Assignment front sheet

Qualification / Unit number and title
Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma Creative Media Production / Unit 73 3D Character Animation for Computer Games (D/601/8437)
Student name / Assessor name
Shane Whittington
Date issued / Completion date / Submitted on
31/1/14 / W/C 23/5/14
Assignment title / ‘Current Gen Remake’
Learning Outcome / Learning Outcome / AC / In this assessment you will have the opportunity to present evidence that shows you are able to: / Task no. / Evidence
Presented
LO 1 / Understand the characteristics and anatomy of human and animal forms / 1.1 / explain the characteristics of human and animal forms / 1
1.2 / explain the anatomy of human and animal forms / 1
LO 2 / Be able to plan 3D animated characters for computer games / 2.1 / develop imaginative ideas for a 3D animated character for a computer game / 2
2.2 / complete all pre-production work for a 3D animated character for a computer game working to a standard acceptable to an employer or client / 2
LO 3 / Be able to create 3D animated characters for computer games / 3.1 / complete a 3D character animation for a computer game
working to a standard acceptable to an employer or
client / 3
LO 4 / Be able to reflect on own 3D character animation work / 4.1 / critically evaluate own finished 3D character animation against agreed criteria and make recommendations for improvements / 4
4.2 / critically evaluate own production skills against agreed criteria and make recommendations for improvements. / 4
Learner declaration
I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are fully acknowledged.
Student signature: Date:
In addition to the above PASS criteria, this assignment gives you the opportunity to submit evidence in order to achieve the following MERIT and DISTINCTION grades
Grade Descriptor / Indicative characteristic/s / Contextualisation
M1 Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions / An effective approach to study and research has been applied. / To achieve M1 you must identify and evidence the use of a range of appropriate research methods and strategies to allow you explain the characteristics and anatomy of human and animal forms. (Task 1)
M2 Select / design and apply appropriate methods / techniques / A range of methods and techniques has been applied / To achieve M2 you must apply a range of appropriate methods and techniques in the production of your 3D animation. (Task 3)
M3 Present and communicate appropriate findings / An appropriate structure and approach has been used (in the presentation and communication of your findings). / To achieve M3 you must use an appropriate and structured approach to the presentation of your work. You should use appropriate technical language. Your portfolio should be neat and well organised. (Task 2)
D1 Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions / Self criticism of approach has taken place. / To achieve D1 you must critically evaluate your work and draw conclusions. You must be critical of your 3D animation and suggest ways in which it could have been improved. You should compare your final animation to your original intentions.(Task 4)
D2 Take responsibility for managing and organising activities / Substantial activities, projects or investigations have been managed and organised. / To achieve D2 you will demonstrate that you have taken responsibility for planning and creating your 3D animation. This can be done through your presentation of work and your planning portfolio. (Task 2)
D3 Demonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinking / Innovation and creative thought have been applied. / To achieve D3 you must be able to demonstrate that you have applied innovative and creative thought to the animation that you have created. You will have considered the needs of the client and the audience and demonstrated your creativity throughout the animation process. (Task 3)
Assignment brief
Unit number and title / Unit 73 3D Character Animation for Computer Games (D/601/8437)
Qualification / Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Creative Media Production
Start date / 31/1/14
Deadline/hand-in / 23/5/14
Assessor / Shane Whittington
Assignment title / ‘Current Gen Remake’
Purpose of this assignment
This unit aims to develop learners’ understanding of and skills in character animation for computer games to the standard required to work in the computer games industry.
Scenario
You are working as part of a small development team which has been tasked with remaking a game from the 5th console generation or earlier.
You have been asked to remake one of the most famous scenes from you chosen game for current generation platforms. You should show your creativity when planning your animation as you have the freedom to make as many changes as you feel are necessary.
Your animation should be at least 30 seconds in duration and should be submitted in an appropriate format and should include a soundtrack.
Task 1 (LO1: 1.1, 1.2 and M1) – Deadline: 17th February 2014
Individually you willexplain the characteristics and anatomy of human and animal forms.You must consider;
Characteristics: size and shape; movement; skin; hair; fur; feathers; facial features; sex; gender
Anatomy: skeleton; musculature; lever systems, cardiorespiratory
In order to achieve this you will research and analyse the different aspects of human and animals, including real examples as well as characters. You will submit your explanation of the characteristics and anatomy of human and animal forms in an appropriate format. This could be written, online, a presentation or video or any other format that will effectively communicate your understanding. It is expected that you will include a range of examples to support your explanations.
To achieve M1 you must identify and evidence the use of a range of appropriate research methods and strategies to allow you explain the characteristics and anatomy of human and animal forms.
Task 2(LO2: 2.1, 2.2 and M3, D2) – Deadline 24th March 2014
You must develop imaginative ideas for a 3D animated character for a computer game and develop all pre-production work for this character to a standard acceptable to an employer or client. You will produce a pre-production portfolio which will include evidence of:
Plan: ideas; content; style
Develop ideas: proposals; treatments; mood boards
Pre-production: scripts; storyboards; gathering materials, eg textures, images, sound effects,music; scheduling
You should show thorough development of your ideas and your pre-production portfolio should be detailed and complete.
To achieve M3 you must use an appropriate and structured approach to the presentation of your work. You should use appropriate technical language. Your portfolio should be neat and well organised.
To achieve D2 you will demonstrate that you have taken responsibility for planning and creating your 3D animation. This can be done through your presentation of work and your planning portfolio.
Task 3(LO3: 3.1 and M2, D3) – Deadline28th April 2014
You must complete your 3D character animation working to a standard acceptable to an employer of client.
Working to the plan you created for task 2 you will now create your 3D animated sequence. Your completed animation should show consideration of;
Characters: humans; animals; fantasy creatures; conveying character, eg role, social status,
personality, emotion, moods, posture, gait, facial expressions, voice, noises
Techniques: 12 principles of animation (timing, squash and stretch, anticipation, staging,straight ahead action and pose to pose, follow through and overlapping action, slow in andslow out, arching, secondary action, exaggeration, solid drawing, appeal); software eg 3DSMax, Maya, Lightwave, Blender
Technical considerations: file formats; compression; output; audio; frame rates
Production: 3D animation, eg movements, actions, facial expressions; sound and music dubs;lip sync; lighting; texturing; appropriate file formats
Post-production: editing, eg rough cut, final edit; effects, eg sound, graphics, transitions;rendering; exporting, eg file type, file size
You must present your completed animation to your client and peers as well as preparing and delivering a talk on how the animation was created.
To achieve M2 you must demonstrate the use of a range of animation methods and techniques in your project. You must explain and justify your use of these methods as you present your work.
To achieve D3 you must be able to demonstrate that you have applied innovative and creative thought to the animation that you have created. You will have considered the needs of the client and the audience and demonstrated your creativity throughout the animation process.
Task 4(LO4: 4.1, 4.2 and D1) – Deadline12th May 2014
You mustcritically evaluate your own finished 3D character animation against agreed criteria and make recommendations for improvements. You must also critically evaluate your own production skills and make recommendations for improvements. Within your critical evaluation you should consider;
Finished animation: technical quality; aesthetic quality; fitness for purpose; audience andpeer review
Skills: technical; creative; achievement of objectives; teamworking; own contribution
You must decide upon an appropriate format for your critical review (eg. Written, making of documentary, presentation) but you must ensure that you include a range of examples to support your points as well as comparing to your original intentions.
To achieve D1 you must critically evaluate your work and draw conclusions. You must be critical of your completed animation and suggest ways in which it could be improved. You should compare your final animation with your initial intentions.
Evidence checklist / Summary of evidence required by student / Evidence presented
Task 1 / Agreed format for evidence of explanations of the characteristics and anatomy of human and animal forms.
Task 2 / Preproduction portfolio.
Task 3 / Completed animation on disc as a video file
Completed project files
Print outs of any resources used in the presentation of work and talk on how it was created.
Video evidence of talk on creation of project.
Task 4 / Critical review in agreed format

Achievement Summary

Qualification / Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma Creative Media Production / Assessor name / Shane Whittington
Unit Number and title / Unit 73 3D Character Animation for Computer Games / Student name
Criteria Reference / To achieve the criteria the evidence must show that the student is able to: / Achieved?
(tick)
LO1
1.1 / explain the characteristics of human and animal forms
1.2 / explain the anatomy of human and animal forms
LO2
2.1 / develop imaginative ideas for a 3D animated character for a computer game
2.2 / complete all pre-production work for a 3D animated character for a computer game working to a standard acceptable to an employer or client
LO3
3.1 / complete a 3D character animation for a computer game working to a standard acceptable to an employer or client
LO4
4.1 / critically evaluate own finished 3D character animation against agreed criteria and make recommendations for improvements
4.2 / critically evaluate own production skills against agreed criteria and make recommendations for improvements.
Higher Grade achievements (where applicable)
Grade descriptor / Achieved?
(tick) / Grade descriptor / Achieved?
(tick)
M1: Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions / D1: Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions
M2: Select / design and apply appropriate methods / techniques / D2: Take responsibility for managing and organising activities
M3: Present and communicate appropriate findings / D3: Demonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinking