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| Leopard animation by Daniel Amor |
The second year of animation studies at Escape Studios is where our students begin to focus on individual proficiency in the craft of animation.
The Specialism Module (Module Code CR5001) is a self-study module in which students must select an area of specialism and develop their proficiency in that area. CR5001 is worth 15 credits and runs for five weeks, culminating in a portfolio presentation.
CR5001-DF2CA Animation Specialism – 15 Credits
Animation Specialism is the third module in the 2019-20 academic year. In this self-study module, students to explore a subject specialism of their own choice. This could be character animation or creature animation, or even a related discipline such as storyboarding or character design.
CR5001 is a very varied module,
as we bring in guest tutors to deliver specialist areas of teaching,
allowing students to push their creative skills and explore a wide range
of creative choices.
Other options might include animation-related disciplines such as:
Development and Pre-Production
There are many jobs to do on an animated film and we need many different skills in order to make them work successfully, such as storyboarding and 3D Layout.
CR5001 is an opportunity for students to find something that they feel passionate about and interested in, and specialise in that subject.
CR5001 Self-Study Module
Each student will choose their own individual specialism, in a field of their choice.
Animation Specialism is the third module in the 2019-20 academic year. In this self-study module, students to explore a subject specialism of their own choice. This could be character animation or creature animation, or even a related discipline such as storyboarding or character design.
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| Amedeo |
Self Study
CR5001 is very much a self-study module; students identify their area of specialism and find learning resources to develop their skills, with support from tutors Alexander Williams and Amedeo Beretta.
Preparation for Studio Module PR5001
The Specialism module is also where we get ready for the Studio Project PR5001 that starts later in the year, where 2nd year students begin to collaborate in teams, contributing their own unique skillset to the group project.
Types of Specialism
We anticipate that most
students will likely wish to specialise in Character Animation or Creature Animation, perhaps entering the 11 Second Club Competition, or choosing a line of dialogue to animate.
Preparation for Studio Module PR5001
The Specialism module is also where we get ready for the Studio Project PR5001 that starts later in the year, where 2nd year students begin to collaborate in teams, contributing their own unique skillset to the group project.
Types of Specialism
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| Character animation by Chan Sagoo |
Character Animation at YouTube
Animation & Creature Animation at YouTube
To see some examples of animal and creature animation, follow this link to our YouTube Channel.
Animation-Related Disciplines
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| Dinosaur animation by Edoardo Sartori |
Other options might include animation-related disciplines such as:
- Games Animation (generally looping cycles and character actions, such as stunts and combat moves)
- 2D Animation, either in Adobe Animate or Toonboom Harmony - we have licenses for both.
- Character rigging. For some examples of character rigging, see this link at our YouTube Channel.
- Performance Capture animation (MoCap).
- 3D Layout, Previsualisation and Cinematography
- Storyboarding. This would likely include the creation of a storyboard animatic.
- Character design, including an Animation Bible. To see about character design at Escape Studios, follow this link.
- Editing and Sound Design
- Producing Animation (project management, including Excel and Shotgun). To see what might be involved in the Producing Animation Specialism, follow this link.
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| Storyboards by Anastasia Gurova |
There are many jobs to do on an animated film and we need many different skills in order to make them work successfully, such as storyboarding and 3D Layout.
CR5001 is an opportunity for students to find something that they feel passionate about and interested in, and specialise in that subject.
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| Concept Art by Francesco Leoni |
Each student will choose their own individual specialism, in a field of their choice.
As a result, the focus of CR5001 is of necessity largely on self-study, supported where possible by tutorials and appropriate classroom teaching.
Students should not expect that the classroom teaching will necessarily map directly onto their chosen area of specialism. Most likely, it will not.
CR5001 - Student Work
Below are some examples of student work.
Character Animation by Maria Robertson
Maria Robertson chose character animation as her specialism. Maria is now working as an animator at Factory 42.
Above: Character animation for Specialism Module CR5001 by Maria Robertson
Cinematography by Sebastian Kuder
Sebastian Kuder decided to specialise in cinematography and 3D layout. Today, Sebastian is a 3D Layout artist at The 3rd Floor.
Tutors
This year, guest tutors include producer Steve Burch on producing animation, story artist Iliana Franklin on storyboarding, Michael Davies on character rigging, Steve Sole on Character Design, and Steve Lall on motion capture.
Portfolio
The module culminates in the presentation of a portfolio of work in the student's chosen field.
Students should not expect that the classroom teaching will necessarily map directly onto their chosen area of specialism. Most likely, it will not.
CR5001 - Student Work
Below are some examples of student work.
Character Animation by Maria Robertson
Maria Robertson chose character animation as her specialism. Maria is now working as an animator at Factory 42.
Above: Character animation for Specialism Module CR5001 by Maria Robertson
Cinematography by Sebastian Kuder
Sebastian Kuder decided to specialise in cinematography and 3D layout. Today, Sebastian is a 3D Layout artist at The 3rd Floor.
Tutors
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| Iliana Franklin |
Portfolio
The module culminates in the presentation of a portfolio of work in the student's chosen field.
For example, Aaron Hopwood chose character animation as his specialism (see below).
Experimentation
Specialism Module CR5001 is a great opportunity to try out different ideas, learn from a variety of guest tutors from industry, and explore a wide range of creative choices. It's where the focus of the course starts to change from "top-down" (do what you're told) to "bottom up" (learn to become a creative artist).
Vimeo Tutorials
We have hundreds of tutorials at our Vimeo channel to support our students. For example, for Motion Capture, Rigging and Dynamics, we recommend the following:
Schedule
Teaching starts on Monday January 5th 2021 and the module lasts for five weeks. See the calendar below for week-by-week details.
Experimentation
Specialism Module CR5001 is a great opportunity to try out different ideas, learn from a variety of guest tutors from industry, and explore a wide range of creative choices. It's where the focus of the course starts to change from "top-down" (do what you're told) to "bottom up" (learn to become a creative artist).
Vimeo Tutorials
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| Character animation by Paloma Zhu |
- Using and Adapting Motion Capture Animating with Motion Capture data by Steven Lall https://vimeo.com/album/5605446 For more on the Motion Capture tutorial by Steven Lall, read this blog post.
- MoCap Retargeting. MoCap retargeting with Amedeo Beretta https://vimeo.com/356232162. Formore on MoCap retargeting, read this blog post.
- Technical Animation & Dynamics Dynamics, Particles, NCloth and Hair by Michael Davies
https://vimeo.com/album/5399143 - Character Rigging Introduction to Character Rigging
by Michael Davies https://vimeo.com/album/5399149
Schedule
Teaching starts on Monday January 5th 2021 and the module lasts for five weeks. See the calendar below for week-by-week details.
Assignment Brief
The Module Descriptor states: “The student will present a portfolio of evidence showing development in their specialisation in the context of the team studio project and established theory and practice. They should highlight where specific learning outcomes have been met. The Portfolio Review with a tutor will support this.”
In practice, this assignment involves submitting a short piece of work based on your chosen specialism. If the final piece is fully animated, it should be around 11 seconds long. If it is a storyboard piece, it should be around 30 seconds long. If this is a character design piece, it should include designs and turnarounds for 3-4 characters, a small Art Bible.
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| Sabre Tooth by Paloma Zhu |
In practice, this assignment involves submitting a short piece of work based on your chosen specialism. If the final piece is fully animated, it should be around 11 seconds long. If it is a storyboard piece, it should be around 30 seconds long. If this is a character design piece, it should include designs and turnarounds for 3-4 characters, a small Art Bible.
Focus on your chosen area of specialism and produce a piece of work that helps you develop your skills in this area.
Assessment Criteria
Creativity - 25%
Creativity, inventiveness, Imagination, Innovation
Development and Pre-production - 25%
How well was the project developed? Planning, exploration, design, storyboards, thumbnail sketches, animatic (where appropriate)
Production - 25%
Were appropriate techniques used, and to what standard? How well is it realised, does it meet the brief? Overall quality of animation or of the project work.
Post-Production - 25%
Texturing and Rendering, Music, Audio and Sound Effects (where appropriate)
Submission Deadline
The submission is due on Wednesday 3rd February 2021 at 11.59pm. Presentations and Peer Reviews are at 9.30am on Thursday 4th February at 9.30am. Submission is via email to your tutor, along with a link to your work at your Vimeo Channel, website or blog. Note that there is no Retrospective due for this module.
The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects. To find out more about our new BA/MArt, now recruiting for September 2021, follow this link. To apply, visit the official page here.
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| Character animation by Jamie Floodgate |
Creativity - 25%
Creativity, inventiveness, Imagination, Innovation
Development and Pre-production - 25%
How well was the project developed? Planning, exploration, design, storyboards, thumbnail sketches, animatic (where appropriate)
Production - 25%
Were appropriate techniques used, and to what standard? How well is it realised, does it meet the brief? Overall quality of animation or of the project work.
Post-Production - 25%
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| MoCap by Steven Lall |
Texturing and Rendering, Music, Audio and Sound Effects (where appropriate)
Submission Deadline
The submission is due on Wednesday 3rd February 2021 at 11.59pm. Presentations and Peer Reviews are at 9.30am on Thursday 4th February at 9.30am. Submission is via email to your tutor, along with a link to your work at your Vimeo Channel, website or blog. Note that there is no Retrospective due for this module.
The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects. To find out more about our new BA/MArt, now recruiting for September 2021, follow this link. To apply, visit the official page here.
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