ANIM30408
Layout and Art Direction
 
  I: Administrative Information   II: Course Details   III: Topical Outline(s)  Printable Version   Public
 
Section I: Administrative Information
  Credit Value: 3.0
Credit Value Notes: N/A
Effective: Fall 2014
Prerequisites: (ANIM25586)
Corequisites: N/A
Equivalents:
N/A
Pre/Co/Equiv Notes: N/A

Course Name (short): Layout and Art Direction
School:
Animation Arts and Design
Program(s): Bachelor of Animation
Program Coordinator(s): Mark Mayerson
Course Leader or Contact: Tony Tarantini
Originator: Barbara Mathieu
Designate: Barbara Mathieu
Version:
14.0
Status: Approved - Under Rev (AREV)

Calendar Description
This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to advance their layout knowledge and skills, generate concept designs and explore visual styles for use in an animated group film in the following semester. In addition, students work with a variety of media and make effective choices in order to address the visual needs of the story.

Typical Instructional Format

Lecture
14.0
Studio Course
28.0
Total hours: 42.0

Courses may be offered in other formats.

Section I Notes: The lecture component of this course is shared and delivered with the courses in the Story stream and the Animation stream, in order to reflect the nature of the group film process and product, and the intended learning inherent in those processes.

 
 
Section II: Course Details

Detailed Description
This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to advance their layout knowledge and skills, generate concept designs and explore visual styles for use in an animated group film in the following semester. In addition, students work with a variety of media and make effective choices in order to address the visual needs of the story. Topics include multi-plane layouts, pitch development, location design, prop design, colour keys and potential limitations within the context of production. Through interactive lecture, demonstration, discussion and studio work, students research, design and paint in order to fulfill the layout component of a group film.

Program Context

 
Bachelor of Animation Program Coordinator: Mark Mayerson
This course is part of the core component of the third year of the Bachelor of Applied Arts (Animation) Program. It is the fifth in a series of six Layout and Painting courses whose development reflects comprehensive and thoughtful scope, content analysis, and sequence in the delivery within the Layout stream. In addition, it reflects continuity, integration and balance through the other streams at an advanced level and reflects the complexity and logic of the design of the BAA (Animation) Program. It prepares students for the remaining course within the stream and for building connections to storytelling, character, animation and performance to courses in other streams within the program.


Course Critical Performance and Learning Outcomes

 
 Critical Performance
By the end of this course, students will have demonstrated the ability
to create complex multi plane layouts and unique visuals that
incorporate a variety of design concepts and styles that have been
researched and applied to the development of a film through group
collaboration.

Learning Outcomes
1.Establish an original style suitable for pitching. Establish an 
  original design style suitable for a collective animation 
  production 

2. Produce complex multiplane layouts that communicate an advanced 
   sense of art direction and cinematic aesthetics
 
3.Produce painted background elements (UL, BG, OL,OL/UL) that address
  the needs of complex multi-plane layouts

4. Conduct research that informs the conceptual design for story idea.

5. Identify individual strengths and weaknesses and self assess 
   within the context of Design, layout paint. painting and art 
   direction

6. Conduct research that informs the conceptual design for story idea
   design and art direction stage

7. Integrate the use of a variety of media in concept and style 
   development.

8. Generate colour keys that address production needs.

9. Develop the ability to self assess and critique the work done
   through the evolution of layout design.

10. Generate colour scripts and sketches keys that address 
    pre-production needs.

11. Develop the ability to self assess and critique the work done
    through the evolution of layout design.

12. Assess the significance of teamwork to the success of a group
    production and collaborate effectively with peers.

13.  Analyze the potential parameters within which a production is
    developed in order to manage the group film effectively.

14.  Develop a sense of professionalism 

15.  Manage time in order to meet pre-production timelines.

Evaluation Plan
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

 
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

Group process and professionalism(group mark)                 5%
In-class activities (individual mark)                        10%      
Design "Fun Pack" (group mark - due week 8)                  10%   
Design style and art direction assignment 
                           (individual mark - due week 10)   15%     
Scene mock up (group mark - due week 12)                     10%  
Design Pack (group mark - due week 14)                       20% 
Action Analysis Assignment (individual mark)                 30%  
- Concept art (5%) due week 2-3
- Thumbnails & Workbook  (5%) due week 3-5
- Final Layout (5%) due week 7
Next 3 items are evaluated from final composite hand in due.
- Art Direction (5%)                       
- Painted Background (5%)
- Compositing (5%)  


Late Policy for all courses in the program: 

All assignments are due within the first 15 minutes after the start 
of class on the due date. Late projects, submitted after the first 15 
minutes of the start of class will receive a 20% grade reduction. 
Late projects submitted the following week will receive a 30% grade 
reduction. There will be no submission of work after the last day of 
semester unless arrangements have been made and documented by the 
professor.

Work that is more than one week late will not be graded unless a 
prior arrangement has been made with the professor; the arrangement 
must be documented on email or a memo, with the new due date 
identified. There will be no resubmission of work unless, under 
exceptional circumstances, this has been agreed to or suggested by 
the professor.  Again, a hard copy of the agreement is necessary.

If there is a valid reason for the late project, the student must 
email the professor at least 3 days before the due date.  If the 
reason is deemed to be valid, there will be no late penalty.  A new 
due date with be set by the instructor.

The basic late policy as laid out above will be followed, except in 
the instance that an instructor requires a variation in policy. That 
variation will be provided to the student in writing as part of the 
actual assignment, which will be handed out by the instructor.
Provincial Context
The course meets the following Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities requirements:

 

Essential Employability Skills
Essential Employability Skills emphasized in the course:

X Communication X Critical Thinking & Problem Solving X Interpersonal
  Numeracy X Information Management X Personal

Notes: N/A

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
PLAR Contact: Angela Stukator

Students may apply to receive credit by demonstrating achievement of the course learning outcomes through previous life and work experiences. This course is eligible for challenge through the following method(s):

Challenge Exam Portfolio Interview Other Not Eligible for PLAR
  X X    

Notes: N/A

 
 
Section III: Topical Outline
Some details of this outline may change as a result of circumstances such as weather cancellations, College and student activities, and class timetabling.
Effective term: Fall 2014
Professor: Tony Tarantini
Textbook(s):
Textbooks: 

Textbook: Hans Bacher, `Dream Worlds' -Production Design for
Animation' (Focal Press)
 
Recommended reading:
Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life.  
Kit Laybourne, The Animation Book: A Complete Guide to Animated
Filmmaking--From Flip-Books to Sound Cartoons to 3- D Animation.
Maureen Furniss, Art in Motion Animation Aesthetics. 
Paul Wells, The Fundamentals of Animation. 
Maureen Furniss, The Animation Bible. 
Shamus Culhane, Animation from Script to Screen. 
Bordwell and Thompson, Film Art. 
Tony White, Animation, From Pencil To Pixels. 
Tina O¿Haley, Hybrid Animation. 
Karen Sullivan, Schumer Alexander, Ideas for the Animated Short. 
Nancy Beiman, Prepare to board. 
Patti Bellantoni, If It's Purple, Someone's Gonna Die. 
Scott McCloud, Undestanding Comics. 
The Art of Mulan, Lion King, Ratatouille, Monter's Inc., 
Miyazaki's Spirited Away (any and all of The art of series)
 

Additional Resources and Materials: 
Paper, pencils, markers (special), highlighter, white guache

Applicable student group(s): Bachelor of Applied Arts (Animation)
Course Details:
WEEK 1 	Interactive Lecture - intro to the Group Project and Action 
        Analysis Assignment (AAA) 
        Introduction to Layout and Art Direction Course 
	- Expectations and Procedures
	- Review of Layout Principles 
        In-class activities - Prior learning assessment
	- Demonstration - layout review (prior learning)
        Critique and Discussion

        Evaluation: In-class Thumbnail Exercise 
           For next week: research (reference, design styles  
           etc.)(AAA) and bring to class

WEEK 2	Interactive Lecture - Concepts, Principles and Theories
        Case Study - Emperor¿s New grove (research and concept
        designs)
	- Demonstration - intro to advanced concept art
	- In-class activities: AAA concept art
        Critique and Discussion

	Evaluation: In-class activities
           For next week: bring concept art (sketches, research 
           etc.)  and style reference for AAA
  
WEEK 3	Interactive Lecture - Concepts, Principles and Theories
        Case Study - Hunchback (art direction and storyboards/reels) 
	- Demonstration - workbook & advanced scene planning
	- In-class Activities - workbook & advanced scene planning
        Critique and Discussion 

	Evaluation: In-class activities 
            For next week: story thumbnails and workbook for AAA

WEEK 4  Interactive Lecture 
        - Concepts, Principles and Theories
	- Case Study - Short films and Animation Aesthetics
	- Advanced Cinematic Visual Language
        Advanced mechanics of Layout (Camera Moves, Leveling) 
	- Demonstration - advanced multi-plane layout rough
	- In-class Activities - workbook & advanced scene planning
        Critique and Discussion

        Evaluation: In-class activities 
           For next week: final story thumbnails and workbook for AAA
           DUE: AAA concept art (evaluated in class 5%)

WEEK 5	Interactive Lecture 
        - Concepts, Principles and Theories
	- Case Study - Mulan (layout and composition)
        Advanced Cinematic Visual Language (cont'd)
        Advanced compositing
	- Demonstration - rough layout and compositing
	- In-class Activities -  rough layout
	Critique and Discussion
	
        Evaluation: In-class activities 
        DUE: thumbnails and workbook drawings (evaluated in class-5%)
             For next week: composited scene with pose test 

WEEK 6	Interactive Lecture 
        - Concepts, Principles and Theories
	- Case Study - Samurai Jack (style, Hybrid series/feature 
          production)	
	Series Production protocol - Layout package and labeling
	- Demonstration - clean layout
	- In-class Activities - rough layout and revisions
        Critique and Discussion

        Evaluation: In-class activities 
            For next week: Final (clean) layout
        DUE: composited scene - rough layout with poses(Hand-in 
        Folder 5%) 
 
WEEK 7	Interactive Lecture 
        - Concepts, Principles and Theories
        - Case Study - Short films and Animation Aesthetics
        Advanced production concepts (series production models) 
	- Demonstration- Fun-packs rough clean approaches
	- In-class Activities - group film design discussion 
          (synthesis of conceptual designs and establish style 
          direction)  
        Critique and Discussion

	Evaluation: In-class activities
        DUE: Composited, final AAA layouts (Hand-in Folder - 5%)pose
        rev.
            For next week: Group Film Project (GFP)Fun-pack Designs 

		
WEEK 8	Interactive Lecture 
        - Concepts, Principles and Theories
        Case Study - Pocahontas (style and design) 
        Animation styles and art direction (shorts vs series vs 
        feature productions)
        Animation Industry productions: Schedules, timelines, 
        pipelines
	- Demonstration - art direction 
        In-class Activities - presentation of GFP Fun-pack, 
        style development and creation of layout pre-production 
        schedule
        Critique and Discussion

	Evaluation: In-class activities 
	DUE: GFP Fun-pack Designs(group mark - Hand-in Folder- 10%)
	     For next week: individual GFP research and style sketches
	
WEEK 9	Interactive Lecture 
        - Concepts, Principles and Theories
        Case Study  Lilo and stitch (Style and Art Direction)
        Production Design & Art Direction(shorts vs series vs 
        feature productions)
        Producing style guides (series vs feature)
        Hans Bacher and art directing
	- Effective Collaboration on the Group Project  
	- In-class Activities - art direction and style development 
          for GFP 
    	- Critique and Discussion

	Evaluation: In-class activities
           For next week: individual GFP research and style sketches

WEEK 10	Interactive Lecture 
        - Concepts, Principles and Theories
        Case Study  Short films Animation Aesthetics
	- Series design process and production pipeline (design packs 
          & board, design teams allocation of workload,)
	- Demonstration - prepping the board for the design process 
          and design clean up approaches 
	- In-class Activities - group film style discussion (critique
          and synthesis of individual style direction), progress 
          check, design list
        Critique and Discussion

	Evaluation: In-class activities		
	DUE: Design style and art direction assignment (individual 
             mark -  Hand-in folder - 15%)
            For next week: individual GFP design pack sketches

WEEK 11	Interactive Lecture 
        - Concepts, Principles and Theories
        Case Study - Sam and Max (Style and Series Productions)
        Art direction and storyboard demands (series vs.feature 
        vs independent productions)
        Color scripts and Art Direction(series vs. feature vs 
        independent productions)
	- Demonstration - Painting layouts (informs AAA), 
	- In-class Activities - GFP design pack (individual workload)
          choose mock up scene
	- Critique and Discussion

        Evaluation: In-class activities
            For next week: individual GFP design pack sketches and 
            AAA color  sketch

WEEK 12	Interactive Lecture 
        - Concepts, Principles and Theories
        Case Study - Little Bear (Style and Series Productions)
	- Demonstration - design clean up, revision and application
	- In-class Activities - GFP design pack (discussion and 
           critique of ongoing work)
        Critique and Discussion

	Evaluation: In-class activities
        DUE: Scene mock up (group mark ¿ Hand-in folder - 10% )

WEEK 13	Interactive Lecture 
        - Concepts, Principles and Theories
	Preparing for Production, project assessment
	Demonstration - identifying style and design aesthetics, 
        progress check
	Critique and Discussion
	In-class Activities - GFP design pack (discussion and 
        critique of ongoing work, clean design pack designs)
			 
        Evaluation: In-class activities
        DUE: Final AAA composited scenes (Hand-in folder - 15%)
            For next week: Final design pack and story-reel.

WEEK 14	Interactive Lecture 
        - Review
        Production phase projections and considerations  
        In-class Activities: pre-production Critique, Discussion and 
        Summary, production phase preparation

        DUE: Design Pack (group mark - Hand-in folder - 20%)


Academic Honesty
The principle of academic honesty requires that all work submitted for evaluation and course credit be the original, unassisted work of the student. Cheating or plagiarism including borrowing, copying, purchasing or collaborating on work, except for group projects arranged and approved by the faculty member, or otherwise submitting work that is not the student's own violates this principle and will not be tolerated. Instances of academic dishonesty, including assisting another student to cheat, will be penalized as detailed in the Student Handbook.

Students who have any questions regarding whether or not specific circumstances involve a breach of academic honesty are advised to discuss them with the faculty member prior to submitting the assignment in question.

Discrimination and Harassment
Sheridan is committed to provide a learning environment that respects the dignity, self esteem and fair treatment of every person engaged in the learning process. Behaviour which is inconsistent with this principle will not be tolerated. Details of Sheridan's policy on Harassment and Discrimination are available in the Student Handbook.
 
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