College: School of Graduate Studies for Social Sciences

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, storyboard drawing, 2D and 3D animation, and digital compositing. Graduates are prepared to work 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, storyboard drawing, and sequence animation.
• Learn techniques for creating 2D and 3D animations, digital compositing, and animation.
• Explore principles of animation, cinematography, and visual storytelling.
• Analyze and create appealing narratives and visual styles for animated content.
• Develop critical thinking, creativity, and artistic skills for professional animation design.

Main Curriculum:

1. Introduction to Animation Design
   • Overview of fundamental concepts, principles, and history of animation.
   • Basics of animation techniques, storytelling, and visual effects.
2. Principles of Animation
   • Principles of animation, including timing, spacing, squash and stretch, and secondary motion.
   • Techniques for creating believable and appealing animated movements.
3. Character Design
   • Basics of character design, conceptual art, and visual development.
   • Techniques for creating unique and appealing animated characters.
4. Storyboard Drawing and Visual Storytelling
   • Principles of storyboard drawing, visual storytelling, and cinematography in animation.
   • Techniques for creating storyboards, shot compositions, and visual narratives.
5. 2D Animation
   • Basics of 2D animation, traditional hand-drawing techniques, and digital 2D animation.
   • Techniques for creating 2D animation sequences, character animations, and background design.
6. 3D Animation
   • Basics of 3D animation, modeling, rigging, and animating within 3D animation software.
   • Techniques for creating animated 3D characters, environments, and visual effects.
7. Digital Compositing and Animation
   • Principles of digital compositing, animation, and visual effects in animation.
   • Techniques for compositing live-action shots with animated elements and creating animations.
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. Practical Training in Animation Design
   • Real-world experiences in animation design, including observations, internships, and practical projects in animation studios, game development companies, or advertising agencies.
   • Application of acquired skills in practical animation design scenarios.
10. Graduation Project in Animation Design
    • A comprehensive project applying skills in character design, storyboard drawing, 2D or 3D animation, and digital compositing.
    • Presentation 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, animations, production plans, internship reports, graduation projects, group projects, and internship assessments.

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.
• "The Motion Design School: Master the Living Design Principles" by Various Authors.
• "Producing Animation" by Catherine Winder and Zahra Dowlatabadi.

Prerequisites:

Basic knowledge in art, design, and digital media. Suitable for students interested in animation design, visual effects, and related fields.

Duration of the Major:

Usually 4 years for a bachelor's degree, including coursework, projects, practical training, and internships.

Degree:

Graduates can earn a degree in animation design and pursue further education or professional certificates in related fields, such as a master's in animation or digital arts.

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 necessary to excel in animation design and support careers in animation studios, game development, advertising, and related fields.