ANIM45436
Senior Animation Project
 
  I: Administrative Information   II: Course Details   III: Topical Outline(s)  Printable Version   Public
 
Section I: Administrative Information
  Credit Value: 6.0
Credit Value Notes: N/A
Effective: Fall 2012
Prerequisites: (ANIM30123) AND (ANIM30261) AND (ANIM30146)
Corequisites: N/A
Equivalents:
N/A
Pre/Co/Equiv Notes: N/A

Course Name (short): Senior Animation Project
School:
Animation Arts and Design
Program(s): Bachelor of Animation
Program Coordinator(s): Mark Mayerson
Course Leader or Contact: Christopher Walsh
Originator: Paulette Geffros
Designate: Paulette Geffros
Version:
11.0
Status: Approved (APPR)

Calendar Description
In this course, students integrate the concepts, principles and theories investigated throughout the program with the applied skills refined and mastered to date in order to design and develop a professional quality independent film.

Typical Instructional Format

Independent Study
56.0
Studio Course
28.0
Total hours: 84.0

Courses may be offered in other formats.

Section I Notes: This course consists of extensive independent student work throughout the semester with an average of two hours of collective lecture per week as well as a menu of selected optional workshops. Students work independently under the guidance of a mentor/producer with whom they meet on a weekly basis.

 
 
Section II: Course Details

Detailed Description
In this course, students integrate the concepts, principles and theories investigated throughout the program with the applied skills refined and mastered to date in order to design and develop a professional quality independent film. Students work in a thesis- oriented environment that focuses on independent study, design, development and pre-production under the guidance of a mentor/producer. This independent learning is supplemented with a master lecture series that includes guest speakers from the industry who are experts in their craft, and complemented by an offering of unique workshops. Specific topics may include, but are not limited to, Drawing for Animation, Cinematic Art Direction, Expressive Life Drawing, Experimental and Stop Motion Animation, Stop Motion Animation, CG Applications (character, props and sets) and Special Effects, Sound Design, and Screenwriting, Editing, and Cinematic Storytelling. In addition, students design and adhere to a pre- production schedule.

Program Context

 
Bachelor of Animation Program Coordinator: Mark Mayerson
This required course is designed in tandem with the Capstone Senior Animation Project. This pair of courses allows the students to integrate the previous learning in the multiple streams within the program in a new context, and provides extensive new learning focused on the pre-production and production processes of an independent film. Students design and develop an animated film by means of an effective production schedule in the subsequent course that is reflective of industry requirements, and can be screened at various industry exhibitions and shows.


Course Critical Performance and Learning Outcomes

 
 Critical Performance
By the end of this course, students will have demonstrated the 
ability to create a professional story reel within a designated pre-
production schedule. 

Learning Outcomes
To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated 
the ability to:

1.  communicate ideas, believable action and emotion effectively by 
    employing principles of animation and performance in all aspects 
    of drawing;

2.  integrate the concepts, principles and theories involved in the 
    physics of animation in all aspects of drawing;

3.  create 2D and 3D characters and environments that reflect the 
    integration of graphic clarity, design principles, performance
    principles and theoretical constructs;

4.  refine personal narrative voice that holistically integrates the  
    elements of storytelling and performance in order to actively 
    engage the audience;

5.  design layouts and backgrounds that incorporate principles of 
    composition, perspective and colour, with speed, accuracy and 
    dexterity, using a variety of media; 

6.  manage the pre-production of a student film, including the
    aspects of cinematography, art direction and editing; 

7.  manage targets within the pre-production schedule to effectively 
    achieve completion of required tasks; 

8.  communicate ideas, emotion and intent effectively in visual, 
    oral, written and auditory forms;

9.  create animation that incorporates the basic principles of 
    constructive anatomy and drawing using economy of expression;

10. incorporate technology effectively in the design and development 
    of the final film; and

11. create a "rough mix" soundtrack for their story reel that 
    reflects an understanding of the expressive capabilities of 
    dialog, music and sound effects.    

Evaluation Plan
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

 
Story Treatment                                       10%
Story Pitch & Concept Art                       10%
Finished Storyboards & Script                10%
Leica Reel                                                   20%
Production Plan                                       10%
Layout Package & Pose Test Reel         15%
Performance Test/Action Analysis        10%
Lecture Journal                                         15%
Total                                                         100%

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
X 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

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 2012
Professor: Multiple Professors
Textbook(s):
n/a

Applicable student group(s): Students in the BAA (Animation) Program
Course Details:
Producer: Christopher Walsh
Mentors: Steve Barnes, Nancy Beiman, Trevor Davies, Bruno Degazio,
Michel Hannan, Blair Kitchen, Mark Komza, Mark Mayerson, Mark
Palowich, Jason Thompson, Maury Whyte.

Description:
This course has been designed in tandem with the Capstone Senior 
Animation Project. From a story concept developed in Semester 6, 
students pitch a film project and work through the pre-production 
process to prepare for the production process in the last semester. 
They work independently, with the assistance of an advisor with whom 
they must meet on a regular basis to confirm adherence to the 
schedule and completion of appropriate milestone activities. 
Additional applied learning is achieved through a series of weekly 
collective lectures for all students, and workshops that students 
elect to attend and/or those few which are designated by advisors. 


WEEK LECTURE / MEETING / WORKSHOP  

1       Welcome to the Project
        Introduction to the Course, Expectations 
        Rationale for the Animation Independent Film 

        Production Meeting #1 
        Organization, Roles and Protocols, Contract, 
        Requirements for Story Treatment

        WORKSHOP:  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 
        Plan, Breakdown,Schedule ¿ the process,  Budgeting time.

2       Journals, Sketchbooks and Logs 
        Essential Tools of the Animation Artist
        Inspiration,. Observation and Listening Skills
        Personal Reflection & Self-Development

        Production Meeting
        Collect pre-production schedule and person/hours projection  
        (budget forecast)
        Film Ideas and Critiques
        The Story Reel

        WORKSHOP:  Ideas and Images
        Color and the Color Script

3       Story Structure
        Juxtapositioning of images for cinematic effect 
        Research sources and types of research
        Drawing for the screen; Timing 

        Production Meeting
        Person/hours projection & treatment pack
        Pitch Preparation

        WORKSHOP:  ToonBoom StoryBoard

4       Screenwriting & Script Preparation
        Differences between live action and animation
        Bringing the story to the screen
        Why is a script important
        Writing dialog.

        Production Meeting
        Extended Production meeting (4h) for pitching session.

        WORKSHOP: Character Design Critique


5       LECTURE: The Storyboard Artist
        Production Meeting - Pitch Session
        Workshop - Adobe Premiere  

6       LECTURE: From Story Board to Story Reel 
        Production Meeting: Film Assets/Task List
        Pitch Critique 
        WORKSHOP: FrameThief  Stop Motion software

7       LECTURE: " A  Typology for Animation Soundtracks". 
        Production Meeting: Prep for Refined packages 
        WORKSHOP: Scratch Voice Recording session 

 
8       LECTURE: Character and Story
        Production Meeting: Leica Reel Critique 
        WORKSHOP: ToonBoom Solo

9       LECTURE: 2D Animation  - An Industry Perspective
        Production Meeting: Tracking Time and Process 

        WORKSHOP: Animation and Design in Adobe Flash

10      LECTURE: A Typology of Animation Sound Tracks 
        Production Meeting: Leica Reel review

        WORKSHOP: Temp Music Selection and Editing

11      LECTURE: Computer Animation - The State of the Art 
        Production Meeting: Leica Reel review
        WORKSHOP: Character Rigging and Setup in Maya

12      LECTURE: Stop Motion Historical Review 
        Production Meeting: Leica Reel review
        WORKSHOP: Digital Asset Management in Maya


13      LECTURE: Portfolio Panel Discussion 
        Production Meeting: Leica Reel review
        WORKSHOP: How to Mix a Movie in 30 minutes in Adobe Premiere


14      LECTURE: FINAL EXAM
        Production Meeting/Workshop SCREENING of FINAL LEICA REELS


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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