CQUniversity Unit Profile
DGTL11001 Foundations of Animation
Foundations of Animation
All details in this unit profile for DGTL11001 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit is designed to provide students with a foundation in animation practice. Students will develop animations, applying theoretical concepts to practical solutions using industry-standard software.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 1
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2017

Brisbane
Bundaberg
Distance
Mackay
Noosa
Rockhampton
Sydney

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Practical Assessment
Weighting: 30%
2. Practical Assessment
Weighting: 30%
3. Practical Assessment
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Unit evaluation

Feedback

The structure of the unit web site could be improved by presenting the content for each weekly module on a single web page rather than distributing it across multiple web pages.

Recommendation

The structure of the unit web site will be reviewed.

Feedback from Unit evaluation

Feedback

More time is needed between the due dates for the storyboard assignment and the final assignment to allow feedback to be applied.

Recommendation

The due dates for assessment items will be reviewed.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. knowledge and understanding about the history and context of contemporary animation, particularly in online environments
  2. familiarity and competency with traditional animation techniques and principles using industry-standard software
  3. analytical and problem-solving abilities which can be applied to practical solutions for specific industry requirements and issues.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Practical Assessment - 30%
2 - Practical Assessment - 30%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Practical Assessment - 30%
2 - Practical Assessment - 30%
3 - Practical Assessment - 40%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

The Animator's Survival Kit

(2001)
Authors: Richard Williams
Faber
London London , United Kingdom
ISBN: 0571202284
Binding: Paperback

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Adobe After Effects CC
  • Adobe Media Encoder CC
  • Adobe Photoshop CC
  • Adobe Premiere CC
  • Google Chrome
  • Graphics Tablet (Recommended)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Andrew Martin Unit Coordinator
a.martin@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 10 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

Unit Overview

History of Animation: Caves to Computers

Principles of Animation: Overview, Squash and Stretch, Slow In and Slow Out, Timing (and Spacing)

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 17 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

History of Animation: Before Mickey

Principles of Animation: Arcs, Staging

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 24 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

History of Animation: A New Medium

Principles of Animation: Anticipation, Exaggeration

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 31 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

History of Animation: Walt Disney

Principles of Animation: Follow Through and Overlapping Action

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Practical Assessment Due: Week 4 Friday (4 Aug 2017) 11:00 pm AEST
Week 5 Begin Date: 07 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

History of Animation: Puppets and Stop-Motion

Principles of Animation: “Flexibility”

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 14 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 21 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

History of Animation: Limited Animation

Principles of Animation: “Walks”

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 28 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

History of Animation: Anime

Principles of Animation: Secondary Action, "Character"

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 04 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

History of Animation: Alternative Animation and Motion Graphics

Principles of Animation: “Weight”

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Practical Assessment Due: Week 8 Friday (8 Sept 2017) 11:00 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 11 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

History of Animation: Computer Graphics

Principles of Animation: “Rhythm”

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

History of Animation: Women in Animation

Principles of Animation: Solid Drawing, Appeal

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 25 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

History of Animation: Australian Animation

Principles of Animation: “Lip Sync”

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 02 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

History of Animation: Documentaries

Principles of Animation: “Acting for Animators”

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Practical Assessment Due: Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017) 11:00 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 09 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 16 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Practical Assessment

Task Description

This assessment requires you to complete the first three (3) tutorial exercises and compile them into a single video. The video must adhere to the technical specifications and submission requirements specified in the assessment criteria. Video tutorials are provided to guide you through the process.

Please refer to the unit website (Moodle) for a detailed assessment description and criteria.


Assessment Due Date

Week 4 Friday (4 Aug 2017) 11:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 6 Friday (25 Aug 2017)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

Adherence to technical specifications and submission requirements

Application of principles of animation

Competence with medium and/or software

Please refer to the unit website (Moodle) for detailed assessment criteria.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
You must upload a single video containing all three (3) exercises to Vimeo and submit the URL to the unit website (Moodle). Do not submit video files directly to the unit website (Moodle).

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • knowledge and understanding about the history and context of contemporary animation, particularly in online environments


Graduate Attributes
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence

2 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Practical Assessment

Task Description

This assessment requires you to complete the second three (3) tutorial exercises and compile them into a single video. The video must adhere to the technical specifications and submission requirements specified in the assessment criteria. Video tutorials are provided to guide you through the process.

Please refer to the unit website (Moodle) for a detailed assessment description and criteria.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Friday (8 Sept 2017) 11:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2017)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

Adherence to technical specifications and submission requirements

Application of principles of animation

Competence with medium and/or software

Please refer to the unit website (Moodle) for detailed assessment criteria.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
You must upload a single video containing all three (3) exercises to Vimeo and submit the URL to the unit website (Moodle). Do not submit video files directly to the unit website (Moodle).

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • familiarity and competency with traditional animation techniques and principles using industry-standard software
  • analytical and problem-solving abilities which can be applied to practical solutions for specific industry requirements and issues.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

3 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Practical Assessment

Task Description

This assessment requires you to animate a character walk cycle using one of the templates provided. The video must adhere to the technical specifications and submission requirements specified in the assessment criteria.

Please refer to the unit website (Moodle) for a detailed assessment description and criteria.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017) 11:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (20 Oct 2017)


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

Adherence to technical specifications and submission requirements

Application of principles of animation

Competence with medium and/or software

Please refer to the unit website (Moodle) for detailed assessment criteria.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
You must upload a single video to Vimeo and submit the URL to the unit website (Moodle). Do not submit video files directly to the unit website (Moodle).

Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?