The animation industry is increasingly diversified and growing area, spanning multiple media pathways. Animation is used in all areas of a media production; animators can bring characters to life in TV shows, create the movement of monsters in films, produce slick logos for advertising and allow players to move characters around in games. These skills can also be used in a wider field such as medical, architectural, forensic and education. While most animation is created using specific software packages, traditional principles and skills are still used within most productions; therefore, an awareness of how these impact on an animator’s role remain important.

This module includes.

Skills in 2D animation, 3D animation and Games Engines
Rendering: Pre-visualisation, Pre-rendered, Real time rendering
Lighting Effects.
Principles of animation
Rigging: Forward Kinematics (FK) and Inverse Kinematics (IK)
Storyboards
Production Pipeline
Outputs for different audiences

In the First 10 weeks
1 Hour lecture per week
1.5 Hour Practical Workshop per week
In the second 10 weeks
2 Hour lecture per week
1.5 Hour Practical Workshop per week

1. Explain the principles and practices of animation Learning
2. Create animations, using industry-standard tools and techniques, in response to a given brief Application
3. Present a finished animation within a defined media product, in response to a brief Communication
4. Evaluate audience feedback, based on presentation of an animation within a defined media product. Analysis

Animationmeat.com (Research)
Animatorisland.com (Tutorials)
Cartoonbrew.com (Animation news/Discussion Forum)
11secondclub.com (Tutorials)
3dtotal.com (Industry news/Tutorials/General Reference)

BEIMAN, N. & JOHNSTON, L. (2010) Animated Performance: Bringing Imaginary Animal, Human and Fantasy Characters to Life. London: AVA publishing.
BLAZER, L. (2015) Animated Storytelling: Simple Steps for Creating Animation and Motion Graphics. Berkeley: Peachpit Press.
LORD, P. & SIBLEY, B. (2004)Cracking Animation: The Aardman Book of 3-D Animation. 2nd ed. London: Thames & Hudson.
MITCHELL, B. (2016) Independent Animation: Developing, Producing and Distributing your animated films. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
STANCHFIELD, W. & HAHN, D. (2009) Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: The Walk Stanchfield Lectures – Volume 1. Boca Raton, FL: QMP/CRC Press.
WHITTAKER, H. & HALAS, J. (2009) Timing for Animation. 2nd ed. New York: Focal Press.
WILLIAMS, R. (2009) The Animators Survival Kit. London: Faber & Faber

Animators are responsible for the portrayal of movement in media products, using specialist traditional and digital hardware and software packages. The scope of animation is incredibly broad from the widely-recognised character and narrative-driven films to motion information graphics that enrichen screen-based experiences.

On successful completion of this unit, students will be aware of different types of animation and how to apply them in a production. They will create animations for use within a production, presenting them in a suitable format for a client.

12 Principles of Animation – Learners to discuss the 12 principles of animation and give examples of different animations and software that can be used (Slides or Word Doc) (LO1) Weighting 25%

• Animation portfolio and Pitch – (L02 & 3): Learners will showcase and pitch their animations to a defined audience for workflow discussion and feedback. (This was done in collaboration with unit 21 Game Development Practices) Weighting 50%

• Final Evaluation – (LO4) – Learners to take feedback from the previous pitch and reflect on the work produced for the module and any changes that could be made to improve it further. Weighting 25%