BAHons Animation

PROJECT BRIEF

Project Title
Unit Title
Level/Term

FMP
Final Major Project
LEVEL 3 Terms 2 and 3

Credit Value
and Weighting
Unit Code

100% of 60 credits
ANI14303

Date of Issue
4th January 2016
You will have a final submission date and a formative that will consist of two
pitching sessions.
Formative Pitching Session 1: Term2, Week commencing the 15th of
March (Dates and details to be confirmed)

Submission
Date

Formative Pitching Session 2: Term3, Week commencing the 12th of April

(Dates and details to be confirmed)
Summative hand in: Term 3, 31st May. 13:00 PM.
Please submit to Moodle
Send blog links to d.dalli@rave.ac.uk a n d u p l o a d t o M o o d l e .
Students must refer to their course timetable (via Moodle) for all learning
and teaching activities.

Unit Leader

Daniel Dalli
d.dalli@rave.ac.uk

Project Leader Joshua Griffin

and Other Staff j.griffin@rave.ac.uk
Project Brief

This unit is your Final Major Project.

Having identified your specialist role and pitched your idea in Portfolio, you
will be required to either develop it through to a finished production or work
in a collaboration, culminating in an advanced and polished piece of work in
preparation for your chosen industry, and the end of year show.
The emphasis is on the output (e.g, film, animation, games), aiming to focus
the finished piece as a deliverable, simulating industry practices and
expectations. Each output should have an appropriate duration in
connection with the chosen medium and available resources.
The final piece can be completed as an individual, or as a team, or as
collaborating individuals, though must include an element of collaboration
within Ravensbourne.
The unit requires the creation of an informed and detailed development blog,
presenting your research, processes and experimentations throughout the
two terms. This is the main body of work, and should be updated and

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BAHons Animation

maintained weekly.
A breakdown video must be created to show both your role and advanced
specialised knowledge of that role.
You will also be required to submit a high quality report, evaluating and
reflecting on the process and your development throughout this unit.
- Understand how to produce work that challenges or extends boundaries
within professional limitations.
- Develop confidence and versatility challenging processes that allow
experimentation to inform risks and extend the quality of professional work.
- A comprehensive understanding of the processes and working methods, in
idea generation, development and resolution of creative ideas, concepts and
solutions.

Learning
Outcomes

- Produce finished narrative work, which demonstrates a professional level

of operational skill in appropriate discipline specific software.
- Develop a mature approach to communicate and present self initiated
projects whilst collaborating effectively on other students projects within and
across disciplines.
- Show ambition, motivation and professionalism in the processes involved
in proposing and producing multiple projects, showing an awareness of
sustainability issues within production planning.
- Reflect and contextualise a body of work that can inform your learning
including the creative process, personal development and the evolution of
ideas.

Assessable
Elements and
Submission
Requirements

Assessable Elements
Portfolio of projects

Percentage of Project Grade

100%

1.Understand how to produce work that challenges or extends

boundaries within professional limitations.
(Marking Criteria: Research, Subject Knowledge and Personal and
professional Development.)
Your final project is to challenge your personal and professional
understanding of the industry/sector of your choice. Identifying your
personal strengths and weaknesses you will be required to push
yourself beyond your comfort zone. You will be researching your
sector, identifying current trends and needs whilst keeping an open
mind and being creative.
2.Develop confidence and versatility challenging processes that allow
experimentation to inform risks and extend the quality of professional
work. (Marking Criteria: Experimentation and Personal and Professional
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Development.)
Develop your professional development through experimentation
within your project, both technically and creatively. Find new working
methods related to your roles to improve workflows, skills and
knowledge. Overcome and improve upon issues identified in Learning
Outcome 1.
Research, implement and evaluate roles that 'Bracket' and
compliment your chosen specialist role, to develop yourself into a
rounded and informed artist.
Research and Develop your specialist skills to an advanced level
when not actively involved in your final piece's production stage.
These can be unrelated to the content of your final piece, though the
research should be of value to your role in the production. For
example:
Specialist Role of Animator, film with dog characters.
Pre production 'Down Time': Tests/makes quadruped
rig. Researches dog movements.
Production: Animates on final film.
3.A comprehensive understanding of the processes and working
methods, in idea generation, development and resolution of creative
ideas, concepts and solutions. (Marking Criteria: Analysis , Technical
Competence and Communication and presentation)
This is the main body of your work. Once identifying issues in
Learning Outcome 1 and developing processes in Learning Outcome
2, use Learning Outcome 3 to show the outcomes from the two.
Demonstrate a range of processes and techniques that depicts your
analysis is important. This will be a compilation of all your creative
and technical work.
VIDEO BREAKDOWN
A compilation of your individual work. Using your blog as support, you
are to refine your submission in the form of a video breakdown of your
work and development (Examples will be shown). The work should be
clearly presented with headings and titles that define your process
and represents your input to the final pieces you have worked on and
what you have not.
4.Produce finished narrative work, which demonstrates a professional
level of operational skill in appropriate discipline specific software.
(Marking Criteria: Technical Competence.)
FINISHED PIECE
This is the final piece, ready in time for the final submission date
below. Evidence of advanced technical ability will be evaluated at this
point to see how effective you were in meeting your initial objectives
and the final deadline.
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BAHons Animation

Focusing on a range of content you are encouraged to collaborate

and work with other animation students to develop a final piece whilst
considering other collaborations with students in other specialist
related areas; Post Production, Digital Film, Photography, Motion
Graphics, Sound Design and Music.
The duration of the piece should reflect your chosen output and be
feasible within available resources.
5.Develop a mature approach to communicate and present selfinitiated projects whilst collaborating effectively on other students
projects within and across disciplines. (Marking Criteria: Communication
and Presentation, Collaborative and independent professional working.)
This is to evaluate both your attendance and communication skills,
not only within your team but with tutors and others outside your
specialist area. Your approach and attitude to your work is essential,
as is, respecting others, attending group meetings, online
communication, listening to feedback and engagement with the
course.
6.Show ambition, motivation and professionalism in the processes
involved in proposing and producing multiple projects, showing an
awareness of sustainability issues within production planning.
(Marking Criteria: Communication and Presentation and Personal and
Professional Development.)
Project management is key here. Knowing your objectives and
carefully planning your time to sustain the level of work expected is
required to meet deadlines, and successfully complete the unit.
Making time to develop and experiment is important but time to
produce the final piece is essential. You must understand your
personal needs, and those you collaborate with, to make working with
others as efficient as possible. Consider, daily/weekly schedules, todo lists, feedback sessions, evidence of communication and project
management (Shotgun, Ftrack, Asana, Tomsplanner).
7.Reflect and contextualise a body of work that can inform your
learning including the creative process, personal development and the
evolution of ideas. (Marking Criteria: Analysis and Personal and
Professional Development.)
PUBLISHED REPORT
This is a report evaluating your personal progression, which should
be in the region of 3000-3500 words, summarising your final project.
The core of the report is Reflection; looking back at your objectives
and see how these have been met. Analyse where you have
exceeded, failed, engaged, developed, and communicated
effectively.
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The Report must be of a very high presentational standard and be

designed using good layout, typography, photography and even
illustration skills. Each report should use a magazine style,
incorporating headings, sub headings and paragraphs of your
research. This can be printed or digital, for example using Joomag.
The report also needs to be in a PDF format.
Your published report should include all the projects in which you
take a substantial and significant role in, as well as any other of your
supporting roles.
All research, images and external references quoted in your
journal need to be cross-referenced in your bibliography and
adhere to the Harvard referencing system.
DEVELOPMENT BLOG
You are to carry out an advanced level of research and experimentation
within a role related to the finished pieces you are working on. This research
should be seen as a deeper learning activity which you should reflect and
critically analyse your progress within your blog.
The blog should be updated weekly and clearly demonstrate your problem
solving and analysis skills. You need to post visual, written research,
sketches, designs, tests and snapshots of sequential stages through which
your output is developed.
You are expected to research, analyse and experiment areas that surround
and compliment your main specialist role in your final project. This
'Bracketing' is to support your development as a rounded artist, for example:
1. Pre Production Main Role: Concept Artist. Supporting roles:
Modelling, Texturing, Rigging.
2. Production Main Role: Animator. Supporting roles: Concept, Rigging,
Modelling.
3. Post Production Main Role: Compositor. Supporting roles: Lighting,
Rendering, Live action.
Your bracketing subjects will be confirmed with your tutor.
During 'Down time' in the production cycle, you are expected to carry out
advanced Research and Development in your chosen specialist role,
creating tests and investigating future issues that may arise in your final
piece. For example:
1. Animator specialist role:
1. PRE: Research quadruped movements, and test. (R&D)
2. PROD: Animate on Final Film.
3. POST: Animate cameras and assist with edit. (Bracketing)
You are expected to develop your professional development skills through
the use of production schedules, for example; project plans and Gantt
charts.
You are also expected to provide evidence and analyse a range of
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communication methods.
Due to the amount of work generated for a final finished piece, it is highly
recommended to organise your blog using tabs. Categorising the roles you
are involved in by including them under the seven learning outcomes is
advised.
Submission Requirement Checklist

Development Blog Weekly development journal covering all seven

learning outcomes.
Video Breakdown Breakdown of your individual work with titles of
roles.
Published Report 3000 - 3500 word report, created to a high
magazine standard.
Finished Piece Your finished final piece. By this we mean the
following three practical submissions:
Collaborative piece(s) of work (e.g. Working on a Greenlit
Project, or working on your own with others)
R&D piece(s) (e.g. Working on your specialism in your Downtime,
in order to improve)
Bracketing piece(s) (e.g. Researching and producing content on
an area that 'brackets' your specialism)

This unit runs throughout terms 2 and 3. You will have a final submission
date and a formative that will consist of two pitching sessions.
Formative Pitching Session 1: Term2, Week commencing the 15th of
March (Dates and details to be confirmed)
Formative Pitching Session 2: Term3, Week commencing the 12th of April
(Dates and details to be confirmed)
Summative hand in: Term3, 31st May 13:00 PM.
Degree Show: 15th - 17th June.
Submission Technical Requirements:
H.264 Quicktime mp4 1920x1080 25fps
ON MOODLE:
2. An original version of your report. (Harvard Referencing)
3. A PDF version of your report.
4. A link to your blog.
5. A PDF of your blog with images and working links included.
IN PERSON:
A USB stick with:
1. Your Video Breakdown.
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BAHons Animation

2. A copy of your Final Piece. (One submitted for each piece)

Cabrera, C. (2009) An Essential Introduction to Maya Character
Rigging. Oxford: Focal Press
Luhta, E. (2013) How to Cheat in Maya 2013. Oxford: Focal Press.
Hooks, E. (2000) Acting for animators: a complete guide to performance
animation. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Lanier, L. (2013) Digital Compositing with Nuke. Burlington, Ma: Focal
Press.
Hart John (1999) The Art of the Story Board: Storytelling for TV and
Animation, Boston Mass, Oxford: Focal Press
Katz Stephan D (1991) Film Directing Shot by Shot visualizing from
concept to screen. Ventura Blvd: Michael Weise productions
Scott, J. (2002) How to write for animation, Woodstock. NY: Overlook
Press.
Reading List

Wilkins, Mark, R. (2003) MEL scripting for Maya animators. San Francisco:
Morgan
Kaufmann.

McLean Fraser.(2011) The Art and Evolution of Animation Layout,

San Francisco: Chronicle books
3DTotal. (2011) Digital Art Masters: Volume 6, 3DTotal Publishing.

3DTotal. (2010) Digital Art Masters: Volume 5, 3DTotal Publishing.

Recommended Reading:
Vineyard, Jeremy. (2000) Setting up your shots: great camera
moves every filmmaker should know, Michael Wiese
Productions.
Wright, Steve. (2002) Digital compositing for film and video,
Focal Press. http://www.cinefex.com
http://www.11secondclub.com>
Re-Submission Students who fail this project, or parts thereof, may be required to complete
Requirements a retrieval project which demonstrates that they have achieved the learning
outcomes. Please note attempts at retrievals may be limited.
Students should be aware that retrievals are capped at a bare pass grade
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(D-) unless the extenuating circumstances panel uphold an evidenced

application.
The deadline for retrieval will be determined at a Progress Review or
Assessment Board.
Extensions and Extenuating Circumstances
If you have any other unforeseen and serious difficulties during this unit you
may apply for an extension, or extenuating circumstances. Full details of
how to do this are available from the Registry intranet site at
http://intranet.rave.ac.uk/registry/docs/MITCIRCSFAQ.pdf
Grading and Marking
All projects at Ravensbourne are assessed against the Institutions Grading
Descriptors (http://intranet.rave.ac.uk/quality/a_to_z.htm).
Learning Support
Learning Support is available through Student Services and includes
English as a second language, academic writing support and dyslexia
support.
For more information on the type of support you can access, either visit the
Student Services team via the Information Centre, or refer to the Student
Services information on the Intranet: http://intranet.rave.ac.uk/support/
Student
Support and
Guidance

Alternative assessment arrangements may be made or additional learning

support arranged for students with disabilities or medical conditions which
would impair their performance in meeting the above requirements and who
have registered in advance with Student Services. This must be discussed
and agreed in advance with the Subject Leader and will be reported to the
Board of Examiners.
Referencing
All reading list references must be written in the Harvard style of referencing.
Academic misconduct
Academic misconduct includes cheating, collusion, plagiarism, or any other
attempt to gain unfair advantage. Ravensbourne treats academic
misconduct extremely seriously and the penalty for candidates found guilty
of misconduct or deception may result in permanent exclusion.
Communication, Timetabling and Course Information
For project updates you are required to regularly check your emails, your
Celcat timetable and unit specific content in Moodle. You should also
continue to refer back to your Course Handbook, which contains information
on your course structure and will put this project brief in context:
(http://intranet.rave.ac.uk/quality/CourseHandbooks.htm).

Dan Dalli Joshua Griffin

January 2016