1. demonstrate your developing knowledge and understanding of the Animation Industry eco-system to further develop a key skill-set of professional skills required by the Industry. This will be evidenced in your presentation and BLOG.
1 – KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

2. demonstrate ongoing industry awareness and engagement and the production of a substantial portfolio of industry aligned self-promotional material including showreel, business card and online resources that represent you as a character animator (and associated roles).
2 - LEARNING
3. demonstrate a growing awareness of the contemporary professional trends and approaches to character animation (and associated roles) through the presentation of a reflective BLOG and Mock Job application and Interview exercise.
3 - ENQUIRY

4. demonstrate your developing understanding of the Animation Industry eco-system to further your current career planning initiatives through direct communication at networking events, through social media channels and by engaging in industry-facing recruitment processes. This will be evidenced by engagement in mock job application and mock job interview process.
6 - COMMUNICATION

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.

This module has three assessed components: Portfolio, C.V., Mock Job interview
which will culminate in the assessment session “Prepare to Launch”.

Prepare to Launch will include:
10-minute presentation: based on the self –reflective blog that you will build during the module and is intended to provide a visual and written account of the research and creative tasks you have undertaken.
This will be an opportunity for you to share your developed self-promotional materials including (where applicable) your showreel and C.V. and for you to communicate current career goals and demonstrate your professional readiness to engage with and apply for student Internships and Work Experience positions.
Your Professional Portfolio BLOG must be created within Blackboard.

10-minute Mock Job interview led by a Professional Animation Mentor.
As the candidate you will be asked a series of relevant questions that relate to a “Mock Job Application Exercise” by a visiting Professional Animation Mentor. This is intended to prepare you for applying and securing student work-placements and internships and skills that you will use throughout your future career.

Presentations and Interviews may be filmed for review and feedback

This module is designed to provide you with career and industry guidance as you prepare to launch a range of applications in the applying and securing of Summer Internships, collaborative projects or volunteering within the animation industry. It will establish a number of fundamental skills that you will continue to develop in your future studies and career as an animator.

The module is designed to provide an opportunity to research and define your career goals, define your professional identity and the creation of digital and other self-promotional materials.

During the module you will gain understanding of the Animation Industry eco-system and the ‘business of being an animator’. Areas that will be looked at include (but are not exclusive to):
- Industry awareness
- The Freelance Landscape
- Tax and the Artist: Employment, Self-Assessment and Insurance
- Industry Roles and Responsibilities
- Budgeting, Scheduling and Project Planning
- Industry recruitment processes
- The importance of your showreel
- Effective Character Animation Reel preparation
- C.V. development
- Social Media Platforms for Professional Development

At the end of this module it is intended that students are ready to apply for Student Work Placements and Internships to be carried out over the ‘Third Term’ and Summer period. Students are encouraged to make effective use of these periods to gain industry work experience, the benefits of which can be used in their Final Year studies.

Lectures will support shared principles that apply to all specialism Pathways.

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.

Studio learning takes place in timetabled sessions with academic staff who introduce key contextual and Industry-relevant lectures, masterclasses and workshop sessions:

- introduction to the Career Resources Department at Staffordshire University
- Workshop activities
- Seminar groups
- Skype Q & A’s from Professional Animation Mentors and Alumni
- Online collaborations using social media platforms
- Group and individual tutorial sessions
- Independent self-guided study and reflection

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

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

Animation Department resources & studio spaces
Blackboard
Cadman Library

All content will be made available through Blackboard.
Blog will be hosted through Blackboard.

Appropriate TI’s will be arranged.