Animation Curriculum

Animation student work will demonstrate:

• Disciplinary Knowledge and Skills
  A deep understanding of animation principles, storytelling techniques, and cinematic language in capstone projects, short films, or sequences.
• Proficiency in Industry-Standard Skills, Technologies, and Processes
  Command of animation software (e.g., Maya, Toon Boom, Adobe Suite) and production pipelines by completing projects that align with professional quality benchmarks.
• Cross-Disciplinary Awareness and Practice
  Assignments will encourage collaboration across departments, incorporating design, writing, and animation, enabling students to build projects that reflect interdisciplinary practices and expand their creative problem-solving skills.
• Audience-Focused Research, Historical Context, and Field-Specific Discourse
  Through research assignments and project pitches, students will analyze audience needs, cultural relevance, and historical influences, integrating these insights into their animation projects to ensure engagement and authenticity.
• Capacity to Identify and Solve Creative Problems
  Students will document their iterative process in sketchbooks, storyboards, and production logs, demonstrating their ability to adapt to challenges, refine their ideas, and solve complex creative problems effectively.

Animation student work will demonstrate:

• Innovation
  Students will create experimental animation projects that incorporate unique concepts, groundbreaking visuals, and alternative storytelling methods, showcasing their willingness to think outside the box.
• Experimentation and Play
  Assignments will include opportunities for students to explore unconventional tools, hybrid animation techniques, and playful approaches to design and motion, fostering an environment of creativity and discovery.
• Challenge to the Status Quo
  Through critical analysis of traditional animation conventions, students will develop projects that push creative boundaries, introduce fresh perspectives, and reflect a bold approach to visual storytelling.
• Bravery in their Work and their Interactions with Others
  Students will engage in collaborative projects that challenge them to take on leadership roles, communicate daring ideas, and take calculated risks in both concept and execution.

Animation student work will demonstrate:

• Self-Awareness
  Students will complete reflective journals or project logs that document their creative processes, challenges, and growth throughout their projects. These reflections will highlight their ability to assess their strengths and areas for improvement.
• Capacity to Communicate (Orally, Written, and/or Visually) about their Practice
  Through written artist statements, project presentations, and pitch sessions, students will articulate their creative intentions, design choices, and the cultural relevance of their work to peers, faculty, and industry professionals.
• Capacity to Seek, Assemble, Evaluate, and Ethically Apply Information and Ideas from Diverse Sources
  Students will research and incorporate diverse sources, such as historical animation styles, cultural narratives, and technological advancements, into their projects. Annotated breakdowns and research summaries will demonstrate their ability to gather, evaluate, and ethically use information.
• Analysis of Both Ethical and Aesthetic Impacts of Art and Design
  Students will have the ability to analyze the potential social, cultural, and environmental impacts of their work. For example, students may critique how their animated content aligns with or challenges societal norms and ethical considerations.

Animation student work will demonstrate:

• Understanding of Themselves as Parts of a Larger Whole Made Up of Human and Non-Human Beings.
  Students will create animation projects that reflect a clear understanding of their role as creators within larger social, cultural, and environmental systems. This may include projects that address global issues or engage with community narratives.
• Awareness of Positionality – in the World, their Field, their Communities.
  Students will research and consider the cultural and ethical impacts of their work, demonstrating sensitivity and responsibility in their storytelling and representation.
• Ability to Work Well, Collaborate, and Build Relationships across Differences in Identity, Perspective, Aesthetics and Disciplines
  Through group projects and interdisciplinary collaborations, students will learn to work effectively with peers from diverse backgrounds and fields, valuing and incorporating different perspectives into cohesive collaborations.
• Integration of Skills and Concepts:
  Students will synthesize animation techniques, narrative storytelling, and technological innovation into cohesive projects. Assignments such as short films will demonstrate their ability to bring together varied ideas and approaches into a unified creative vision.

Animation student work will demonstrate:

• Ability to define aspirations, future goals and their role within the creative economy.
  Ability to articulate their creative vision and career aspirations within the context of the animation industry. This includes setting clear professional goals and understanding their role as emerging creators in the creative economy.
• Awareness of audience and ability to cultivate relationships with others in their chosen fields.
  Proficiency in cultivating relationships with peers, mentors, and industry professionals. They will show audience awareness by tailoring their animation work to target specific markets and audiences, refining their narratives, and communicating effectively through their projects.
• Compelling presentation and exhibition skills, through Annual Exhibition, Capstone, and portfolios.
  Ability to develop compelling portfolios, including showreels and passion projects, that effectively showcase their technical skills, creativity, and professional growth. Through their work, students will demonstrate the ability to visually communicate their ideas with clarity and professionalism.
• Proficiency in budgeting, time and project management.
  Strong project management skills by adhering to production schedules, budgeting their time effectively, and delivering high-quality animation projects within set deadlines. This competency will be reflected in their ability to manage the complex demands of pre-production, production, and post-production phases of animation.
• Career readiness.
  Students will participate in industry critiques, peer reviews, and collaborative projects that require effective communication, self-advocacy, and the ability to both give and receive constructive feedback, preparing them for professional environments. Assignments will also include real-world scenarios requiring students to adapt to evolving project requirements, incorporate client feedback, and adjust creative strategies accordingly, demonstrating their flexibility and resilience.