Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
F/TV D072G
Course Title (CB02)
Animated Film Pre-Production Workshop
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Course Description
This course covers the development of the initial concept stages of a short personal film in any style of animation, e.g. drawn, puppet, or computer, that can be used as a demo reel in a professional portfolio. The coursework includes the creation of storyboards, set designs, character models, voice tracks, and animatics.
Faculty Requirements
Discipline 1
[Mass Communication]
FSA
[FHDA FSA - FILM/TV]
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is transferable to the CSU system and belongs on the Film/TV: Animation A.A. degree. The student will concentrate on the necessary pre-production work for the creation of a personal animated film. This course is part of the CTE mission of the Film/Television department and helps provide students with the practical skills to enter the workforce as a media-making artist.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours3.06.0
Laboratory Hours3.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
36.0
Laboratory
36.0
Total
72.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
72.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
72.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

F/TV D068A and F/TV D070A; and F/TV D066A or F/TV D067A or F/TV D082A (dependent on type of animation production to be developed)

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Critique of student production work

Field trips

Guest speakers

Collaborative projects

Assignments

  1. Weekly submission of work-in-progress on pre-production phase of personal film project
  2. Participation in weekly group critiques of other students' works-in-progress
  3. Final presentation of pre-production phase of animated film at the end of the quarter

Methods of Evaluation

  1. In-class group and instructor evaluation of the quality of the weekly audio and visual submissions for the personal film project
  2. Instructor evaluation of quality of student contributions to weekly group critiques of other students' works-in-progress
  3. Final presentation demonstrating the student’s ability to develop the initial concept stages of a short personal animated film, incorporating the creation of storyboards, set designs, character models, voice tracks and animatics, and the quality of the work presented.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • Drawing materials, miniatures, cutouts, and/or computer software, among others
  • Materials depend on the film's art medium, whether traditional or digital
Essential College Facilities:
  • Classroom equipped with video projection of multi-standard VHS tapes, multi-region DVDs, plus the ability to do action analysis through single-frame projection

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Beiman, NancyPrepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animated Features and Shorts: Creating Story and Characters for Animated Features and ShortsCRC Press2017/3rd edition1498797008
Blazer, LizAnimated StorytellingPeachpit Press2019/2nd edition0135667852
Johnston, Ollie and Thomas, FrankDisney Animation: The Illusion of LifeDisney Editions1995/Subsequent edition0786860707
Sullivan, Karen; Alexander, Kate; Mintz, Aubry; and Besen, EllenIdeas for the Animated Short: Finding and Building Stories, 2nd EditionRoutledge2nd edition (March 11, 2013)0240818725
Williams, RichardThe Animator's Survival Kit: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Formulas for Classical, Computer, Games, Stop Motion and Internet AnimatorsFarrar, Straus and Giroux2012/Fourth Edition086547897X

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

None.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Apply the approaches to animation pre-production learned in previous courses to the creation of a short personal film. Gain extensive practical experience in scripting, storyboarding, design of characters and environment, and/or voice recording.
  • Participate actively in group critiques of other students' work.
  • Examine the vocational opportunities in the field of animation pre-production.

CSLOs

  • Create the pre-production visual and audio components of a short personal animated film.

Outline

  1. Apply the approaches to animation pre-production learned in previous courses to the creation of a short personal film. Gain extensive practical experience in scripting, storyboarding, design of characters and environment, and/or voice recording.
    1. Create and refine the film’s concept
    2. Utilize the strength of the film’s chosen animation medium: e.g. drawn, puppet, digital
    3. Produce storyboards to define the virtual camera positions and editing strategies
    4. Design model sheets for the film’s characters
    5. Record and edit the film's character and narration voices
    6. Create bar sheets for synchronization of character animation to the voice tracks
    7. Develop an animatic/Leica reel with stand-in soundtrack as a template for the production
  2. Participate actively in group critiques of other students' work.
    1. Weekly presentation by each student of pre-production work for her/his film
    2. Group critiques of pre-production stages to approximate the constructive suggestion function of professional animation studio “dailiesâ€
    3. Subsequent revision of pre-production work to reflect previous critiques
  3. Examine the vocational opportunities in the field of animation pre-production.
    1. Screenings and interviews with guest animators
    2. Discussion of film festival and marketing strategies
    3. Evaluations of student portfolios and individual demo reels
    4. Profiles of regional studios and analysis of their demo reels
    5. Interviews with studio recruitment coordinators
    6. Construction of a portfolio and demo reel tailored to a job application for story-sketch, layout or production design positions or to a grant proposal for an independent film

Lab Topics

  1. Conceptual brainstorming
  2. Storyboard development
  3. Pre-production logistics planning
  4. Character models
  5. Set designs
  6. Voice track bar sheets
  7. Animatic editing
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