THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2018/2019

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Design

Undergraduate Course: Animation 2B Narrative (DESI08076)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course will develop students understanding of key animation principles, methods and techniques to an advanced level, building on student learning already undertaken in Animation 1A Character. The course provides fundamental animation-specific knowledge and understanding that is vital for sustained practice as an animator.
Course description This advanced animation course that focuses upon the rapid prototyping of film ideas, and an exploration of animated performance and interplay between characters.

The course will cover:

Historical and contemporary precedents in short and ultra-short form filmmaking
Historical and contemporary precedents in story breakdown, narrative structure, screen grammar, composition and layout of shots
Historical and contemporary precedents in character design and development
Technical workshops in subjects including composition, rapid animation production methods, 3D pre-visualisation techniques, and layout
Film dissemination and distribution practices

This course will comprise multiple projects, usually, but not exclusively, three, students will receive verbal feedback during each project, but they will receive written feedback upon a portfolio submission of all available projects in a formative assessment that takes place in the middle of the semester, and a final portfolio submission for summative assessment at the end of the semester.

Illustrative examples of possible projects include (but are not limited to): 24-hour creation of short films for online dissemination; practices of literary adaptation; reinterpretation and re-imagining of classic film scenes; exploration of non-verbal communication modes.

Documentation of collaborative process, development of ideas, research, and self-reflection will come from the on-going design journals submitted alongside completed films.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements If this course is core to your programme you will be automatically enrolled, for all other students, including Design students, the course is open on a first come first served basis until the course is full. Where a course depends on some technical proficiency, PTs are encouraged to help students check with the appropriate Course Organiser regarding suitability, eg if student has previous external practical experience. The course will be open to enrolments from Thursday 13th September at 9.30am. Please sign up for the course through your own School (they will advise if this is done your PT, SSO or Teaching Office). We do not currently keep a waiting list.
Additional Costs No additional costs to students beyond basic animation materials.

Students will be required to provide:
Drawing and painting materials (pens, pencils, crayons, charcoal, markers, paper, sketch pads for example.)
Sculpting materials (wire, modelling clay, balsa wood for example.)
Animation supplies (Peg bar, animation paper and cels for example.)

The list above is an example, and is by no means exhaustive.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2018/19, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  18
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 5, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 15, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 20, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1, Formative Assessment Hours 1, Summative Assessment Hours 1, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 153 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 100% Coursework, comprising:
40% Filmmaking and animation - Completed and WIP Films
40% Development work and research - Sketchpads, drawings, storyboards, animatics, and online design journal
20% Reflection - Online design journal and self evaluation

Relationship between Assessment and Learning Outcomes:
LO1 Journal
LO2 Films, projects and Journal
LO3 Films

All Learning Outcomes weighted equally
Feedback 1. Group presentations and crits for verbal feedback from peers and staff at the midpoint of projects;
2. Documentation of individual feedback and indicative grades via VLE for formative assessment at the midpoint of course;
3. Documentation of individual feedback and final grades via VLE for summative assessment at the end of course;
4. Self evaluation is also carried out by student at formative and summative submission points and hosted on VLE;
5. Individual tutorials for discussion of feedback after formative and summative assessment, particularly if there is any major difference between student and staff evaluations.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. PLAN: Demonstrate the ability to generate a range of appropriate, time-sensitive approaches for animation production.
  2. DEVELOP: Demonstrate the ability to build a diverse range of practical and material methods of animation.
  3. PRESENT: Communicate personal creative processes and results of animation practice in an appropriately professional manner.
Reading List
Purves, B. Basics Animation 04 Stop Motion. AVA Publishing (2010)
Pikkov, U. Animasophy. Estonian Academy of Arts (2010)
Palamar, T. Mastering Maya 2016. Autodesk Official Press (2015)
Adobe Creative Team. Adobe After Effects CC Classroom In A Book. Adobe (2013)
Katz, S. Film Directing Shot By Shot. Michael Wiese Productions (1991)
Proferes, N. Film Directing Fundamentals. Focal Press (2001)
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Organisation, evaluation, problem solving, self-reflection, critical thinking, collaboration, practical camera, lighting, sound recording and non-linear editing skills, creative understanding of cinematic grammar and production technologies, creative and organisational flexibility.
KeywordsAnimation,Film,Research,Collaboration,Teamwork,Composition,Layout,Character Design,Pre-Visualisation
Contacts
Course organiserMr Alan Mason
Tel: 0131 221 6135
Email: alan.mason@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Gill Lowther
Tel: (0131 6)51 5712
Email: glowther@ed.ac.uk
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