Honours Project:
An Approach to Independent 3D Animation Production
Bachelor of Arts in Design (with 1st Class Honours)
Contents & Full Chapter List
Chapter 1 - Introduction
- 1.1 Background and Initial Idea
- 1.2 Honours Project Overview
- 1.3 Dissertation Overview
- 1.3.1 Part 1 - Theoretical Research
- 1.3.2 Part 2 - Self-Reflective Case Study
- 1.4 Practical Overview
- 1.5 Expected Outcomes
Part 1 - Theoretical Research
Chapter 2 - What is Animation?
- 2.1 Definition of Animation
- 2.1.1 A Technical Definition of Animation
- 2.1.2 The Beginnings of the Motion Picture
- 2.1.3 A Physiological Definition of Animation - The Persistence of Vision
- 2.1.4 The Early Evolution of the Motion Picture
- 2.1.5 A Philosophical Definition and Discussion of Animation
- 2.2 The Animation Process
- 2.3 Types of Animation
- 2.4 Conclusion
Chapter 3 - The Principles of Storytelling
- 3.1 What is Storytelling, Story and Narrative?
- 3.2 The Relationship Between Storytelling and Animation
- 3.3 The Purpose of Story
- 3.4 Traditional Storytelling
- 3.5 Traditional Story Types
- 3.5.1 What is the Definition of Myth, Legend and Folktale?
- 3.5.2 Fairytales, Fables and Folktales
- 3.5.3 Myth and Legend
- 3.5.4 Legend
- 3.5.5 Myth
- 3.6 Myths and Psychology - Archetypes and the Monomyth
- 3.7 Universal Storytelling Formula - The Principles of Mythical Storytelling and Character Archetypes
- 3.7.1 The Hero's Journey
- 3.7.2 Character Archetypes
- 3.8 The Hero's Journey Story Investigation
- 3.8.1 Story Investigation 1: Meeak Mia (The Moon's Cave)
- 3.8.2 Story Investigation 2: Smok Wawelski (The Legend of the Wawel Dragon)
- 3.8.3 Story Investigation 3: Star Wars
- 3.8.4 Story Investigation Conclusion
- 3.9 Conclusion
Chapter 4 - Funding a Film or Animation Project
- 4.1 Introduction - The Funding and Financing of a Film or Animation Project
- 4.2 Funding Bodies
- 4.2.1 Who are the Funding Bodies?
- 4.2.2 Types of Film Funding offered by Funding Bodies
- 4.2.3 Important Notes and Tips on Funding
- 4.3 Case Study: An Example of the Funding Process
- 4.3.1 The Film and Series Subject Overview
- 4.3.2 The Kitchen Wastes Independent Production Overview
- 4.3.3 The Type of Funding Grant
- 4.3.4 Funding Application Requirements
- 4.3.5 The Assessment Process
- 4.3.6 Compromises and Changes
- 4.3.7 The Successful Application and The Use of the Funding
- 4.3.8 The Completion of the Film
- 4.4 The Problems with Funding
- 4.5 Conclusion
Chapter 5 - Selling a Film or Animation Concept
- 5.1 Introduction - Options for an Animator with a Finished Concept
- 5.2 The Flyer and Pitch Document
- 5.3 The Pilot
- 5.4 Story not Visual
- 5.5 Displaying and Advertising the Film
- 5.6 A Producer's Role
- 5.7 Selling Outlets
- 5.8 The Actual Pitch
- 5.9 Potential Final Buyers
- 5.10 Offers Open to a Film-maker
- 5.11 Case Study: The Selling and Financing of an Animated Series
- 5.11.1 The Bobtales Series Idea
- 5.11.2 Financing of the Bobtales Series
- 5.11.3 Research and Series Production
- 5.11.4 The Completion of the Bobtales Series
- 5.12 Conclusion
Part 2 - Self-Reflective Case Study on the 3D Animation Process
Chapter 6 - Conceptual Development
- 6.1 Project Background
- 6.2 Initial Episode and Series Idea
- 6.3 Early Research
- 6.4 Conceptual Work - Workbook Activities
- 6.4.1 Workbook Activity 01: Project Information
- 6.4.2 Workbook Activity 02: Needs Analysis
- 6.4.3 Workbook Activity 03: Brief
- 6.5 Conclusion
Chapter 7 - Pre-Production
- 7.1 Choosing the Story
- 7.2 Story Development and Visualisation
- 7.2.1 Initial Character Sketches
- 7.2.2 Visualising the Story
- 7.2.3 Workbook Activity 04a: Writing the Story / Narrator's Script
- 7.2.4 Visual Collage - Conceptual Storyboard Illustrations
- 7.2.5 Workbook Activity 04b: Animation Synopsis
- 7.3 Thoroughly Researching the Subject Matter
- 7.4 Early 3D Modelling and 3D Visualisation
- 7.4.1 3D Modelling Lech's Face
- 7.4.2 Level Of Detail
- 7.5 Gaining Facts on Animation Production
- 7.6 The Idea of the Series Name
- 7.7 Thoroughly Researching Legends
- 7.8 Workbook Activity 05: Conceptual Storyboard / Storyboard
- 7.9 Final Series Concept
- 7.9.1 Why Animation?
- 7.9.2 Rough Series Pitch Document / Flyer Information
- 7.9.3 (The First 5) Series One Episodes
- 7.9.4 Information on the Slavs
- 7.10 3D Modelling and Animation Experiments
- 7.10.1 Facial Animation and Morphing Experiments
- 7.10.2 Experiments in Animating a Horse
- 7.11 Remaining Workbook Activities
- 7.11.1 Workbook Activity 06: Intertextual References
- 7.11.2 Workbook Activity 07: Characters & Events Meaning List
- 7.11.3 Workbook Activity 08: Tension, Payoff & Pace
- 7.11.4 Workbook Activity 09: Screen Direction & Motion Dynamic
- 7.11.5 Workbook Activity 10: Abstract vs Realistic
- 7.11.6 Workbook Activity 11: Project Management & Production Checklist
- 7.12 Conclusion
Chapter 8 - Production and Post-Production
- 8.1 Environment 3D Modelling
- 8.1.1 Natural Outdoor Terrains
- 8.1.2 Other Environments
- 8.2 Character 3D Modelling
- 8.2.1 Human Character Body Modelling
- 8.2.2 Flattening the 3D Face Model
- 8.2.3 Boning and Skinning the Character Models
- 8.3 Modelling Remaining Objects
- 8.3.1 Boning and Animating the Horse
- 8.3.2 Modelling the Eagle and Remaining Objects
- 8.4 3D Animation
- 8.5 3D Animation Case Study: The Camp Scene
- 8.5.1 Initial Scene Setup
- 8.5.2 Using Alpha Channels
- 8.5.3 Importing and Positioning of Scene Objects
- 8.5.4 Animating a Character's Walk
- 8.5.5 Lighting and Shadows
- 8.5.6 Rendering, Compositing and Output
- 8.6 3D Animation Case Study: Animating Scenes with Men on Horseback
- 8.7 Creation of the Animatic
- 8.8 Morphing and Lip-Sync Animation
- 8.9 Creating the Presentable Prototype
- 8.10 Conclusion
Chapter 9 - Honours Project Conclusions
- 9.1 Honours Project Conclusions