104807 - ANIMATION AND SPECIAL EFFECTS

Subject type: Optional

Coordinator: Maddalena Fedele

Trimester: Second term

Credits: 6

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 for this. These technical skills are focused on the most important current tool, the Adobe After Effects software, as it enables both the creation and digital animation in 2D, as well as the mixing of different analog and digital techniques or the integration of 3D modeled parts using others. applications. However this software allows the application of certain special effects such as video correction operations, masks, clones, chroma among others. What is called visual effects are done with other procedures and software that are not considered in this subject in practice but are studied in the theoretical field. The creative function of animation and visual effects in the context of art, the communicative function in the context of the media and commercial in the world of advertising are also studied. The creative processes of animation and special effects are addressed taking into account the evolution of image technologies, communication technologies, the cultural paradigm and the imaginaries of the society in which it is inscribed and the relationship between culture and economy. 

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.
• RAC9 Incorporate the feminist perspective into the world of animation and special effects

40 hours in person in the classroom dedicated to:

- Expository class sessions based on the teacher's explanation.
- Conferences.
- Presentations of topics by the students.
- Debates, analysis and reflection, forums.

20h face-to-face dedicated to:

- Practices carried out in computer rooms to deepen in the concepts explained in the theoretical classes and seminars by means of his application to real cases.

81h non-contact hours in the classroom dedicated to autonomous learning:
- Do individual or group 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 teacher, 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, the study of necessary manuals for to be able to do the practices, writing of the reports and memories of the practices and works, resolution of questionnaires of self-learning and the study and preparation of the partial examinations.
For each content the bibliography (basic and complementary), web references (graphic materials, image banks, typography, etc.) will be extended as well as the student will be provided with articles and information / guides of specialized magazines to consult regularly.

1. History of animation and contemporary trends.

Dedication: 6h Large group

Description: A journey from the beginnings of animation to the present day where contemporary trends are studied in more depth.

2. History of Motion Graphics and Contemporary Trends.

Dedication: 6h Large group

Description: A journey from the beginnings of Motion Graphics to the present day where contemporary trends are studied in more depth.

3. History of special effects and contemporary trends.

Dedication: 6h Large group

Description: A journey from the beginnings of special effects to the present day where contemporary trends are studied in more depth.

4. Techniques d'animation

Dedication: 6h Large group

Description:  This module addresses the different animation techniques located in the social and artistic contexts where experimental animation to 2D and 3D digital animation are developed, from Stop Motion. We will see in more detail the reason for the choice of the technique behind each case as well as the influences of technological developments.

5. Applications

Dedication: 6h Large group

Description:  It is the point where work is done on the commercial and artistic possibilities of the animation and Motion Graphics sector. Animation and special effects are present in television and internet advertising animation, in media and journalism, on the web and mobile apps, in animated fiction cinema, in animated documentary cinema, in video games and the art world, including video creation, experimental fiction, video and interactive installations.

6. Management ofart

Dedication: 6h Large group

Description:  This module works on the part to be performed by the person or team in charge of art direction in a process of creating animation and special effects. We work from the research methods and the location of references for the conceptualization of the piece to the aesthetic treatment and techniques needed to carry out the project.

7. Production process

Dedication: 4h Large group

Description: The aim is to study all the necessary steps to follow to produce different types of animation; what is the necessary documentation, how it is complemented and managed between the work teams and production roles, in what phase each technical and creative team enters. The differences between the production of creative or fictional animation with respect to the animation of Motion Graphics in the advertising environment are also studied. It will be the module that will serve the student to start making decisions, see the results and analyze the possible consequences that this would entail if working in a studio or producer.

8. Tools for animation and special effects

Dedication: 20 pm Small laboratory groups

Description: This blog implements the use of Adobe After Effects software. Dragon Frame, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Cinema 4D are used as complementary software. The goal is to learn from the configuration of projects, the definition of the workflow, the organization of materials, the application of animation operations and application of effects to the completion of the animated piece and the effects applied specials. 

Autonomous learning activities:

1.Creation and animation of chyrons for a documentary. (individual)

A graphic style appropriate to the style of the proposed product must be created. They should have enough reading time. They must respect the security area for on-screen texts.

Adobe After Effects and, if necessary, Illustrator or Photoshop must be used. You can use analog tools and procedures as part of the process (drawing, painting, etc ...).

On the other hand, a report of at least 10 pages must be prepared following the document proposed in the subject and must present at least the following points about the exercise carried out: technical file, client, concept, treatment (including typography) , storyboard, sketches, references, tools and techniques.

• Learning outcomes: RA2, RA3, RA4, RAC5, RAC6, RAC7
• Competences: E13, E7, G5

2. Creation and animation of a spot advertising (in group)

Spot to announce an exhibition on artistic photography. A slideshow should be made with animated photographs accompanied by animated textual information using Motion Graphics. The so-called special effects must be applied parallax. 

Adobe After Effects and, if necessary, Photoshop and Illustrator must be used as technical requirements. The duration must be 20 seconds

A report of at least 10 pages must be prepared following the document proposed in the course and must present at least the following points about the exercise carried out: technical file, client, concept, treatment (including typography), storyboard, sketches , references, tools and techniques.

• Learning outcomes: RA1, RA2, RA3, RA4, RAC9, RAC5, RAC7
• Competences: E13, E2, T2, G5

3. Cinemagraph (in group)

A loop of video shot must be made from own material. The special effects applied consist of the application of masks and effects in order to be able to freeze a part of the images and to make the movement of the loop to the rest of the visual field.

• Learning outcomes: RA2, RA3, RA4
• Competences: E13, E7, E2, T2, G5

4. Final project (in group): realization of the credits of opening of a product of fiction or documentary. It should include animated graphics and special effects. The fundamental tool will be After Effects complemented with other tools and procedures of free choice. A report of at least 10 pages must be prepared following the document proposed in the course

• Learning outcomes: RA1, RA2, RA3, RA4, RAC5, RAC6, RAC8
• Competences: E13, E2, T2, G5

5. Final exam (individual). An examination is carried out where the knowledge and the contents explained in the theoretical sessions are evaluated. This test consists of a part of questions about concepts associated with the learning objectives of the subject and a set of application exercises. Students have two hours to take the test in the final exam period set by the head of studies. An additional 18 hours of independent learning is considered necessary to prepare for the exam.

• Learning outcomes: RA1, RA2, RA3, RAC5, RAC7, RAC9
• Competences: E13, E2, E7, G2, G5

Laboratory practices (individual):

Completion of small practical exercises with computer graphics animation software.

-Animation of an object in a linear and non-linear way

-Application of masks to make a composition

-Creation and animation of graphic shapes from Shape Layers

-Animation of text layers

-Animation of vector graphics made with Adobe Illustrator. Adobe Illustrator and Adobe After Efftecs workflow

-Application of Parallax effect. Adobe Photoshop and Adobe After Efftecs workflow

-Application of filters, masks and tracking to create a realistic simulation

-Animation with the Pixilation technique

• Learning outcomes: RA1, RAC7, RA2
• Competences: E2, E7, E13, G5

EVALUATION

The subject is evaluated from 4 parts:

1. Learning activities: 3 activities defined in the corresponding section (30% of the final grade)

2. Attendance at face-to-face laboratory sessions and completion of the internship (10% of the final grade)

3. Final exam (30% of the final grade) 

4. Final project  (30% of the final grade)

General description of the exam
Individual final exam. An examination is carried out where the knowledge and the contents explained in the theoretical sessions are evaluated. This test consists of a part of questions about concepts associated with
learning objectives of the subject and a set of application exercises. Students have two hours to take the test in the final exam period set by the head of studies.
An additional 18 hours of independent learning is considered necessary to prepare for the exam.

In order to be able to average between all the parties, 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 like this:

-Products other than the required ones will not be accepted

-Expired works will not be accepted

-Work not delivered to the digital campus will not be accepted.

Any of these three incidents will automatically affect the grade (not assessed, ie accounting 0 with respect to the final grade of the sum of the different activities). If any of the internship or follow-up activities are not performed, it will be considered unevaluated.

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 information, preparatory sketches, the search for innovative solutions, neatness and graphic clarity in the result of the activities and of the different works of follow-up, as well as, in the same partial.

Evaluation activity in recovery period

In order to access the recovery, the four evaluable parts must have been carried out: 1. Learning activities, 2. Attendance at the face-to-face sessions of the laboratory, 3. Final exam and 4. Final project

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.

If the suspended part is the final project, it 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.

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