Exploring Design and technology processes and outcomes for animation – introducing students to contemporary and emerging modes of animation production including character design, animation, and experience. Students will address developments in animation more generally, undertaking a blend of critical investigation and practical activity via specialist instruction.

Students will then be required to follow independent enquiry pathways serving stated future outcomes.

Exploration by regular taught sessions, of design and technology in animation. - exploring how technology influences and drives design outcomes and potential.

Students will investigate in guided sessions and independent enquiry, specific forms of design and technology solutions and apparatus available from the universities rich pool of software and hardware facilities - R+D process fuelling reflective thinking and helping to focus attention on key processes for future applications. Promoting economic and innovative modes of working

Student will be required to maintain a continuous blog and participate consistently in knowledge exchange opportunities.

Submission for this module will be evidence within the online blog and should include the appropriate information needed to understand the processes, objectives and finding of the learner – with reflective thinking throughout.

Discrete findings, outcomes and articles will be presented within a virtual gallery space.

Learners will document responses to taught content and individually selected further studies, building a process portfolio.

See Module Handbook for specific details such as timetable and submission content.

Regular blog entries provide a systematic approach to knowledge statements and illustrations of understanding via interactive conversation and feedback (3). demonstration of new skills will be articulated with test activities and outcomes, annotations, and feedback (4). Blog entries should display criticality by being transparent and timely – connecting practical and scholarly information in a live and fluid way (2). Student will be seen to embrace the unpredictable and processes of ‘Failure’ to achieve greater ends (1).

A virtual gallery presentation of selected outputs and articles will promote and interactive and conversational approach to knowledge exchange via cutting-edge digital means – with possibilities to involve industry partners and experts remotely (4).

Regular Workshops/technical instructions/demonstration.
A blend of practical demonstration, guided interactive explorations, and seminar discussions aimed at building confidence and independence in the critique of, and origination of sequences of animation performance.
Maintenance of a weekly reflective written and visual blog – encouraging cross-level knowledge exchange and timely formative feedback/discussion.
Regular individual supervision meetings
Presentation to invited industry partners and experts in the virtual gallery space.

1. Evaluate complex conceptual, design and practical animation issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements based on empirical findings and in the absence of complete data. Employ appropriate decision-making within dialogue and feedback frameworks - in complex and unpredictable situations.

Analysis

2. Independently seek out new experiences and discover novel potential in animation resources, building technological and informational literacy and formulating individual pathways for future practical, academic and, or aesthetic explorations.

Enquiry

3. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of key technical and aesthetic animation processes which are at the forefront of the discipline, presenting a range of practical and, or theoretical examples of your building expertise.

Knowledge and Understanding

4. Demonstrate a growing autonomy in your exploratory investigations, making individually governed choices as to the direction of your own academic journey, appropriately selecting animation resources and responding to outcomes in a self-reflective way.

Learning

Technical instruction in specialist technologies and techniques (T. I’s)
Access to all appropriate university specialist facilities, software, and apparatus.
Maker Spaces
Digital Academy forum
3D Factory
PC and Mac Labs
Haptic suit
Holographic displays
VR/AR suites
3D Scanning
Print Bureau
VLE’s: eg. Blackboard and TEAMS
Campus Library and online resources
Specialist 3D and Games development software
Wodd, Metal, Fine Metal, Ceramics, Resin, and Plastics Workshops
Cadman Studios – Green Screen Stage
Audio Production Studios
Media Centre AV production kit.
Motion Capture Stage
Acting and Performance Spaces
Life Drawing Studios

Learning virtual reality [electronic book]: developing immersive experiences and applications for desktop, web, and mobile / Tony Parisi by Parisi, Tony [author.].

Digital animation by Chong, Andrew. Publisher: Lausanne: AVA Academia, 2008

Anatomy for sculptors: understanding the human figure - Zarins, Uldis. & Kondrats, Sandis.

Introducing ZBrush 4 - Author: Keller, Eric - Publisher: Wiley Indianapolis, Ind 2011-isbn: 978-0-470-52764-1, 0-470-52764-1

Creative essence: the face edition: 2nd ed. Author: Fedor, Paul & Wade, Daniel Publisher: Ballistic Publishing Mylor, SA 2007 isbn: 978-1-921002-36-6, 1-921002-36-0

Stop motion filmmaking: the complete guide to fabrication and animation Author: Walsh, Christopher Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic London 2019 isbn: 978-1-4742-6804-2, 1-4742-6804-8
The fundamentals of animation edition: 2nd ed. Author: Wells, Paul & Moore, Samantha Publisher: Fairchild Books London 2016 isbn: 1-4725-7526-1, 978-1-4725-7526-5

Re-imagining animation: the changing face of the moving image Author: Wells, Paul & Hardstaff, Johnny Publisher: AVA London 2008 isbn: 2-940439-56-7, 978-2-940439-56-0

Unity virtual reality projects: explore the world of virtual reality by building immersive and fun VR projects using Unity 3D. Author: Linowes, Jonathan. Publisher: Packet PublishingBirmingham 2015 Includes index. isbn: 978-1-78398-855-6

Learning 3D printing for dummies. [electronic book] by Hausman, Kalani Kirk; Horne, Richard. Material type: computer file Computer File; Format: electronic Publisher: Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2014

Ultimate guide to 3D printing / edited by Mark Frauenfelder by Frauenfelder, Mark. Material type: book; Format: print; Literary form: not fiction Publisher: Sebastopol, CA: Maker Media, Inc., 2013

https://www.disneyanimation.com/publications/