THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Design

Undergraduate Course: Animation 1A Introduction (DESI08078)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course will serve as a basic primer in key animation principles, production methods and techniques. The course provides fundamental technical and conceptual knowledge and understanding that is vital for sustained practice as an animator.
Course description This is a basic course in animation, an introduction to key principles and methods within the discipline.

The course will cover:

An introduction to historical and contemporary precedents in animation, proto-animation and optical toys.
An introduction to historical and contemporary precedents in animation technologies.
Introduce the range of production methods possible within animation practice.
Introduction to comparative analysis and evaluation of method.
Introduction to collaborative and reflective creative practices.
Introduction to online journals and digitisation of sketchpad contents.

The course comprises multiple drawing tasks which explore movement, timing and form. The course includes an intensive amount of drawing using traditional methods of lightbox and paper drawing. Students are expected to document all directed and independent study in the form of sketchbooks with ultimately a consideration towards collating this work for presentation to screen ¿ for example word documents/power-point or via their online journal.

Development of projects, and evaluation of production method and personal performance, will be documented through online journals.
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 automatically be enrolled. For all other students, including Design students, the course is open on a first come, first served basis until the course is full. This course may have limited availability for non-Design students. Please contact the Course Organiser if you wish to enrol.

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.)
Mini sun A3 lightbox
The list above is an example, and is by no means exhaustive...
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  18
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 4, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 13, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 20, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 158 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 100% Coursework, comprising:

1) A portfolio of film making and animation tests. This moving image work should consist of finished films, experiments and work in progress. (LO1 and LO2).

TOTAL:
¿ Duration of animation should be no less than 5 minutes and no more than 10 minutes

2) An online journal showing development work, research, and documentation of method, including but not limited to,scanned sketchpads, drawings, and storyboards, animatics, this should also contain text to contextualise the work presented. (LO2) and text for a reflective commentary upon the work generated (LO3)

TOTALS:
¿ Contextualisation of research and process ¿(750 word minimum, 1,000 word maximum)
¿ Reflective statement ¿(750 word minimum, 1,000 word maximum)

Relationship between Assessment and Learning Outcomes:

LO1 is evidenced for assessment in the portfolio of film work
LO2 is evidenced for assessment in both the portfolio of film AND the research work shown in the online journal
LO3 is evidenced for assessment in the reflective statement documented in the online journal

Learning Outcomes are weighted as follows:
LO1 40%
LO2 40%
LO3 20%
Feedback Informal feedback and guidance will be given continually throughout the semester during timetabled classes as part of our teaching. This will come from animation staff, but also from your fellow students.
Formal feedback will be delivered twice, mid course at your formative assessment and at the end of the course in your summative assessment

Formative Assessment will take place in Week 6 of the semester.
This will be a small group presentation where your work to date will be presented to your staff and peers. In case of the absence of a physical venue this will take place online. Your online journal and work in progress can form the basis of this presentation, or you may want to build a purpose made presentation. Feedback will be given verbally at this point

Summative Assessment will take place in Week 12 of the semester.
This is a formal submission of all course work, (Film Portfolio and Online Journal) via LEARN.
Feedback will be given in a written format along with grades against Learning Outcomes via LEARN and within 15 working days of your submission.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. INVESTIGATE: Demonstrate an initial engagement with a range of animation methods, principles, and techniques.
  2. COMPARE: Demonstrate the ability to examine similarities and differences between a range of animation methods and techniques.
  3. DOCUMENT: Demonstrate the ability to record ideas, describe methods, and collect sources of information.
Reading List
Wells, P. The Fundamentals of Animation. AVA Publishing (2006)
Williams, R. The Animator's Survival Kit. Revised Edition. Faber & Faber (2009)
Van Sijll, J. Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know. Michael Wiese Productions (2005)
Rousseau, D. and B. Philips. Storyboarding Essentials, SCAD Creative Essentials. Watson Guptill (2013)
Muybridge, E. The Human Figure In Motion. Dover Publications (1955)
Heil, L. Animation Sketchbooks.Thames & Hudson (2013)
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Documentation, organisation, systematisation, reflection, analysis, evaluation, creativity
KeywordsAnimation,Film,Research,Collaboration,Teamwork,Production Processes
Contacts
Course organiserMrs Rachel Everitt
Tel: (0131 6)51 5964
Email: r.everitt@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Rhiordan Langan-Fortune
Tel: (0131 6)51 5926
Email: rhiordan.langanfortune@ed.ac.uk
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