Faculty: Graduate School of Social Science This major focuses on the art and technology of creating animated content for various media, including film, television, video games, and digital platforms. Students develop skills in character design, storyboarding, 2D and 3D animation, and digital compositing. Graduates are prepared for careers in animation studios, game development, advertising, and related fields. **Learning Objectives:** - Understand the fundamentals of animation design, storytelling, and visual effects. - Develop skills in character design, storyboarding, and animating sequences. - Learn techniques for creating 2D and 3D animations, digital compositing, and motion graphics. - Explore principles of animation, cinematography, and visual storytelling. - Analyze and create engaging narratives and visual styles for animated content. - Develop critical thinking, creativity, and technical skills for professional animation design. **Major Outline:** 1. **Introduction to Animation Design** - Overview of key concepts, principles, and history of animation. - Fundamentals of animation techniques, storytelling, and visual effects. 2. **Principles of Animation** - Principles of animation, including timing, spacing, squash and stretch, and secondary action. - Techniques for creating believable and engaging animated movements. 3. **Character Design** - Fundamentals of character design, concept art, and visual development. - Techniques for creating unique and appealing characters for animation. 4. **Storyboarding and Visual Storytelling** - Principles of storyboarding, visual storytelling, and cinematography in animation. - Techniques for creating storyboards, shot compositions, and visual narratives. 5. **2D Animation** - Fundamentals of 2D animation, traditional hand-drawn techniques, and digital 2D animation. - Techniques for creating 2D animated sequences, character animation, and background design. 6. **3D Animation** - Fundamentals of 3D animation, modeling, rigging, and animating in 3D software. - Techniques for creating 3D animated characters, environments, and visual effects. 7. **Digital Compositing and Motion Graphics** - Principles of digital compositing, motion graphics, and visual effects in animation. - Techniques for compositing live-action footage with animated elements and creating motion graphics. 8. **Animation Production** - Principles of animation production, project management, and team collaboration. - Techniques for planning, executing, and delivering animation projects, from pre-production to post-production. 9. **Practicum in Animation Design** - Real-world experiences in animation design, including observations, internships, and hands-on projects in animation studios, game development companies, or advertising agencies. - Application of learned skills in practical animation design scenarios. 10. **Capstone Project in Animation Design** - Comprehensive project applying skills in character design, storyboarding, 2D or 3D animation, and digital compositing. - Delivery of a polished animation project, short film, or interactive media piece. **Assessment Methods:** - Animation projects, character design portfolios, storyboards, 2D and 3D animation sequences, digital compositing projects, motion graphics, production plans, practicum reports, capstone projects, group projects, and internship evaluations. **Recommended Textbooks:** - "The Animator's Survival Kit" by Richard Williams. - "Character Animation Crash Course!" by Eric Goldberg. - "The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation" by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. - "Digital Character Animation" by George Maestri. - "Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting" by Robert McKee. - "Motion Design School: Mastering the Key Principles of Motion Design" by various authors. - "Animation Production" by Catherine Winder and Zahra Dowlatabadi. **Prerequisites:** Basic knowledge of art, design, and digital media. Suitable for students interested in animation design, visual effects, and related fields. **Major Duration:** Typically 4 years for a bachelor's degree, including coursework, projects, practicum, and internships. **Certification:** Graduates may receive a degree in Animation Design and pursue further education or professional certifications in related fields, such as a Master's in Animation, Digital Arts, or related disciplines. **Target Audience:** Aspiring animators, character designers, storyboard artists, motion graphics designers, and individuals seeking careers in animation studios, game development, advertising, and related fields. This major equips students with the creative, technical, and production skills needed to excel in animation design, supporting careers in animation studios, game development, advertising, and related fields.