This unit addresses basic 2D animation skills directed at developing animations for inclusion in interactive media products, short stand-alone animated sequences and basic games.

A person in this role works closely with other members of a production team and reports to a senior animator, designer, director or producer. The short dynamic animations they produce may include audio components.

Skills associated with 3D digital animation are covered in:

CUFANM302A Create 3D digital animations.

More complex skills associated with 3D character animation, including animating facial expressions and lip syncing, are covered in:

CUFANM501A Create 3D digital character animation.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Identify animation requirements

1. Clarify 2D animation requirements, including design specifications and storyboard in consultation with relevant personnel

2. Clarify target users/audience and requirements with regard to output formats and delivery platforms

Generate and assess ideas

3. Review animations, artworks and other creative sources that may inspire design ideas

4. Obtain other relevant information that may influence design ideas

5. Generate a range of animation ideas that are technically feasible, respond to specifications and provide creative solutions to all design issues

6. Present animation ideas to relevant personnel using appropriate design techniques

Plan approach

7. Assess the range of industry-current 2D animation software available to determine compatibility with design specifications

8. In consultation with relevant personnel, select the most appropriate 2D animation software for a given purpose

9. Evaluate initial design ideas and specifications against findings and discuss with relevant personnel to select final design concept

Produce animations

10. Apply basic screen principles, visual design principles, communication principles, animation techniques and animation principles to produce animated sequences

11. Source and import, or generate sufficient quantity of key drawings to establish required actions

12. Combine animated objects to produce single sequences according to creative requirements and specifications

13. Integrate audio assets where necessary

14. Save and store animations using appropriate output file formats and standard naming conventions

Finalise animations

15. Review animations to assess creative solutions to design specifications, appropriateness to users/audience and technical feasibility

16. Discuss and confirm with relevant personnel additional requirements or modifications to overall designs or animations and undertake necessary amendments

Required skills

communication, teamwork and literacy skills sufficient to:

interpret and clarify written or verbal instructions

interpret information in software user manuals and help features

work as a member of a project team, both independently on assignment and under direction

respond constructively to feedback received from other team members

initiative and enterprise in the context of:

generating a range of feasible ideas for 2D animated sequences

visualising creative concepts

technical skills sufficient to:

use appropriate software to develop 2D animations

produce hand-drawn sketches

apply the basic principles of screen, visual design and communication to produce 2D animations

create 2D animations in appropriate formats for a range of delivery platforms

manage files and directories using standard naming conventions and version control protocols

self-management and planning skills sufficient to:

prioritise work tasks

meet deadlines

seek expert assistance when problems arise

Required knowledge

industry knowledge, including:

roles and responsibilities of project team members

basic understanding of the relationship between the technical and creative aspects and requirements of media projects

basic animation techniques and principles

basic screen principles

principles of visual design and communication

copyright clearance procedures

OHS standards as they apply to use of computer and keyboard for periods of time

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

creation of a range of 2D digital animations that:

meet specifications

demonstrate the basic principles of screen, visual design and communication

meet the technical requirements of at least two delivery platforms listed in the range statement

satisfy client requirements

collaborative approach to work.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

access to a selection of resources, equipment and current industry-current software as listed in the range statement

where sound is integrated in the animated sequence, access to a range of suitable software to support the integration of sound and visual elements

access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required

use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance

evaluation of a range of 2D digital animations created by the candidate in response to specifications

written or oral questioning to test knowledge of visual design principles, communication principles, animation techniques and responsibilities of different members of a project team.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

CUFANM302A Create 3D digital animations

CUFDIG301A Prepare video assets

CUFDIG304A Create visual design components.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

2D animations may include:

basic games

buttons

characters

illustrations

logos

morphs

objects

puzzles

simulated sequences

text

titles and credits.

Design specifications may include:

characters and objects

key frames

objects

references

samples

script

storyboard

technical specifications, including:

output file format

output file size

operating system

hardware specifications, including memory size, RAM

delivery platform

bandwidth

media form.

Relevant personnel may include:

art director

audio asset creator

designer

director

graphic artist

instructional designer

navigation designer

producer

project manager

system support personnel

other technical and specialist personnel.

Output formats may include:

DIR/DCR

FLA/SWF

GIF

HTML.

Delivery platforms may include:

CD

DVD

film

games console

internet

kiosk

mobile phone

PDA (personal digital assistant)

video

other mobile devices.

Design techniques may include:

digital illustrations of objects and characters

freehand sketches

storyboards

story trees.

Animation software may include:

Director

Flash

Toon Boon Studio.

Screen principles may include:

editing, including basic transitions

framing

lighting

montage

narrative

story-telling

style/genre.

Visual design principles may include:

balance

composition

emphasis

focal point

movement

perspective

proportion

scale

unity.

Communication principles may include:

communicating the message

conveying meaning

meeting audience requirements

using functional components.

Animation techniques may include:

acceleration/deceleration

audio integration

hinges and pivots

key frames and tweens

looping backgrounds

morphing/object exaggeration

motion paths

registration points

rotation

speed/motion blur.

Animation principles may include:

key frames

motion

pacing/timing

point of view.

Audio assets may include:

music

narration

sound effects.

Unit sector

Visual communication - animation and digital effects

This unit contains employability skills.