirements)

VLE environments

ANCROFT, TOM (2006) CREATING CHARACTERS WITH PERSONALITY. WATSON-GUPTILL.



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.



ON-LINE READING LISTS WILL BE UPDATED ANNUALLY.


THIS IS AN INDICATION OF REFERENCE TEXTS REQUIRED FOR 2019-20 ONLY.

BANCROFT, T (2006) ‘CREATING CHARACTERS WITH PERSONALITY: FOR FILM, TV, ANIMATION, VIDEO GAMES & GRAPHIC NOVELS’, US WATSON-GUPTIL PUBLICATIONS

HAYES, D & WEBSTER C (2013) ‘ACTING & PERFORMANCE FOR ANIMATION’, FOCAL PRESS

HOOKS, E (2011) ‘ACTING FOR ANIMATORS’, ROUTLEDGE
KELLY, D (1997) ‘ARTIST'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO FACIAL EXPRESSIONS’, US: WATSON-GUPTILL PUBLICATIONS

PATMORE, C (2003) ‘THE COMPLETE ANIMATION COURSE’, THAMES & HUDSON

ROBERTS, S (2004) ‘CHARACTER ANIMATION IN 3D’, FOCAL PRESS

WHITAKER, H, HALAS, J (2002) ‘TIMING FOR ANIMATION’, FOCAL PRESS

WITHROW, S (2009) ‘SECRETS OF DIGITAL ANIMATION: A MASTER CLASS IN INNOVATIVE TOOLS & TECHNIQUES’, ROTOVISION

LINKS:
WWW.VIMEO.COM
www.11secondclub.com

Bring animated characters to life from initial concept to appealing animation outcome, learning how things work from the inside out.