Advanced Character Design for Animation
Overview
This unit will build upon introductory character design studies through an extension into advanced character design and development methods. Students will explore and combine anatomical functionality, gestural posing, facial expression, acting potential and stylisation to develop greater sophistication and authenticity within animated characters, and their immediate surroundings.
Requisites
Rules
Pre-requisite
ANI10004 Introduction to Character and Environment Design
AND
Admission into BA-ANI Bachelor of Animation or its related double degrees
OR
25 Credit Points in Animation Co-Major
Equivalent
DDD20028 - Advanced Character Design for Animation (Discontinued)
01-June-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Apply advanced design techniques to construct sophisticated and authentic characters
- Analyse concepts and resources to improve the technicality and stylisation of characters
- Construct authentic poses, gestures and facial expressions to emphasise emotion and personality
- Produce industry standard documentation to inform character construction and animation
- Critique the design, style, personality and authenticity of character designs and concepts
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Studio | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Specified Activities Various | 7.00 | 12 weeks | 84 |
| Unspecified Activities Various | 1.50 | 12 weeks | 18 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawing Portfolio | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,5 |
| Character Design Portfolio | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Research Assignment | Individual | 20% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- Designing authentic gestures and poses
- Facial elements and facial expressions
- Acting potential and exaggeration
- Clothing and costume design
- Colour, stylisation, shape and silhouette
- Model and maquette making
- Character profiles, subtext, transformation over time
- Animation tests and analysis
- Presentation techniques, model sheets and style guides
- Advanced figure and gestural drawing
- Drawing figures with perspective and depth
- Drawing clothes, skin and hair in action
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.