University of the Arts London (UAL) MA Character Animation Art & Design Date of production/revision May 2014

Transcription

1 Programme Specification Every taught course of study leading to a UAL award is required to have a Programme Specification. This summarises the course aims, learning outcomes, teaching, learning and assessment methods, and course structure. Programme Specifications are developed through course validation and are formally approved by UAL Validation Sub Committee (VSC). They are available to prospective students through the course web page, and must be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure currency of information (for example, following any minor modification or local developments). Awarding Body University of the Arts London (UAL) Teaching Institution Central Saint Martins Final Award Relevant QAA Benchmark Statement MA Character Animation Art & Design Date of production/revision May 2014 This section is available to provide any introductory information on the course. It might include explanation of the position of courses which form a named pathway within an umbrella programme. Course Aims The aims of the course identify the rationale underlying the student s educational experience and own personal achievement from studying on the course and its affect upon the student s long term achievement and career. This course aims to: prepare you for sustainable professional practice in animation or for progress to research degree registration; develop your ability to instigate and author work that is creatively and technically innovative; enable you to understand and position your work within informed contemporary practice. Course Outcomes The course enables the student to demonstrate the following subject knowledge and understanding, intellectual and academic skills, practical subject skills, key attributes and transferable skills. Each outcome should be detailed below. The outcomes that you will have demonstrated upon completion of the 1

2 course, are: a conceptual understanding of the field of animation; sophisticated and appropriate application of technical knowledge; high level skills of observation, analysis and representation of the structure, mechanics and characteristics of human and animal movement; the application of character and performance methodologies to animate personality, emotions and interaction between characters; critically locate yourself within the discipline and profession and the capability to innovate through practice-based research methods; self-direction, originality and informed decision making in instigating, managing and realising creative solutions, working both autonomously and as a team. Learning and Teaching Methods: Provide a summary of the relevant learning and teaching methods for the course. a Unit briefing that provides details of timetable, assignment guidance and assessment arrangements; a series of weekly off-site and studio based workshops featuring still as well as moving model poses; an intensive workshop to introduce character design and development, looking at a variety of established techniques; lectures, workshops and short animation exercises in animation principles that cover anatomy, locomotion, motion analysis and the representation of physical forces; lectures, workshops and short animation exercises in performance based animation, from acting in humans to the representation of speech; acting and movement workshops; a workshop on visually planning a story and devising storyboards; an overview of the history of animation and an introduction to key debates in animation theory, such as the definition of animation, the implications of technology, notions of the plasmatic and the undead in consideration of the cartoonal body; 2

3 an introduction to structured reflection and how to keep a personal reflective blog; a simulated work placement spending two weeks providing practical animation assistance to a second year student on their final graduation film; individual and group tutorials, participation in group critiques ( crits ); self-initiated research and design development to include museum, gallery and library visits; attendance of festivals and screenings; drawing from life in public places such as parks, zoos, cafes and city farms; a live brief set by an external agency, a team project and a self determined graduation film; a series of workflow presentations and masterclasses from visiting practitioners on animation techniques, project management and their creative process; workshops on storytelling that could include: film language, storyboarding, scriptwriting and directing; a series of screenings and discussions of historical, contemporary and international animation; self-reflection through blogging and self-assessment; engagement with your cohort through collaboration in a team project, peer assessment, group critiques ( crits ) and mutually supportive buddy groups; self-initiated research and development of projects leading to completion of a Graduation Film. Assessment Methods: Provide a summary of the relevant assessment methods for the course. Holistic assessment of achievement as demonstrated through: Basic motion (project) Effort and weight (project) Representation of speech x 2 (project) Acting (project) 1: a character performing through body language 2: a character performing through facial expression 3: storyboards Character design project 1: Designs 2: Mood change walk Creature project 1: Portfolio of research and development material 2: Creature walk sequence 3

4 3: Creature run sequence Green Screen Project: composit the creature run or walk sequence with a piece of live action footage so that your own action is connected to that of the animated creature Blog: an online reflective journal comprising visual and textual material Self-reflection and peer assessment: 500-1,000 word evaluation 1. Student presentation: a 10 minute presentation; Micro short: create a character animation of 1 minute; Essay: 2,000 words; Pitch: public presentation; Team film: Submission to include: 1: Short film: 2: Team contribution; 1,000 word self-assessment; 3: Analysis of role: 1,000 word report; Graduation film: Submission to include: 1: Project proposal 2: Animation 3: Learning journal blog 4: Context either (A) Presentation Viva 20 minute oral presentation or (B) Essay 3,000 words 5: Marketing materials 2. Graduation dissertation: as an alternative to the graduation film submission, you may submit a dissertation of 10,000 words. Reference Points List any policies, descriptors, initiatives or benchmark statements used in the development of the course. The following reference points were used in designing the course: The Learning and Teaching policies of the University of the Arts London; College policies and initiatives; HE Level Descriptors; Art & Design Benchmark statement; Industry /practitioners; External professional organisations /networks. 4

5 Programme Summary Programme structures, features, units, credit and award requirements: List the course details that constitute the agreed student entitlement for this course. This should include unit titles and credit, types of learning, learning hours per week and details of tutorial support. The Course is of 60 weeks duration, arranged in two consecutive periods of 30 weeks each, i.e., two academic years, in what is known as an extended full time mode. Unit 1: Character and Movement Analysis (60 Credits), This is a unit presenting a number of short directed project briefs, workshops and a lecture /seminar programme. It is intended to provide a set of practical tools for critical and creative exploration of the orientation of your work and direction. It will cover life drawing, character design and development, anatomy, locomotion, motion analysis and performative approaches to animation. This will range from the representation of physical forces to representing weight; timing; anatomical articulation: how humans, animals and objects move; performance: psychological motivation and emotional reactions shown through facial and body acting; lip-synching and the representation of speech. Unit 2: Applied Character Animation (120 credits), Unit 2 will consist of longer independent and collaborative, group projects that apply and extend the subjects covered in Unit 1 and further develop professional practice, communication skills, storytelling abilities and a contextual understanding of critical debate within animation theory. There will be a mixture of live briefs set by external agencies and self-originated projects. You will be expected to work with a higher level of independence. Through reflection on your practice, you will be encouraged to develop a specialisation in the area of your own particular interest. Distinctive features of the course: Identify and list those characteristics that distinguish your course from other, similar courses. Refer to both the student experience on t he course and future possible career opportunities. rather than trying to offer a broad course that covers all aspects of a complex subject, it specialises in the one area of animation of characters; the course broadens and challenges your contextual awareness of animation as well as enabling you to gain advanced skills in communication, project management and technique; the course extends established links with the Drama Centre enabling an unparalleled application of performance methodologies to the practice of animation through a series of classes in Storytelling, Acting and Movement 5

6 studies; classes in Animation History & Theory, Life Drawing and Anatomy compliment the technical animation curriculum; the course is supported and advised by Visiting Professor Shelly Page, Dreamworks; the course involves simulated work experience through team projects, while each first-year student is allocated a current practitioner as a mentor; the course benefits from a wide range of commercial and creative contacts including the National Gallery; the course benefits from the extensive alumni networking community that the PGDip Character Animation course established. Recruitment and Admissions Admission Policy/Selection Criteria Summarise relevant details contained in the validation papers i.e. list the methods used in selection such as interviewing. Selection criteria should be fully listed. All applicants will normally be interviewed so as to confirm the appropriateness of the course to their needs and the potential to succeed on the course. Selection for interview will be by submission of a portfolio of work. The portfolio should consist of the following: Work that includes a range of drawings indicating the interest in the observation and analysis of human and animal forms; Work that shows a perception of time - storyboards, character designs, figure studies in motion, etc. Applicants will be selected on the basis of the following criteria: the quality of the applicant s observation; visualisation skills as evidenced in the portfolio; the commitment and potential to realise the objectives within the timeframe of the course. Entry Requirements List the entry requirements relevant to the course. An applicant will be considered for admission who has already achieved an educational level equivalent to an Honours Degree. Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate their competence in English to a minimum IELTS Level 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in any one paper for entry, by the production of an IELTS Certificate or evidence of an equivalent level of achievement. 6

7 International Applicants: We welcome applications from international students and will be pleased to help with the application process. To receive advice and help with your application you are invited to contact one of the University's local representatives in your own country or one of our International Student Advisors in London. See Admission with Academic Credit: An applicant may be considered for admission at a point in the Course later than the start of the planned programme of study, provided that the applicant has fulfilled, in a way judged to be equivalent, the requirements of the intended programme of study prior to the proposed point of entry. In order for an applicant to be admitted with academic credit, the University must be satisfied that by successfully completing the remaining part of the course, the applicant would have fulfilled the objectives of the course and have the opportunity to attain the standard required for the award. Admission Procedures The selection procedures for the course must adhere to the Equal Opportunities Policy of UAL. The selection procedures for the course adhere to the Equal Opportunities policy of the University of the Arts London. Course Diagram Insert a course diagram which includes; units and their credit values, plus credit values per year/level, category of units (i.e. core or specialist), progression routes, years/levels of the course, any other relevant characteristics that distinguishes the course See below 7

8 MA Character Animation (year one) Unit 1: Character & Movement Analysis (20 credits) MA Character Animation (year two) Unit 2: Applied Character Animation (120 credits) continued