Bachelor of Interactive Entertainment (Major in Animation)

Overview
Subjects & Modules

This course is designed not only to prepare graduates to undertake creative and production roles within the 2D and 3D animation and games industries but provides the skills for career progression into operational, development and managerial positions.

During the Qantm College Bachelor of Interactive Entertainment (with a Major in Animation), students will undertake advanced courses in 3D modelling, texturing, lighting and animation for games; animation and special effects for film and television; script writing, character development and animation for virtual environments. In addition to these areas of practical and creative study, students also undertake units essential to the commercial functions of the animation industry including communications design, project management, business and copyright law. These are designed to equip students with the critical, problem-solving and management skills that are successful for ongoing career success.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Interactive Entertainment (with a Major in Animation) are in high-demand with an internationally recognised qualification together with a comprehensive portfolio of individual and a major, group-animation work. Qantm College degree graduates are often able to apply for work having already had industry experience through our highly-successful internship program.

Qualification

Bachelor of Interactive Entertainment (with a Major in Animation)

Sector

Higher Education (Australian government accredited)

Duration

24 months full-time

Entry Requirements

Completion of the Australian year 12 high school certificate (HSC) or its equivalent
and
Pass in Senior English

Available at

Brisbane - QLD
Sydney - NSW
Melbourne - VIC

Career Options:

The range of rewarding career opportunities in the creative field of animation is diverse. A successful Qantm College graduate could fill a range of niche roles including:

2D / 3D Animator
Character Designer
Concept Artist
3D Modeller
Visual Effects Editor
Animation Project Manager

Course Content

1st Year Bachelor of Interactive Entertainment (Major in Animation)

Trimester 1

DES101: Principles of Design

A foundation course in the application of design principles and elements that is fundamental to all design activities. Students will enhance their knowledge and skills to effectively apply these principles and elements as well as critically evaluate their design processes.

DES102: Communication Design

This course introduces the key elements of communication that facilitate effective communication on a personal and professional basis. Students will examine communication theories and apply these practically for effective communication particularly within the multimedia and interactive entertainment environments.

MED101: Digital Audio and Video Production

In this course, the theoretical and practical implications of the use of digital video and audio are examined. Students will be provided with a range of skills and theoretical knowledge necessary for the production of digital video and audio.

MED104: Fundamentals of Drawing

Students are introduced to the concepts and methodologies of drawing using a variety of media and concentrating on drawing from life, character design and construction.

Trimester 2

INT201: Narrative & Character Development

A course focused on the development of character and narrative flow for films and games. Students will study how narrative is structured in many media and explore the basic principles of character development and the strategies to implement characters into an entertainment narrative.

DES104: Design for Interactive Entertainment

Students are introduced to key theories, concepts and methodologies in design for interactive entertainment. They will critically analyse and evaluate a range of games and digital entertainment artifacts to develop an understanding of how to design interactive applications that are engaging, entertaining and targeted.

MED102: Principles of 2D Animation

This is an introductory course in 2D animation. Students will study the historical context of 2D animation, its current applications, animation principles, and styles and methods of animation – with emphasis on 2D digital animation.

MED103: Principles of 3D Modelling

MED 103 is an introductory course in 3D modelling. In this course, students will be exposed to a wide range of tools used in 3D modelling, and will develop skills in the construction and manipulation of 3D models.

Trimester 3

INT202: Scripting & Storyboarding

This course will introduce students to the concepts and practices of developing and actualising scripts and storyboards for projects in many media. The use of scripts, storyboards and animatics for different purposes and outcomes will also be examined and applied.

DES202: Game Level Design

Students are introduced to key theories, concepts, and methodologies of designing effective levels for a variety of different game types. Students examine the processes and issues involved. Students will undertake and report on research they have done, as well as produce examples of level design.

ANI201: Advanced 2D Animation

This course builds on MED102: Principles of 2D Animation and focuses on the development of advanced 2D animation skills. Students will develop character animation techniques, use sound to enhance animation, and develop knowledge and skills in character drawing, depicting weight and motion, keyframe animation, in betweening, and lip-synching.

ANI202: Advanced 3D Animation

This course builds on MED103: Principles of 3D Modelling and focuses on the design of 3D character set-ups, the fundamentals of lighting, lip-synching and composition and advances the traditional animation principles as applied to 3D animation.

2nd Year Bachelor of Interactive Entertainment (Major in Animation)

Trimester 4

NEM201: Managing New Media Projects

Examines a range of theories, concepts and methodologies for the effective project management of large-scale New Media projects. Students will be exposed to a range of industry standard tools available for the planning, tracking and overall management of such projects.

NEM204: New Media Business Compliance

With increasing global and local competition, new media businesses are required to meet various and complex standards of compliance. This course will inform students in the strategic areas of legal compliance and quality compliance. This course gives students the skills needed to:

Understand the wide range of legal issues affecting the New Media industry including information security, copyright, intellectual property and application development.
Critically review and evaluate New Media projects to ensure a quality product and a quality process. Testing and the implementation of standards will be addressed as well as quality assurance models.

ANI203: Interactive Animation

This course explores the creation of interactive animation for games and simulations. It examines user expectations and human-computer interaction, looking at the most effective methods of creating animation that reacts to events.

ANI204: Modelling Digital Environments

This course introduces students to the concepts and practices used in creating digital environments for use in computer games and film and television. Students will examine the relationship between characters, their environment, and its influence on game play and storytelling.

Trimester 5

IEP301: Interactive Entertainment Project Design & Pre-Production

Requires students to complete the design of a client-driven project in the field of entertainment. Incorporating the key elements of their field of study. Students are to maintain a record of their work and produce a report on and presentation of their design activities.

ANI306: Advanced Character Animation

This course builds on ANI201: Advanced 2D Animation, and ANI202: Advanced 3D Animation, and INT201: Narrative and Character Development, and emphasizes acting as a tool of studying and creating animated performances. Theories on character personality, expression, emotional responses, empathy, motivation and non-verbal acting will be studied through classroom exercises and the examination of classic animated and live action films, and then applied to an animated character. Further exploration of the twelve principles of animation will also be demonstrated and discussed. The underlying psychology and physiology of emotional responses will be explored in depth.

ANI302: Animation for Film and Television (Visual Effects)

This course introduces students to the concepts and practices used in creating Special Effects, Animation, and Compositing for Film & TV. Students will study the history of the visual effects medium, as well as examine the theory and practice used in creating complex visual effects for film and television.

or

ELECTIVE UNIT - Students can choose 1 Elective

An Elective unit is available as an alternative choice to ANI302.

Trimester 6

Choice of either:

IEP302 (Interactive Entertainment Project) and NEM305 (New Media Internship).

Note: entry into NEM305: New Media Internship is dependent upon industry placements and will be based on overall student performance.

or

IEP302 (Interactive Entertainment Project), NEM302 (The Business of New Media) PLUS 1 Elective

IEP302: Interactive Entertainment Project Production

Requires students to complete the production of a client-driven entertainment project, incorporating the key elements from their field of study. Students are to maintain a record of their work and produce a report and presentation of their production outcomes.

NEM305: New Media Internship

Enables students to examine and analyse first-hand the business methodologies, communication models, production work-flows and design strategies used specifically in the New Media industry. Students will also gain an understanding of the concepts that underlie successful business and marketing strategies, with a particular emphasis placed on professional practice.