KNB315 Advanced Animation Practice
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | KNB315 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | 60cp of completed study from Animation (KNB%) |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,020 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $4,944 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | KNB315 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 60cp of completed study from Animation (KNB%) |
Overview
Animators have a long tradition of pioneering new approaches and ideas of animation through experimental animation practice. This capstone unit offers you an opportunity to engage with this tradition by undertaking your own independent or collaborative study of animation through a practice-based inquiry into core concepts and current themes of animation. In this unit, you will be able to specialise in your desired aspects of animation production, create innovative and unique animation works, build content for your individualised portfolio and gain a depth of understanding of animation as a field of study, preparing you for a career in the animation industry.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Research, evaluate, and apply knowledge of animation production methodologies, techniques and concepts.
- Demonstrate initiative, professionalism and ethical judgement while working independently and collaboratively in complex animated project situations.
- Critically reflect on your own work to iteratively develop and produce high quality, clear, impactful screen content that engages audiences.
- Demonstrate complex problem-solving in the iterative development of animated work for professional and academic portfolios.
Content
The content of this unit revolves around individual exploration and practice-led research concepts in the field of animation production. Students will focus on individualized learning and development, either as part of a group or individual project.
Students will be given the opportunity to select and explore a specific aspect of animation production that aligns with their interests and goals. Through hands-on practice, they will delve into their chosen area and gain practical experience in its application. The unit emphasizes the development of industry-facing, portfolio outcomes, allowing students to showcase their skills and accomplishments in their chosen specialization.
Furthermore, this unit serves as a gateway to scholarship and research in animation. It provides students with a foundation for further academic pursuits and encourages them to engage with scholarly work in the field, fostering a deeper understanding of the theoretical underpinnings and research methodologies relevant to animation production.
You will be encouraged to critically evaluate the environmental impact of your animation practice, workflows, pipelines and technology and develop sustainable work practices. Through immersion in your creative animation practice, you will expand your range of skills and depth of disciplinary knowledge enabling you to identify specific career paths within the field of animation.
This unit provides an opportunity to continue productions started within Advanced Animation Studio with a focus on your own practice within the larger project landscape, or to develop your own independent project.
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will learn by engaging in the following:
lectures will provide theoretical, cultural and contextual frameworks for animation studies, and tutorials will focus on critical discussion and analysis of key texts, animation works and practices. In studio-based activities, you will develop creative and critical works to explore your chosen aspects of animation, as devised in your negotiated assessment, and benefit from feedback on works in progress through individual and group critiques.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will gain progressive feedback in this unit by participating in regular reviews and critiques with academics and peers, discussing writing and animation work in development. You will also receive written feedback on your Assessment 1: Practice-based Research Proposal, which will directly relate to and inform assessments 2 and 3.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessments for this unit, each of which build upon the previous assessment to create a cohesive project outcome which may be a group or individual project. The first assignment is a written proposal to contextualise your proposed creative project and individual practice. The second requires you to document and participate in the iterative development of the creative work. In the final assessment task you will present your creative work within the context of the research proposal.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Practice-based Research Proposal
Research and write a literature/contextual review that frames your chosen area of animation in relation to key authors/practitioners, critical texts, animations and methods of practice in the field.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Cycles of practice and contextualisation
Undertake a practice-based enquiry based on a project proposal. Critically evaluate and document the iterative development of your project in a reflective journal.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Project outcomes and dissemination
Present the outcomes from a practice-based enquiry including the creative component at a symposium.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
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.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
All students are requested to visit and review the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages (CIESJ Tier 1 HSE requirement).
You will be advised if you are required to complete a Tier 2 CIESJ Health and Safety Induction which is provided by the technician on site in the theatre, workshop or studio, or a Tier 3 CIESJ Health and Safety Induction which is a hands on induction on specific machinery.
This unit involves substantial computer-based work. You are advised to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work, and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.
Costs
Depending on the nature of the creative project, you may be required to use a WACOM CINTIQ tablet pen (approx. $170). (Staff will advise on suitable version/model in Week 1.) There are a limited number of pens supplied but students are advised to purchase their own.
Resources
This unit draws upon articles from leading animation journals and critical texts from the field. In addition, students in this unit will have access to advanced animation and virtual production technologies depending on their project needs.
Additional resources are also available through the Canvas site for this unit. 24-hour labs are accessible - on campus – during term time.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Pearce, S. (2020). Knowledge production as process in arts practice as research. Animation Practice, Process & Production, 9(1), 21–35. https://doi.org/10.1386/ap3_000015_1
Wells, P. (2020). Batman’s theories and attitudes: “Re-positioning” practice as research. Animation Practice, Process & Production, 9(1), 131–144. https://doi.org/10.1386/ap3_000021_1
Recommended text(s)
Animation: an interdisciplinary journal - http://journals.sagepub.com/home/anm
Animation Studies - https://journal.animationstudies.org/
Animation Practice, Process & Production - https://www.intellectbooks.com/animation-practice-process-production
Furniss M (2014) Art in Motion: Animation Aesthetics, rev. edn.
Gray C (1996) Inquiry Through Practice: Developing Appropriate Research Strategies.
Harris M, Husbands L, Taberham P (2019) Experimental Animation: From Analogue to Digital. London: Routledge.
Van Opdenbosch, P. M. (2022). Towards a Conceptual Framework for Abstracted Animation Derived from Motion Captured Movements. Animation, 17(2), 244–261. https://doi.org/10.1177/17468477221102499
Wells, P., & Hardstaff, J. (2008). Re-imagining animation : the changing face of the moving image. AVA Academia.
Reference book(s)
Wells P (1998) Understanding Animation. London: Routledge.
Software
You will make use of a vast array of software depending on the medium and methods of production you undertake for your project.
Risk Assessment Statement
For risks associated with using campus buildings or QUT facilities, refer to the HiQ Health and Safety information.
Depending on the nature of the project, where students are accessing the virtual production studio space or utilising motion capture technology, they will be required to undertake the necessary training.
Every effort is made by QUT staff to ensure that you work in a safe environment. Conversely, you are expected to follow all safety rules, procedures and directions, and to ensure that you do not put at risk the safety of others, or yourself, or of the highest artistic fulfilment of the project in any way.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.CA01 Bachelor of Creative Arts
- 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, Practice-based Research Proposal, Cycles of practice and contextualisation, Project outcomes and dissemination - Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning your field of creative practice.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, ULO4, Practice-based Research Proposal, Cycles of practice and contextualisation, Project outcomes and dissemination - Demonstrate complex problem solving through iterative experimentation and the creative and critical development of ideas and outcomes.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Practice-based Research Proposal, Cycles of practice and contextualisation, Project outcomes and dissemination - Demonstrate technical proficiency and a knowledge of contemporary digital practices and technologies in one or more disciplines and apply these in creative and critical settings.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Practice-based Research Proposal, Cycles of practice and contextualisation, Project outcomes and dissemination - Communicate independent learning clearly and coherently in diverse modes relevant to your field of creative practice.
Relates to: ULO2, Cycles of practice and contextualisation, Project outcomes and dissemination - Communicate, represent, and promote your work in ways relevant to your creative field.
Relates to: ULO1, Practice-based Research Proposal, Cycles of practice and contextualisation, Project outcomes and dissemination - Discern, critically analyse, and synthesise knowledge in complex creative and critical settings.
Relates to: ULO1, Practice-based Research Proposal, Cycles of practice and contextualisation, Project outcomes and dissemination - Work productively as a leader and collaborator in disciplinary and interdisciplinary practices.
Relates to: ULO2, Cycles of practice and contextualisation, Project outcomes and dissemination - Formulate and apply an independent perspective through contextual research, reflection, and by acting on the informed critique of others.
Relates to: ULO1, Practice-based Research Proposal, Cycles of practice and contextualisation, Project outcomes and dissemination - Demonstrate respect for cultural and social differences, sustainability, and work with integrity across all practice and professional settings.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Practice-based Research Proposal, Cycles of practice and contextualisation, Project outcomes and dissemination - Operate with initiative, ethical judgement and professionalism, both alone and in groups.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Practice-based Research Proposal, Cycles of practice and contextualisation, Project outcomes and dissemination