Art Degrees Online

Program Code: ANI Campus: SenecaYork
Duration: 6 Semesters (3 Years) Start Dates: Fall, Winter
Start dates are subject to change
Credential Awarded: Ontario College Advanced Diploma

Program Description

This six semester diploma program is designed to give the student the skills necessary to succeed in both the traditional and computer animation production industry. Developed to meet the specific demands of animation studios in need of highly-trained animators, the curriculum focuses on the development of individual creative expression using experimental and innovative animation techniques. This is accomplished through the artistic application of the theories of motion, timing, storytelling, entertainment and the use of the most current technology required to work successfully in the competitive world of 2D and 3D animation.

Major components include: pre-production, character and location design, writing, storyboarding, production, acting, timing, animation, post-production, lighting, compositing, editing and rendering.

The animation program graduate will be proficient in the use of traditional animation theories, equipment and facilities, and will understand the many technical requirements of producing animation using the latest computer software. The graduate will also be able to draw storyboards, design characters and sets, lay out scenes, light the environment and characters as well as animate the character in a convincing and believable way. Graduates will be able to produce believable characters in entertaining situations for broadcast on the web, television, film, or theatre.

Animation is an artistic work to create moving images by manipulating a variety of technology and technique different from production method of a documentary film. This department produces experts or artists in a 3D animation field who make the best of film, video computer and other new media, making understanding of whole process of 3D animation production such as planning, preparation, main production and latter half of work as well as studying design and art work utilizing diverse techniques according to the field. Mosts of subjects are focalized on making 3D material using design and animation tool based computer.

Fine art principles and practices are the essential forces guiding the mission of the Program in Experimental Animation—a course of study designed for independent and adventurous artists who are interested in personal expression and who regard animation as a highly dynamic, ever-evolving art form. This program offers a framework in which students explore, develop and refine intellectually demanding, aesthetically progressive concepts and professional practices in their personal cinematic artmaking.

The curriculum begins by building a foundation understanding of a variety of animation techniques and concepts. Courses in 2-D drawn and direct animation, stop-motion, and 2-D and 3-D computer animation blend practical knowledge with creative stimulation, while animation history courses provide a detailed examination of all forms of animation art—with a special emphasis on the history of experimental forms. Once foundation studies are completed, students work closely with their mentors and other members of the program’s accomplished faculty as they experiment with and extend their own unique artistic visions. At the advanced levels of the curriculum, students chart a more individualized course of study in consultation with their mentors, who help to custom-tailor coursework according to each student’s particular interests.

The Program in Experimental Animation enjoys a long-standing international reputation for excellence in innovative animation production. Its faculty, students and alumni have consistently won top awards at film festivals in the United States, Europe and Asia, and are widely credited with helping to define the art of animation as we know it today.

Animation at Lincoln is a new and exciting development within the context of moving image, digital visualisation and contemporary narrative; ranging from game artistry, character & creature performance to experimental digital techniques.
“This was an incredible opportunity for me as I didn’t really expect to get such a position straight out of university, and particularly on such a high-profile movie! I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. ”

Graduate, Darren Rodriguez – working on the Harry Potter movie, The Prisoner of Azkaban at Framestore, London

Underpinned by a strong contextual foundation, students gain a broad understanding of the entire animation process, its production ethos, and how to prepare for the future of the medium, with regard to new technologies. The emphasis of the programme is to develop creative animators and artists with flexibility to practice their developing craft in a variety of mediums, and understand how such mediums of 2D traditional drawn animation, and 3D computer generated techniques merge to create unique innovative projects.

Students have the option to build a focused pathway of study in line with their desired career or further study aspiration.
Course Content
Level 1
Animation Principles
Historical & Contextual Practice
Representation & Animation Design
Narrative Design & Development
Animation Practice 01 & Personal Development Plan
Level 2
Sound Design
The Animation Business Case Study
Digital Visualisation & Environmental Design
Animation Practice 02 & Personal Development Plan
Characterisation & Creature Animation
Level 3
Animation Pre-Production
Dissertation
Animation Production & Team Practice
Animation Post Production & Personal Development Plan
Careers

Employment prospects are excellent and graduates in recent years have achieved positions with leading practitioners across the broad spectrum of the animation industry. Many of our students have moved on to careers with top animation studios including Disney, Lionhead, Ubisoft, Framestore-CFC and Channel 4 TV.

New software and hardware in the animation field is creating exciting opportunities in the entertainment, advertising, special effects, education, science and information technology fields. Be part of the excitement as you learn cell animation, puppet animation and traditional animation. Designed as a program that will lead directly into employment, this degree can also be transferred to a 4-year.

First Semester 16.5 Credits
1 cr
ED100 College Seminar 1 cr
3 cr
FA103 Figure Drawing 1 3 cr
3 cr
GC101 Foundation Drawing 3 cr
3 cr
GC133 Introduction to Animation 3 cr
3 cr
GC134 Digital Applications for Animators 3 cr
3 cr
EN101 English 1: Composition 3 cr
.5 cr
PE Physical Education .5 cr
Second Semester 18.5 Credits
3 cr
EN102 English 2: Ideas & Values in Literature 3 cr
3 cr
FA113 Figure Sculpture 1 3 cr
3 cr
GC126 Basic Photography 3 cr
3 cr
GC144 Digital Animation 1 3 cr
3 cr
GC146 Storyboarding 3 cr
3 cr
GC205 Cartooning 3 cr
Third Semester 15.5
3 cr
GC145 Digital Animation 2 3 cr
3 cr
GC231 Advanced Animation Techniques 3 cr
3 cr
MA108 Concepts in Mathematics 3 cr
Art History Elective
Social Science Elective
.5 cr
PE Physical Education .5 cr
Fourth Semester 15.5 Credits
4 cr
GC233 Animation Production Workshop 4 cr
4 cr
GC234 Professional Practices for the Animator 4 cr
Art History Elective
Science Elective
.5 cr

“Animation” is derived from the verb “to animate” — to bring to life.
Unlike a documentary film, which simply reflects the physical world, an animation is a completely constructed reality. In this new world, all kinds of characters, situations and space can be created simply from imagination.
KSU’s Animation course will provide the opportunity for students to dedicate themselves to serious study in this field. Faculty members include experienced animation experts whose work helped Japanese anime to gain world-wide recognition. Our objective is to foster the next generation of leaders creating animations that will bring dreams and inspiration to the world.

Department profile (May 2007):
Undergrad students (first intake 2006): 129
(M: 49; F: 80)
Overseas undergrad students: 8

Curriculum
1st year: Practical training and lectures forming the basis of the four-year course. Students will learn to see animation from the artist’s point of view, gaining knowledge of various processes.
Principles of animation 1 & 2, practical animation 1 & 2, CG animation 1 & 2, animation modeling (basic practice) 1 & 2, theory of animation media, theory of animation industry, history of Japanese animation, history of world animation, research on animation works and artists 1 & 2, history of media
2nd year: Contents of courses will be expanded, with more practical study of techniques, and improvement of skills by pursuing the real nature of animation.
Theory of animation direction 1 & 2, analysis of animation 1 & 2, CG animation 3 & 4, animation modeling expression 1 & 2, stop motion animation 1 & 2, modeling practice 1 & 2, theory of cinema 1 & 2
3rd year: Preparation period for major production (in 4th year)
Animation creation 1 & 2, sound effect practice 1 & 2, CG practical animation 1 & 2, practical animation modeling 1 & 2, theory of scenarios 1 & 2, theory of CG 1 & 2, animation production 1 & 2
4th year: Students express what they have learned in 4 years in their major graduation works.

The increased speed of production means that animated content has spread to interactive events, on-line games, business and educational presentations, as well as ‘shorts’ on mobiles and the web.

This course equips you with a comprehensive understanding, theoretical knowledge and the practical skills for creating products that have audience involvement through animation. Working within a wide range of communication media, you will gain the opportunity to attend film and animation festivals at home and abroad.

In Level 1, you will be immersed within the syllabus for Animation while undertaking specific introductory modules linked to interaction design. In Levels 2 and 3, the majority of your time will be in practical, interactive discipline-specific activities as they relate to animation. We also encourage industrial contact through working on live projects.

The course uses facilities in the University’s digital media production centre, which houses purpose-built production and animation studios. Guest and industry professionals will
visit regularly.

What you do

Interactive Animation produces graduates who create animated content for cross-media. You will gain a comprehensive, practical understanding of creating believability and audience involvement through animation.

At Level 1, you will develop a practical understanding of the cross-media production process and learn skills, issues, concepts and creative processes of animation. You will receive a structured practical grounding in aspects of two dimensional animation (2D), three dimensional (3D) Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), stop motion animation production techniques and interactive coding.

At Level 2, you further your technical knowledge and practical understanding of animation and can choose further coding, graphics, illustration, media production or sound modules.

Level 3 provides guided independent work involving major personal projects in areas of interactive production relevant to your career ambitions.

Where next

Graduates from this course will be able to seek employment in a variety of sectors of the media industry, in new media production and design companies and also games and broadcast companies. Former students have gone on to work at the BBC, Cosgrove Hall Animations, Ragdoll,
Rolls-Royce and Imagemetrix, whilst others are taking a producing route or working in education and training. The quality of the animation work produced within the faculty has been recognised nationally.

What our students say

“I’ve been pretty busy here at Ragdoll, and I’m just in the thick of finishing of a TV series called “Blips” which is now transmitting on CiTV monday – friday at around 3:30 up until christmas. Take a look at one of the episodes and you will be able to see the kind of work I have been doing!”

Adam Fenwick Graduated 2004 Currently employed at Ragdoll Stratford Upon Avon

What it’s about

Animation concerns “the illusion of life” using a sequence of hand drawn, modelled or
computer-generated characters. The course enables you to specialise in this creative area and equips you with the fundamentals of animation production skills including life drawing, storyboarding, animatics and narrative dialogue, through to completed film utilising 2D ink and paint, 3D computer and stop motion processes. You will work toward a professional portfolio and showreel of work.

What you do

The course aims to develop you as a creative animator. We provide demonstrations of industry standard equipment and techniques, animation production though workshops, lectures and seminars, peer critiques and individual tutorials, centred on a series of animation projects.

Level 1 provides a structure for learning the basic principles of animation as sought after by industry. These include timing and spacing, cycles, metamorphosis and various exercises, utilising traditional cartoon, experimental, 2D, 3D and computer aided animation.

At Level 2 we start to look at the development of characters and explore the narrative of animation. This includes scriptwriting classes, lip sync and professional audio production. Visiting professionals are involved in introducing a variety of animation practices direct from contemporary animation studios and students work on a collaborative project in animation.

Level 3 encourages and emphasises professional practice. You will be expected to produce an animated film as part of your showreel. Personal tutorials support you as you develop expertise through a negotiated programme of study, culminating in the exhibition of your paper-based and film work in the graduate exhibition.

Where next

Our animation graduates gain employment as animators/modellers in commercial studios or start their own business.

We operate a work placement scheme at the Bradford Animation Festival.

Have you also considered?
3D Character Animation and Special Effects
Stop Motion Animation and Puppet Making

Fact FileQualification:
BA(Hons)
Faculty/School:
Faculty of Arts, Media and Design
Location:
Stoke Campus
Course Length:
Normally three years full-time.
A part-time route is available.
UCAS Code:
Route A W616, Route B E616