Credit Points: 6
Trimester 3

This unit exposes the student to a history of animation and games embedded into a broader notion of the visual narrative or experience. Studies will lead from early examples of sequential art through to current examples of new technology platforms, with attention paid to historical and social context, geographical and technical factors, and the interplay of commercial production with the artist and auteur. Students will actively investigate topics themselves, and conduct presentations and seminars under the guidance of the lecturer. Classes will be divided between tutorial sessions and sessions devoted to screenings, demonstrations, and presentations, plus self-directed off-site visits to relevant events and exhibitions.

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 4

The Graphic Narrative units address the technical and creative challenges and opportunities for still and moving graphic narrative. Graphic Narrative II begins with editing as an art and a technique, then applies those ideas in the creation of animatics. It also looks at the process of layout as it is understood in 2D and 3D animation respectively, and also touches on pre-vis and post-vis.

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 3

The Graphic Narrative I unit addresses the technical and creative challenges and opportunities for still and moving graphic narrative. Graphic Narrative I begins with storytelling in comics and progresses through storyboards for screen stories, the visual language of cinema, mise-en-scene, and cinematography as it applies generally, and specifically to animation.

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 4

In Lab II students develop and execute a small group project utilizing the key skills they are focusing on in their streams, or alternatively, act as a crew-member on a project being undertaken by more senior students in Studio I and II. Individuals and teams are required to log required hours in the lab environment, and to meet weekly with an assigned project supervisor who will act as a mentor and support person. A range of creative briefs will be provided for those originating their own project, covering potential projects in areas such as art and design, modelling, animation, game development, or hybrids of these. In addition to the creative work, students will be guided through planning, documenting, reporting, and reflecting on their work. Additional workshops may be provided where required to extend technical knowledge. Finished projects will form the basis of a portfolio to be built upon in successive trimesters.

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 3

Depending on your chosen specialisation:

2D Animation II - AGA305

2D Animation II gives students a deeper understanding of digital animation packages, by looking at more advanced functionality, rigging, and background animation techniques. Students will also explore 2D animation for games and develop and import those animations into a game engine.

3D Animation II: Rigging - AGA306

This unit covers how to set up a skeleton and rig for a character mesh, how to skin the mesh and weight it properly, how to add controls to the rig, user interface options, blend shapes, and testing of rigs. The unit provides the technical knowledge required for creating a fully controllable character for use in animation or game productions. Rigging is often sought as a secondary skill for animators and an understanding of rigging allows animators to exercise greater creative control over the character rigs they work with.

Game Dev II: Programming - AGA307

Creating effective and tightly designed game prototypes is made possible only with an understanding of fundamental core programming concepts. This unit introduces game programming and game engine operation, by writing games-focused software scripts in the C# language using the Unity game engine Application Programming Interface (API). Students will complete a number of small games exercises and develop their own small coding project in an area of interest, learning the fundamentals of programming for game design practitioners of all fields – artists, designers, and programmers.

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 4

Depending on your chosen specialisation:

2D Animation III - AGA310

2D Animation III builds on the previous units, taking the student’s 2D skills to a sophisticated level of expressive and acting animation. Contemporary digital implementations of classical frame by frame animation styles are employed, with a strong emphasis on movement, timing, acting, and dialogue. Art clean-up methods and approaches are explored, giving the student experience in producing polished, finished 2D animation in a range of styles.

3D Animation III - AGA311

This unit continues to develop core principles of animation while also introducing more sophisticated acting elements and dialogue via theory, and practice. The assessment tasks encourage students to animate their own ideas, characters and stories, adding individual personality and style in the process.

AGA312 Game Dev III: Rapid Prototyping - AGA312

This unit extends the student’s fundamental knowledge of game programming through the practical application of the rapid prototyping process. The unit develops the approach needed when approaching game programming projects by engaging in a number of exercises that will explore the mindset required when thinking about the world in terms of systems and interconnected relationships and meanings.

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 3

Production Art II: Prop & Environment Design - AGA308

This unit focuses on design and drawing skills for the creation of three-dimensional props, vehicles, buildings and environments. There is a strong emphasis on perspective and volumetric drawing, accurate portrayal of physical detail and form, and the composition and layout of spaces. Drafting and rendering techniques and conventions are covered, as well as style and finish for concept art and production design.

CG Art II: Digital Sculpture - AGA317 

Introduction to using digital sculpture package for modelling and detailing. Through the unit students must maintain a focussed and sustained sculpture practice, posting sculpts, duration of sculpt and reference to the course forum. Initially, this is to establish familiarity with software, analysing planes and volume, and learning landmarks for the human figure. This includes gathering reference and analysing sculptures on an exhibition tour. The course then requires work for two subjects, stylised props and stylised character, including the preparation of models and textures, applicable to production project.

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 4

Production Art III: Production Design - AGA313

This third unit in the Production Art sequence consolidates the skills learnt in PAI and PAII and embeds them into the context of the full design of a production in animation, games, or a related field. Students will be introduced to the process and art of world creation, employing colour, form, composition, character, architecture, landscape, technology and culture to conceive, define, and illustrate narrative and experiential works. Illustration techniques and detailed documentation will also be key elements of the unit.

CG Art III: Look Development - AGA318

This unit focuses on look development via surfacing, lighting, and rendering, and introduces software for use in creating textures. Students are introduced to creative and technical lighting approaches and systems in greater depth. Common materials and channels contextualising their use are explored. Texturing approaches inside specialist software are introduced with a focus on developing layered, matte based approaches for further customisation in a destination application. Procedural and semi-automated systems for look development will also be explored. Rendering strategies will be explored and the calculation of render times for quality output is examined.

Trimester 5

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 6

Industry Development provides students with guidance in the preparation of their professional profile, seeking employment, additional study, or the development of personal career goals. Students will build an awareness of career pathways, salary structures, local and international industries, and advancement. They will be supported technically and creatively in the creation of promotional materials such as Resumes, CVs, show reels, portfolios, and the like, and the investigation of their industry and available career paths. Professional and workplace skills are addressed with a strong emphasis on good communication practice, and the maintenance of good mental health and wellbeing. The unit may involve guest lectures from practitioners or studio visits, as well as attendance at industry events and presentations.

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 5

In this unit students will be exposed to a range of theoretical frameworks derived from literary, film, animation and game studies. Students will explore a number of these through academic research, and share their discoveries with their peers in a tutorial presentation context. A flexible approach to the presentation of ideas through various media options will allow students to develop their thinking in visual and auditory ways as well as more traditional writing forms, and the group will be encouraged to engage in debate and discussion around the themes.

Credit Points: 18
Trimester 6

Studio II is a continuation of Studio I. In this unit, students will finalise their project to a professional/publishable standard. Students will work with their peers and mentors to develop and apply advanced technical skills to expedite the creative realisation of their project. To more accurately simulate professional practice, students will be required to engage with peers in other disciplines or external practitioners for sound production, acting/voiceovers and so on, as required. AGA 404 students, in consultation with the unit coordinator, may also involve students in AGA 304 to assist in the development of this project. At the end of this unit, students will exhibit their completed project.

Credit Points: 12
Trimester 5

In Studio I and Studio II students will design and develop a short production completed to a professional/publishable standard. The design and prototyping stage of the project is undertaken in Studio 1, along with the early stages of production. Students will be expected to develop and document a concept for a project and a project plan for the development and production of the full project (including Studio II), or to contribute as a specialist to one or more of these projects, culminating in an exhibition of the completed works. They will work with their peers and mentors to develop required advanced technical skills and to regularly critique and refine their creative and technical goals. AGA 402 students, in consultation with the unit coordinator, may also involve students in AGA 304 to assist in the development of this project. At the end of this unit, students will need to have developed detailed creative and technical documentation and prototype elements and begun full production which will then be carried over into Studio 2.

Digital compositing is the process of combining visual elements into cohesive still and moving images and is integral for any post-production facility. Students are introduced to key areas in compositing, moving from separating and combining still images, to working with complex transparency, camera movement and computer-generated images.  These scaffolded weekly projects prepare students for a proposal and project completed in a para-professional studio environment.

Extended reality systems are a significant element of new trends in digital human interfaces and creative expression. This unit provides a foundational introduction to the history of XR technologies, their convergence in present systems, and key psychological elements informing a user experience.

The first project implementing a basic augmentation application for mobile device introduces students to working with development plugins and principles of tracking key to all XR technologies. The second project extends students implementing development within a dedicated virtual reality system as a small team.

Motion capture systems are an increasingly important tool in the creation of film and game animation, but to produce high-quality work requires knowledge and skill. This unit will introduce students to the technology and techniques for designing, setting-up, capturing and working with motion capture data.

Students will examine examples of motion capture work good and bad, and analyse where and how it is most effective. You will work with actors or other performers in the studio, to direct performance and motion for capture. You will learn how to set up and use the equipment and how to acquire and manage the data produced.

Most importantly students will spend a substantial part of the unit developing an understanding of how the data is utilised, and the place of the animator’s skillset in refining, cleaning up and completing the action captured. You will begin to acquire these skills through the practical work undertaken in the unit.

(by application only)

COL401 Internship aims to provide students with an internship opportunity that has sound educational value and provides students the chance to initiate and/or develop relationships with professionals in their discipline. COL401 allows students to prepare or consolidate their know-how to work as a professional and increase their technical and creative skills base. It also allows students to explore potential areas of employment. 

In this unit the National Society for Experiential Education’s definition of “internship” is used. This is internship is a carefully monitored volunteering or working experience where an individual has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what they are learning throughout the experience. For this reason, beside the time students spend during their internship, they will also spend self-study time. They will reflect upon their awareness of applying theory to practice during their internship, practicing their ability to evaluate situations, critical thinking, and effective communication of their decision-making. 

Students will also elaborate a professional plan where they explain their aspiring professional development goals and the activities that would assist them to achieve these under the guidance of their Internship Coordinator/Supervisor.  

(by application only)

This subject is a special project based on research, experiences and learning undertaken in conjunction with the overseas academic partners and JMC Academy.  Students will be immersed in two weeks of educational experiences prior to JMC Academy trimester start, hosted by the overseas academic partners. They will cover a range of topics, skills and knowledge taught by industry experts and educators in the students’ area of study (Entertainment Business Management, Music, Design, Film and Television, Audio Engineering, Animation and Game Design). 

On completion of the two weeks of study, students will continue with a 12 week special project on campus at JMC Academy in Australia. 

Individual projects are based on a specific project topic of the student’s choice made in consultation with their term supervisor. That is then developed over the length of the subject. Students will be supervised and will work in conjunction with their supervisor to complete their project (Academic or Practical).