104807 - ANIMATION AND SPECIAL EFFECTS

Subject type: Optional

Coordinator: Rafael Suarez Gómez

Trimester: Second term

Credits: 6

Animation and Special Effects.

Teachers:

Maider Veliz

Fran Pinel

Animation and special effects are procedures present in a wide variety of contexts, from fictional cinema, advertising, education or the art world to video games and web and mobile environments. The aim is to know the different applications from the acquisition of fundamental creative and procedural knowledge and obtain technical training. These technical skills are focused on the subject in two tools, current standards in 2D and 3D animation: After Effects and 3DStudio MAX. Both enable both the creation and digital animation (2D and 3D respectively), as well as the final composition of results under market production standards.

Beyond the technical and applied aspect, the subject focuses on the processes of conceptualization and production of these contents, through the artistic direction and the creation of the necessary elements for the disposition of a good design, of according to the physical and psychological construction of a character, the storytelling linked to its background, and the context and environment in which it is integrated.

That is why the subject has as its driving axis and connector of the two blocks (2D and 3D), the creation of a project bible that will contain the conceptualization of the character, its adaptation to a 2D and 3D imaginary preserving its constitutive criteria, and the revision of all the parts of the creative process, from the concept and initial moodboards, to the achievement of the final animations (going through the processes of modeling and texture). 

This subject has methodological and digital resources to make possible its continuity in non-contact mode in the case of being necessary for reasons related to the Covid-19. In this way, the achievement of the same knowledge and skills that are specified in this teaching plan will be ensured.

Results related to the subject:

• LO1 Understand the art behind an animation, whatever the technique
• LO2 Transfer concepts of animation to other audiovisual forms (cinema, television, photography, etc.).
• LO3 Know the role of the art director.
• LO4 Develop the student's creativity.

Complementary results:

At the end of the course the student must have acquired advanced knowledge and understand theoretical, practical and methodological aspects in the field of animation and post-production of special effects. You must be able to:

• RAC5 Recognize the needs to produce a piece of animation and / or special effects and to solve problems specific to the specialized professional field.
• RAC6 Conceptualize and produce a short piece of Motion Graphics using Adobe After Effetcs as the main tool. 
• RAC7 Gain technical knowledge about the main tool, Adobe After Effects 
• RAC8 Identify the needs of self-learning and training needs to continue advancing and improving in the field of animation and special effects.

40 hours in person in the classroom or online dedicated to:

- Theoretical class sessions based on the teacher's explanation.
- Practical content sessions based on learning and using tools and software for the production of animation and digital effects.

20 hours in person in the classroom or online dedicated to:

- Practices carried out in computer rooms or by means of the personal computer of the student to deepen in the concepts explained in the theoretical classes by means of his application in practical exercises.

81h non-contact hours dedicated to autonomous learning:
- Carrying out individual work.

9h non-contact hours in the classroom dedicated to guided learning:
- Non-contact tutorials for which the student will have telematic resources such as e-mail and the resources of the Tecnocampus intranet. 

All theoretical concepts will be presented in theory classes (large groups). In these classes and at the discretion of the teachers, scoring exercises will also be solved. 
The more practical concepts will be worked on in the laboratory (small groups). In the scheduled sessions, the necessary tools will be given to be able to solve these activities, although it is expected that the student will finish them beyond the laboratory hours in the necessary time for autonomous learning.
Within the hours of autonomous learning are considered the hours that the student dedicates to make a reading of the notes of the corresponding theoretical class the realization of exercises and of works proposed out of the classroom.

Teaching method: class sessions will be taught in person, hybrid or online depending on the possible scenarios during the current course. In any case, all the contents can be taught electronically, with an individualized follow-up of the students' practices.
The necessary software, both in the classroom and in telematics mode is as follows: Zoom, After Effects and 3DMax.
For the case of students working on Mac platforms, the content of the 3D practices is written to be able to be done with the MAYA software.

This course, due to the situation generated by COVID, some of the large group sessions will be held in hybrid format: face-to-face and online (via streaming). This will allow students to rotate to face-to-face classes, respecting the maximum number of students per classroom imposed by the distance measures. When they are not in contact, they will be able to follow the class online from home.
 
With regard to internship sessions in smaller spaces (such as laboratories, studios or sets), where appropriate, work will be carried out simultaneously in several spaces in order to ensure that the conditions established by the safety protocols are met.

Block 1. 3D animation (Maider Véliz).

1. Art direction.

- Dedication:: 4h large group.

- Description: this block works on the concepts and contents necessary to understand the value of art direction and how it can reinforce the creative value of a visual proposal.

2. Animation i rigging bodily.

- Dedication:: 8h large group and 4h small group.

- Description: block in which the initial and fundamental steps for the development of a character from the point of view of creativity are worked.

3. Creating a character

- Dedication: 8h large group and 6h small group.

- Description: the blog is dedicated to the 3D development of the character conceptualized above. From the 2D design and conceptualization of the proposal, it proceeds to its 3D version focused on the phases of modeling, texturing and rendering.

Block 2. 2D Animation and Digital Effects.

1. History of Motion Design and Contemporary Trends.
- Dedication: 2 hours in a large group.
- Description: A tour of the history of Motion Design and its contemporary trends.

2 Motion design and character animation.
- Dedication: 12 hours in a large group and 6 hours in a small group
- Description: Preparation of the material and workflow between software of illustration and animation. Organization and hierarchy of information for 2D animations. Complex notions of animation in After Effects with Duik Bassel. Animation of characters with rigging, connectors and ActionScript (expressions) for the creation of complex animations and cycles.

3. Digital effects and scene composition.
- Dedication: 6 hours in a large group and 4 hours in a small group
- Description: Scene composition techniques. Use of 3D cameras and lights. Integration of digital effects in the scene. Particle systems.

Autonomous learning activities:

1.Complete creation of a character (2D design and 3D creation) (individual). (20% of the final grade)

Putting into practice the concepts assumed in the blocks of art direction, creative development and character creation, the complete process of creating a character will be carried out, from the creative briefing to the 3D renderings, which will serve for the following activities.

Learning outcomes: RA2, RA3, RA4, RAC5.
Competences: E13, E7, G5


2. 2D animation of the character (Rigging) (individual) (20% of the final grade).

Based on the designs and the concept of character carried out in block 1, activity 2 includes the organization, hierarchy and transfer of this design to a 2D context that can be animated in a specific cycle. The practice involves the creation of the character rig, and the use of controllers and programming scripts to achieve an animation consistent with the visual storytelling of the character.

Learning outcomes: RA1, RA2, RA3, RA4, RAC5, RAC6, RAC7
Competences: E13, E2, T2, G5


3. Final project bible (individual) (30% of the final grade).

The third scoring practical part follows the continuity of the two previous phases, to compose a general document or "bible" of the project, which will contain all the phases of the creative process of the character, its definition, 2D and 3D versions of this , as well as the creation of an environment in which to include it with its corresponding animation. The project bible will be accompanied by a final animation project that integrates the composition of the 2D animation of the character (previous practice), within a specific background or environment, on which environmental and contextual effects will also be applied. .

Learning outcomes: RA2, RA3, RA4, RAC5, RAC6, RAC7.
Competences: E13, E7, E2, T2, G5


4. Final exam (individual) (20% of the final grade).

An exam is carried out where the knowledge on the contents explained in the theoretical sessions is evaluated. This test is conceived as a content test that addresses equally the topics seen in the two main blocks of the course. Students have two hours to take the test in the final exam period established by the School.

Learning outcomes: RA1, RA2, RA3, RAC5, RAC7.
Competences: E13, E2, E7, G2, G5

EVALUATION

The subject is evaluated from 3 parts:

1. Learning activities: 3 activities defined in the corresponding section (70% of the final grade)

2. Attendance to the face-to-face laboratory sessions and realization of the practices (10% of the final note)

3. Final exam (20% of the final grade)


General description of the exam
An exam is carried out where the knowledge and contents explained in the theoretical sessions are evaluated. This test is conceived as a content test that addresses equally the topics seen in the two main blocks of the course. Students have two hours to take the test in the final exam period established by the School.

In order to be able to average between all the parts, each of them must have been approved. With more than two absences from attendance at unjustified internships (justified according to the regulations of the center) the subject will be suspended without the right to recovery.

Rules for carrying out the activities

For each activity, you will be informed of the regulations to be followed, and of the particular conditions that govern them. The realization of the practices is compulsory. Punctuality in the delivery of the different activities will be valued as follows:

-Products other than the required ones will not be accepted.

-Expired works will not be accepted.

-Deliveries will be made through the virtual campus, except in those cases where the weight of the files is higher than allowed by the server. In this case, the internship will be delivered via a Google Drive link within the virtual campus.

Given the content of the subject, creativity will be valued based on an understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects specified in the work methodology, the correct organization of the information, the preparatory sketches, the search for innovative solutions, and clarity. graph in the result of the activities and the different follow-up works.

Evaluation activity in recovery period

In order to be able to access the recovery, the three evaluable parts must have been carried out: 1. Learning activities, 2. Attendance to the face-to-face sessions of the laboratory, and 3. Final exam.

If the suspended part is the examination the recovery consists of the realization of a new examination of the same characteristics that the examination of the ordinary evaluation.

If the suspended part is the learning activities, they must be repeated under the teacher's guidance.

The weights of the evaluable parts are the same as in the ordinary evaluation

In case of obtaining a Not Presented in any of the parts the recovery cannot be accessed.

VVAA. Aesthetics of animation, Maia Editores, 2010

Selby, A. Animation, Editorial Blume, 2013

Betancourt, M. The History of motion graphics: from avant-garde to industry in the United Estates. Rockville, Md .: Wildside Press, 2013

Welles, P. Fundamentals of animation. Editorial Parramón, 2009

Crook, I., & Beare, P. Fundamentals of Motion Graphics. Principles and practices of graphic animation. Barcelona: Promopress, 2017.

Byrne, Bill. 3D motion graphics for 2D artists [Electronic resource]: conquering the 3rd dimension, 2012

http://cataleg.upc.edu/record=b1424786~S1*cat

Brarda, Maria. Motion Graphics Design. Creative direction in TV branding. Barcelona. Gustavo Gili, 2016

Meyer, Trish. After Effects apprentice: real-world skills for the aspiring motion graphics artist / Trish & Chris Meyer, 2013

http://cataleg.upc.edu/record=b1441518~S1*cat

Hernandez Martinez, Irene, Redesign of corporate image and videography of a local TV. Project / Final project, 2009

Meyer, Trish. Creating motion graphics with After Effects: [essential and advanced techniques] / Trish & Chris Meyer, 2010

http://cataleg.upc.edu/record=b1442300~S1*cat

Wright, Steve. Compositing visual effects: essentials for the aspiring artist. Waltham, Massachusetts, United States: Focal Press, 2011.

Cotta Vaz, Mark; Barron, Craig. The Invisible Art: The Legends of Movie Matte Painting. California: Chronicle Books, 2004

Mattingly, David B. The Digital Matte Painting Handbook. Chichester, United Kingdom: John Wiley and Sons Ltd., 2011.