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Course Outline

DES231 Animation Principles, Process and Production

Course Coordinator:Graham Beaumont (gbeaumont@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course introduces you to the historical development and contemporary possibilities of animation. You will learn practical methods, principles and processes to produce original projects and create believable motion for diverse purposes. The course introduces 2D animation and the transferability of 2D concepts to 3D environments and interactive experiences.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Asynchronous online learning materials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled face to face workshops. 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Seminar – Scheduled face to face seminars. 2hrs Week 5 2 times
Online
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled online workshops (Recorded). 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Seminar – Scheduled online seminars (Recorded). 2hrs Week 5 2 times

Course Topics

  • Introduction to history and theory of Animation 
  • Animation Methods 
  • Animation Principles and Techniques
  • Narrative Arcs
  • Sound Design 
  • Timing
  • Post Production 

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Create motion tests using contemporary 2D animation workflows. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
2 Interpret and reflect on design ethics and inclusive design practices to produce socially engaged, agile, relevant and impactful design outcomes Empowered
Ethical
3 Investigate and learn about animation theory and apply gained knowledge to the design and development of animation. Creative and critical thinker
4 Create fluent motion with demonstrated control over timing and spacing. Knowledgeable
Empowered
5 Apply fundamental principles of animation to create believable motion. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
6 Apply design methods and creative thinking that respond to the SDGs including SDG 3 (health and well-being), SDG 4 (Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) Ethical
Sustainability-focussed

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Basic computer skills

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Formative feedback will be provided via discussion.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Artefact - Creative Individual 20% 
A collection of animation exercises (as specified on Canvas).
 Week 4 Online Submission
All 2 Artefact - Creative Individual 40% 
A collection of short animation sequences demonstrating key animation principles.
 Week 8 Online Submission
All 3 Artefact - Creative Individual 40% 
10-20 seconds
 Week 12 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:The Fundamentals of Motion
Goal: 
Develop a collection of short animation sequence exercises that demonstrate your understanding of the fundamentals of motion in animation.
Product: Artefact - Creative
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will produce a series of short animation exercises exploring the fundamentals of motion. Your submission must include brief video documentation of your creative process, such as screen recordings, rough tests, sketches or production timelines that show how each exercise was developed. Full task details and technical requirements are available in the Assessment 1 folder on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Application of animation theory
 3
2 
Application of animation workflows
 1
3 
Relevant, creative and appropriate response to the task
 2
4 
Application of the principles of animation to create believable motion.
 5
Generic Skills: 
Problem solving
All - Assessment Task 2:The Principles of Animation
Goal: 
Demonstrate your understanding of the principles of animation through a series of short 2D animation sequences.
Product: Artefact - Creative
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will produce a collection of animation sequences that demonstrate the principles of animation. Your submission must also include video documentation of your creative process, such as work-in-progress clips, screen recordings, drafts, sketches or annotated breakdowns that show how your animations evolved. Full submission requirements and examples are provided in the Assessment 2 folder on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
The animation should be fluid and continuous.
 1
2 
Relevant, creative and appropriate response to the task
 2
3 
The application of the animation principles in 2D and 3D.
 3 5
4 
Appropriate completion of all set exercises.
 3 4 5
Generic Skills: 

                        

                    

                

                

                    

                        

                            
                                All - Assessment Task 3:Moving Image Project
                            
                        

                        

                            Goal:
                            
Create an original 10–20 second animated sequence demonstrating believable motion, creativity, audio integration and consideration of sustainability and SDG themes.

                        

                        

                            Product:
                            Artefact - Creative
                        

                        

                            Authorship Statement:
                            
                        

                        

                            Format:
                            
You will produce a final animated sequence (10–20 seconds) that demonstrates advanced motion techniques, coherent design style, and integrated audio. Your project should reflect your creative voice and show consideration of environmental and social contexts relevant to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Your submission must also include video documentation of your creative process, such as rough tests, screen recordings, workflow captures, sketches or production logs, demonstrating your process and creative development across the project.
Further details and technical specifications are available in the Assessment 3 folder on Canvas.

                        

                        

                            Criteria:
                            
                                

                                    
                                        

                                            No.
                                            
                                            Learning Outcome assessed
                                        

                                    
                                    
                                            

                                                1
                                                
Original and appropriate response to the task that reflects contemporary animation workflows.

                                                
                                                        1
                                                
                                            

                                            

                                                2
                                                
Application of the appropriate motion for the idea and the actions are well motivated.

                                                
                                                        3
                                                        4
                                                
                                            

                                            

                                                3
                                                
Creation and design of a coherent and consistent style with a strong aesthetic.

                                                
                                                        1
                                                        5
                                                
                                            

                                            

                                                4
                                                
Application of appropriate audio that enhances the animation

                                                
                                                        2
                                                
                                            

                                            

                                                5
                                                
Application of SDGs in design thinking.

                                                
                                                        6
                                                
                                            

                                    
                                

                            		
                        

                        

                            Generic Skills:
                            

                        

                    

                

        

    

    

        

            

                
Directed study hours

                
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

            

        

    


    

        

            

                
What resources do I need to undertake this course?

                

                    Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
                

            


            

                
Prescribed text(s) or course reader

                    
There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

            

        


        

            

                
Specific requirements

                    
This course requires software or hardware which is provided at UniSC campuses for student use. If you elect to do this course online, you may either; attend a campus at which it is available, discuss alternative open source solutions with your course coordinator that would enable you to demonstrate the learning outcomes, or if you prefer you may acquire this software and / or hardware at your own expense.

            

        

    


    

        

            
How are risks managed in this course?

            
Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

        

    


    

        
What administrative information is relevant to this course?


        

            

                
Assessment: Academic Integrity

                
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

            

        


        

            

                
Assessment: Additional Requirements

                
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

            

        


        

            

                
Assessment: Submission penalties

                
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

            

        


        

            

                
Links to relevant University policy and procedures

                
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

            

        


        

            

                
Student Charter

                
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful.  The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

            

        


        

            

                
General Enquiries

                
For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  
For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

            

        

    







    

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