Course Name (short): Anim: Pre-Prod & Char Design
School: Animation Arts and Design
Program(s): Bachelor of Animation
Program Coordinator(s): Angela Stukator
Course Leader or Contact: Angela Stukator
Originator: Paulette Geffros
Designate: Paulette Geffros
Version: 5.0
Status: Approved (APPR)

Calendar Description
This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to refine animation processes. In addition, students plan a film that integrates the animation and design elements needed in a successful crew production.

Typical Instructional Format

Courses may be offered in other formats.

Section I Notes: Course Contributors: David Quesnelle

Detailed Description
This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to refine animation processes. In addition, students plan a film that integrates the animation and design elements needed in a successful crew production. Topics include preparing for animation, the process of animating (rough and clean animation), performance analysis and the importance of continuity and consistency of character.Through interactive lecture, discussion, demonstration and studio work, students refine animation skills and begin the development of skills related to integrated problem solving, collaborative work, and individual and crew time management.

Program Context

 Critical Performance
By the end of the course, students will have demonstrated the ability
to plan a film that incorporates consistency of character design and
performance through collaboration with others.

Learning Outcomes
To achieve the Critical Performance, students will have demonstrated
the ability to:

1. Collaborate effectively with peers.

2. Manage time in order to meet individual and crew pre-production
timelines.

3. Conduct directed and independent research that informs character
design.

4. Establish a performance from the personality of the character and
context of the story. 

5. Develop the ability to self assess and critique work in animation
and character design.

6. Produce a character model package with sketches that reflect
advanced character design.

7. Discuss the role of character-driven special effects in animation. 

8. Explain the role of environmental special effects in animation.

9. Produce an animation portfolio of assignments that reflect advanced
animation skills and concepts.

10. Incorporate advanced clean up and in-betweening techniques into
animation assignments.

Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

Major Action Analysis Project(individual)        30% 
In-class projects (5 @ 4%)(individual)           20%
Assisting Assignment(individual)                 10%
In-betweening Assignment(individual)             10%
Concept and Research for character (group)       10%
Initial Character Design (group)                 10%
Refined Character Design (group)                 10%
Total                                           100%

Textbook(s): (Selected Handouts)

WEEK 1	Introduction to Animation: Pre-Production and Character Design
		Expectations, Guidelines and Procedures
		Concepts, Principles and Theories
		Overview of Animation and Character Design projects
		Review of the Animation Process
		Review of Performance
		Review of Animation Principles 
		In-betweening
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		Demonstration
		In-class activities
		Evaluation: In-class assignment due (4%)
		
WEEK 2	Concepts, Principles and Theories
		Overview of expectations for Animation in the Group  
                Film
                Preparation and Character Analysis
		Thumbnailing
		Application of Learning Strategies for Character 
                Design		
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		Group Activities
		In-class activities

WEEK 3	Concepts, Principles and Theories
		Overview of Week 2 concepts
		Posing and Character Design
		Drawing for Animation
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		Group Activities
		In-class activities
		Evaluation: In-class assignment due (4%)
		
WEEK 4	Concepts, Principles and Theories
		Rough animation process
		Keys, extremes, breakdowns
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		Demonstration
		In-class activities
		Evaluation: In-class assignment due (4%)

WEEK 5	Concepts, Principles and Theories
		Assisting Principles and Applications
		Character Analysis
		Preparation for Group Film Assignment the following
                week
		Drawing for Storyboards
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		Group Activities
		In-class activities
		Evaluation: In-class assignment due (4%)

WEEK 6	Concepts, Principles and Theories
		Special FX - guiding principles and theories in design
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		Demonstration
		In-class activities
		Evaluation: (to be submitted in the collective 
                lecture)
                Concept & Research for Character - Animated Group 
                Film Project due (10%)
		In-class assignment due (4%)

WEEK 7	Concepts, Principles and Theories
		Assisting and In-betweening - finer points 
		Discuss Assisting and In-betweening assignments
		Introduction of Major Action Analysis Project
                What to bring in for next week
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		In-class activities

WEEK 8	Concepts, Principles and Theories
		Thumbnail Action Analysis - Critique of Intent and
                Board for Scene
                Model sheet for major Action Analysis Project to be 
                brought to class
                Performance - Acting for Animation
                Beat, rhythm, music and timing
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		Group Activities
		Evaluation: (submitted in the collective lecture)
                Initial Character Design Pack - Animated Group Film
                Project due (10%)
		In-class activity - Sweatbox presentation for Major  
                Action Analysis Project

WEEK 9	Concepts, Principles and Theories
		Application of Thumbnails and Post Test
		Application of Rough Animation
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		Group Activities
		Evaluation: Formal evaluation of assisting and in-
                betweening assignments (20%)
		In-class activity - Sweatbox presentation for Major 
                Action Analysis Project

WEEK 10	Concepts, Principles and Theories
		Rough In-betweening
		Preparing art work for the medium
		Mechanics of Animation
		Animation Checking
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		Demonstration
		In-class activities
		Evaluation: Refined Character Design Pack for
                Animated Group Film Project (10%)
		In-class activity - Sweatbox presentation for Major 
                Action Analysis Project

WEEK 11	Concepts, Principles and Theories
		The Role of Painting in Animation
		Compositing 
		The Role of Software in Animation
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		Demonstration
		In-class activities
		Evaluation: 
		In-class activity - Sweatbox presentation for Major
                Action Analysis Project

WEEK 12 	Finalizing the projects		
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		Evaluation: 
		In-class activity - Sweatbox presentation for Major
                Action Analysis Project

WEEK 13	Concepts, Principles and Theories
		Pulling it all together
		Preparing for Production (Semester 6)
		Learning Activities
		Interactive Lecture
		Guided discussion
		Group Activities
		In-class activities
		Evaluation: Final Version of the Major Action
                Analysis Project due (30%)  
	        (formative total - please see detailed guidelines in
                template and rubric)

WEEK 14	Concepts, Principles and Theories
		Screening of Group Films and Major Action Analysis
                Projects
                Summary and Review
                Critiquing
                Learning Activities
		Guided discussion