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 Elective 4A: Research & Pre-Production (DESI10102)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits40 ECTS Credits20
SummaryThis course enables students to carry out research into method and content necessary to create ambitious, complex and original animated projects. It allows them to develop the skills necessary to create a skeletal structure for their film and a prototype where design decisions can be made before committing to time consuming and labour intensive production quality animation. The course follows established industrial workflows for animation and prepares students to engage with these upon graduation.
Course description This is an advanced animation course that concentrates on allowing students to develop the preparatory processes necessary for large-scale animation production. It supports the generation of persuasive and viable project proposals, and introduces students to the rigors of pitching a film idea to industry peers.

The course will cover:

Developing a viable proposal for film development
Project planning and project management for longer productions
Technical and material research
Market research
Workshops in pitching and presentation techniques
Workshops in recruiting, supporting and managing junior animators
Project documentation and film bibles

This course will result in the production of a series of individual artefacts that collectively form the framework for the next stage of the film making process. These artefacts will consist of the following, at least:

Research sketchbooks (digital or otherwise) demonstrating evidence of the research contributing towards a proposed project
Storyboards, demonstrating evidence of shot planning and plot progression
Animatic/s demonstrating pacing and timings for subsequent film production
Sample stills demonstrating the intended final production quality
A project schedule for the rest of the academic session
A presentation for invited guests from the animation industry
A reflective journal
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Animation 3A: Animation For Clients (DESI10095) AND Animation 3B: Experimental Animation (DESI10096) AND Animation 3C: Disseminated Animation (DESI10097)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs 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 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  8
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 400 ( Lecture Hours 10, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 28, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 40, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Formative Assessment Hours 2, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 308 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Feedback 1. Documentation of individual feedback and indicative grades via VLE for formative assessment at the midpoint of course;
2. Documentation of individual feedback and final grades via VLE for summative assessment at the end of course;
3. Self-evaluation is also carried out by student at formative and summative submission points and hosted on VLE
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. COLLATE: Demonstrate the ability to gather research material and apply it in a referenced and justified way to an animation proposal.
  2. INITIATE: Demonstrate the ability to conceive and develop an original animation project.
  3. PROTOTYPE: Develop an original concept into an animatic that successfully communicates intended timings.
  4. PROPOSE: Communicate a complex project proposal in a professional manner.
Reading List
Dunlop, R. Production Pipeline Fundamentals for Film and Games Focal Press (2014)

Glebas, F. Directing the Story: Professional Storytelling and Storyboarding Techniques for Live Action and Animation Focal Press (2008)

Maclean, F. Setting The Scene Chronicle Books (2011)

Rea. P. Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video Routledge (2015)
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Material research, project initiation, pitching, recruitment, resource management, mentoring, scheduling
KeywordsAnimation,Project planning,Pre visualisation,Concept art
Contacts
Course organiserMr Alan Mason
Tel: 0131 221 6135
Email: alan.mason@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Rhiordan Langan-Fortune
Tel: (0131 6)51 5926
Email: rhiordan.langanfortune@ed.ac.uk
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