Understand animation requirements

This OS unit is about understanding the project brief, product requirements and methodology/technique(s) to be used for production

Understand Animation Requirements

Explaination of importance of media and entertainment

Role and responsibility of an animator

Understand Animation Requirements

• technical terms associated with animation
• creative and technical requirements of the project with Director, ArtDirector and Supervisors
• Identify the concept and/or style of animation, script, storyboard and animatic
• quality standards to be maintained

Understand Animation Requirements

• Identify and list the technical details like aspect ratio, output format, list of deliverables and their respective output format
• Identify and list various parameters of the end-product that would influence production requirements (e.g. duration, style, number of characters, subject and storyline, culture and period the story is based in, effects required, format, music etc.)

Understand Animation Requirements

• Identify the treatment of the output that needs to be produced and the volume of the final output
• List the shot sequence (high- level) and continuity/consistency required
• Select an appropriate animation technique based on the output required. This could include: 2D animation, 3D Animation

Understand animation requirements

• The fundamentals and principles of animation KB2.
• The principles of animation, posing and character emotion KB3. the basic rules of animation including squash and stretch, anticipation, staging, straight action, pose-to-pose, follow-through, overlapping action, ease in ease out, exaggeration, timing, appeal and secondary action

Understand Animation Requirement

• Life drawing including human anatomy, emotions, actions and expressions
• Production concepts and their applicability to each project

Understand animation requirements

• manage decision on suitable course of action
• document creative and production requirements, for oneself or the wider team, in an organized manner
• work effectively as a member of the team and help realise overall timelines
• prioritise work-products and tasks based on requirements

Conceptualise Creative Ideas for Production

research and find character references that aid and inspire designs, including:

• previously executed animation work-products
• animations products available in the public domain
• artwork and other human, animal and creature behavioral videos

Conceptualise creative ideas for production

• generate creative concepts and ideas for production using the concept artwork prepared by the designers, including:
• character’s look, colors, dressing, attitude and behavior
• character expressions, emotions, poses
• character movement (e.g. walk, run, jump) and timing (body mechanics)
• costume designs
• color, lighting concepts and shadow placement, Environment

Conceptualise Creative Ideas for Production

• The guidelines provided by the Director, Animation Supervisor and the Producer with respect to characters and look and feel of the end-product
• The elements/concept artwork (prepared by the Character Designers and the Background/Layout designers) and the colour/lighting/shadow keys (prepared by the art director, colour key artists)
• The resources that are going to be used for production

Conceptualise creative ideas for production

• The trends in animation and reference work-products produced before that closely relate to the style and technique that needs to be produced
• How to observe and study human behavior and expressions to help visualise concepts KB3. how to enact and emote
• How to create hook up poses and animation KB5. how to use camera angles to emphasize performance
• New media technology including what is good for the web, mobile, tablets
• How to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the hardware, software being used in the production pipeline

Conceptualise creative ideas for production

• interpret the storyboard/animatic correctly and understand the mood of the sequence/shot
• research visual and written content to find appropriate references to be used during animation
• keep apprised of the trends and work-products that are being produced in the market

Plan tools and workflow

• Understanding the software tools to be used for production
• Understanding and following the work plan

Plan Tools and Workflow

• 2d animation: Toon Boom Harmony, Adobe Flash, Hand-drawing
• 3D animation: Autodesk Maya, XSI, Motion Builder, 3D Studio Max, Blender
• other custom and in-house tools
• the production process followed by the organization
• the production process and creative brief

Plan tools and workflow

• Evaluate timelines for production in accordance to the production schedule (supervisor)
• List the production workflow/schedule, deliverables and timelines with the Director, Art Director and Supervisors

Plan tools and workflow

• The software tools and equipment available in-house and/or through thirdparty providers
• The nuances of various tools and how to suggest the best tool suitable for the production
• Traditional drawing tools and techniques KB4. how to plan a shot-break-up

Plan Tools and Workflow

• Evaluate timelines for production in accordance to the production schedule (supervisor)
• List the production workflow/schedule, deliverables and timelines with the Director, Art Director and Supervisors

Produce 2D animation

• Follow the storyboard for composition i.e. positioning of the character with respect to the background and camera to create the desired animation
• Draw/source key frame drawings to establish a reference point for strong poses Incorporate audio/music assets

Produce 2D animation

• Create shadows for animation using pre- defined lighting keys
• Bring assets together to produce sequences and scenes/shots as per requirements and ensuring continuity
• Ensure that the hook-up/transition from one scene to another is done properly
• Create compositions with layers and build a perspective view in the scene/shot.

Produce 2D Animation

• Work effectively within the team and with other departments, namely, assets, lighting and effects
• Critically review animation produced, keeping in mind the creative and design specifications and producer brief
• Refine the output based on deviations observed and/or modifications required within requisite timelines

Produce 2D Animation

• Refine the output based on deviations observed and/or modifications required within requisite timelines
• Ensure that the work-products meet quality standards (so that they can be approved with minimum iterations) and are delivered within the requisite timelines
• Organise, store and manage workproducts into file formats using standard file naming conventions and maintain assets for further use.
• Communicate with junior animators regarding the project specifications to meet the production delivery as scheduled
• Apply principles of design, 2D animation and film-making to create sequences and scenes/shots