KNB125 Animation History and Context

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This introductory unit addresses key historical moments, thinking, and practices that have shaped the animation industry. Animation involves a broad range of creative approaches in the production of expressions for the dynamic screen practice. Animation in its truest form conveys believability, often fabricated through frame by frame construction. This knowledge will enable you to progress into units such as KNB135 Animation Aesthetics and KNB215 Animation Performance.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Develop a broad and coherent understanding of the historical development of forms, styles, and practices of animation with a focus on the techniques and concepts underpinning the practice of animation.
2. Proficiently apply animation technical skills in the creation of animated objects.
3. Develop critical/reflective frameworks for the contextualisation of personal animation and artistic practice.
4. Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning the field of animation practice.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit incorporates theory and practice and engages you in your learning through a problem-based learning approach. Learning is facilitated through lectures, video content, readings and tutorials with activities designed to incrementally build your ability with, and understanding of the craft of animation. The readings, video content and lectures introduce methods, concepts and theories whereas the tutorials include discussions, applications and demonstrations of animation practices, concepts and theories.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

During tutorials, you will have the opportunity to receive formative feedback on your animation tasks. There will be opportunities in tutorials to present your developing ideas to your peers and teaching staff for feedback.

Additionally, feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:

• criteria sheet grading of summative pieces
• comments on summative assessment outcomes in addition to criteria sheets via in class discussions and/or QUT Canvas
• general comments back to the cohort via QUT Canvas and within classes.

Assessment

Overview

For this unit you are required to research, draw, explore techniques and complete introductory exercises. This is the opportunity for you to grasp and demonstrate an understanding of the rudiments of animation.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Canvas site for this unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Action Analysis

Create a collection of work that demonstrates a comprehension of movement— both exaggerated and realistic—drawing from historical references. Document the evidence of the relationship between history and practice.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Motion Design Project

Identify and animate simple integrated actions as indicated in the given brief. Research, reflect, demonstrate and document the processes involved in the development of your integrated action.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Costs

The unit requires a digital stylus compatible with Cintiq tablets, an animation software subscription and traditional art materials. Alternative arrangements may be available for students experiencing financial hardship. Refer to the unit Canvas site for more information.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Thomas, F., 1912, Johnston, O., & Thomas, F. (1995). The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation (1st Hyperion ed.). New York: Hyperion.

Wells, P., 1961, & Hardstaff, J. (2008). Re-imagining Animation: The changing face of the moving image. Worthing: AVA Academia.

Wells, P., 1961. (1998; 2013). Understanding Animation. New York; London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781315004044

Williams, R., 1933. (2009). The Animator’s Survival Kit (Expand ed.). London: Faber and Faber.

Risk Assessment Statement

Course Learning Outcomes

KK34 Bachelor of Fine Arts

1. Cite and discuss a broad and coherent knowledge of historical and contemporary cultural contexts for creative practice, including the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges.
   Relates to: ULO1
2. Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO4
3. Demonstrate technical proficiency in at least one area of your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO2
4. Formulate and apply an independent perspective through reflection and by acting on the informed critique of others.
   Relates to: ULO3