Computer Animation Arts

You've probably been expecting this... Yes, the snow has officially scuppered our plans to see Aladdin tomorrow.  However, after much negotiation behind the scenes with the box office, we have rescheduled our tickets for the matinee performance on Thursday May 17th!  It's a like-for-like swap, so same seats, same people - different day!  Please make a note of this in your respective diaries, and also please ensure everyone has seen this. I'm going to do my best to get it out as far and as wide as possible, but please put it in your group chats and get the message out.  Many thanks!

Introducing Leda Entertainment, an up-and-coming Games Development studio!  Leda Entertainment are looking for 3D artists and animators to work as 'interns' on their latest game, 'Bullion - The Curse of the Cut-Throat Cattle'.  These are initially unpaid roles that can be worked on alongside any other committments that you may have, but that have the potential to earn, should the game be successful!  What the roles WILL do, is give you valuable work experience, and enhance your C.V.s no end... Here's what Leda say about themselves and the roles... "Here at Leda Entertainment, we have been making games since our student days, and now operate side projects on our own time in tandem with our day jobs.  We have launched several titles - primarily for mobile - over the last seven years. During this time, we have come into contact with a number of people, primarily new and recent graduates, who are looking to get a job in the games industry, but ar...

This is a reminder that you're submitting your Soundscape project to your blog only on Tuesday 13th March by 1pm.  Your submission post should be labelled accordingly: Blog submission - Soundscape.   Your submission post should only include the following: Your Soundscapes x 3 Your 'Sonic Concept' documentation (i.e. choose a method by which you can best articulate the ideas driving the design of each soundscape as a response to the image that inspired it; it might be a short written statement of intent, a 'word cloud' or text combined with supporting influence maps... Be imaginative and communicative). For your reference - the requirements of the brief:  You are asked to produce 3 x 30 second soundscapes in response to the images allocated to you at the briefing, which should demonstrate clearly your understanding of the principles of sound design and the ways in which its careful consideration can enrich time-based narrative structu...

Today CAA Careers is introducing DreamingFish Productions , an award-winning production and animation company based in Woking, in Surrey. Here, Animation Manager Luke Brown talks about how he came to be where he is now, and gives some advice on showreels, employability, and the importance of promoting yourself on social media... Over to you, Luke!   How have you ended up where you are now? I actually ended up in this industry in a pretty roundabout way! I studied contemporary music at University and ended up as a music tutor for about a year or so after graduating until I realised that it wasn’t for me. One of my close friends was working at a local studio as a camera operator and wangled me a job at the studio as a production assistant. I was doing all the low-end jobs like picking up event edits and getting voiceovers recorded. I very quickly got very interested in the animations the studio where creating and spent hours in my spare time watching t...

Today is launch day for the Internal Student Survey 2018 .  The short version is the ISS is the opportunity for year 1 and 2 students to feedback to the University about their experience at UCA so far.  Your feedback is valued very highly by the University. You can access the survey   here .    Your login details for the survey have been emailed to your UCA email accounts - please check!  Okay - so what does the survey entail? 30 core questions relating to the following aspects of the student learning experience: Teaching on my Course (Are you learning stuff and is it challenging?) Assessment and Feedback (i.e. blogs/tutorials/OGRs/crits/proformas etc) Academic Support  (feedback/availability of help etc.) Organisation and Management (timetables & communication between staff & students etc.) Learning Resources  Personal Development (i.e. core skills/greater confidence presenting/writing/drawing/doing etc). ...

I'm off to Lyon, France, for another live screening of Red & The Kingdom Of Sound on Saturday, March 3rd and I'm now returning on Monday 5th, March - which means I won't be available for third year tutorials.  Apologies for the short notice - but what I suggest is you pay me a visit tomorrow morning instead (Monday 26th February) - before the Alumni talk.   Alternatively, we can agree some time on the morning of Tuesday 6th March.  I think it would be good for us to catch-up together sooner-rather-than-later to ensure the wheels of your projects are turning, so how about you email me to arrange a time either tomorrow morning or on the morning of Tuesday 6th and then I'll know to expect you. The other thing I'd like you to do is update your blogs with your progress-to-date (if you're not doing so already) so I can have a good nose around and feel suitably reassured. Again - apologies for the disruption - blame Red and his popularity with concert-goin...

This is a message for those Year 2 students who are scheduled to have individual Perspective tutorials with me on Monday 5th March;  I'm off to Lyon, France, for another live screening of Red & The Kingdom Of Sound on Saturday 3rd March and I'm now scheduled to return on the Monday, not the Sunday.  This means I won't be where you need me to be for your individual tutorials - apologies! - so I'm going to suggest we re-schedule your tutorials for Friday 9th March - see below for your respective time-slots.  If this causes any of you an issue, let me know and we'll sort something. Jen @ 9.30 Jess @ 9.50  Laura @ 10.10  Michael @ 10.30  Ruth @ 10.50  Michaela @ 11.10 Alex C @ 11.30 Rhia @ 11.50 Graeme @ 12.10 Noah @ 12.30  Polly @ 12.50

DEADLINE TO GET APPLICATIONS IN - 12TH MARCH 2018 In 2018, BBC Four, BFI and cinemas across the UK are celebrating British animation. Grants will be awarded to fund, or partly fund, up to 12 emerging filmmakers working in animation, to realise their first broadcast project.  If successful, you will be awarded a grant of between £2,000 and £10,000 towards the creation or completion of your original film, the opportunity to have your film screened at BFI Southbank and the chance for it to be broadcast on BBC Four in late 2018 ! What are they looking for? This is what they say - 'Bold and original projects which aim to innovate, including voices and visions that might otherwise go unseen or unheard. Animations that promise a distinctive and unexpected tone of voice - whether that’s arresting, disruptive, spiky, warm or witty, we’re looking for a confident, fresh and contemporary approach. Your film might focus on a topical issue of national importance...

Who are Studio AKA ? Studio AKA is a London-based animation studio producing television commercials, TV programmes and short films, most notably the BAFTA kids' award winning 'Hey Duggee'. They describe themselves as '... a close knit team that include, directors, designers, animators, writers, technical artists & producers who create & consult on projects with a strong emphasis on Story, Design & Character ...' Studio AKA take on interns, and have provided some advice on how to best approach them for a position; 1.  Send a SHORT introductory email, outlining what you are looking for. 2.  Put something relevant in the subject field so we can find your email later. 3.  We go straight to the work so long emails are going to get skimmed over. 4.  We don't need your life story yet - we can find that out later. 5.  We only look at CV's if we already love your work ... 6.  Send NO ATTACHMENTS via emails, they can get caught up ...

Ok, so I know that none of you are strictly Maya beginners anymore, but here is a useful little video produced by David Mattock, of Full Rotation Design and Animation, that covers some of the basics - here's what is featured! TIP 01 :  Focus the camera on one area   | Video timecode: 0.05 TIP 02 :  Snapping like a pro    | Video timecode: 0.22 TIP 03 :  Move multiple keyframes   | Video timecode: 0.54 TIP 04 :  Move the pivot point    | Video timecode: 1.15 TIP 05 :  Soft selection   | Video timecode: 1.36 TIP 06 :  Duplicate special    | Video timecode: 1.53 TIP 07 :  Texture to polys    | Video timecode: 2.24 TIP 08 :  Combine two objects & Bridging     | Video timecode: 2.58 Watch the video HERE You can find out more about Full Rotation HERE

A date for your diaries!  On Monday February 26th (that's Reading Week btw), Leo Tsang is coming to speak with us about his role as Leading Lighting, Rendering and Compositing Director at the award-winning Blue Zoo Animation studio.  Leo graduated from Computer Animation Arts back in 2012.   Leo's talk will begin at 2pm in the CAA Baseroom and we've given him a 3 hour slot, so plenty of time for lots of show and tell - and lots of Q&A from you too. This promises to be a very well attended talk - not least because we're being joined by 26 prospective students from a local college!  The baseroom will likely be packed - standing room only - so make sure you arrive in good time. I've asked Leo to show you work he produced during his time on the course - films from his year one, year two and year three project briefs, as well as talk honestly about his experiences of job-hunting immediately after he graduated.  I'm certain Leo's story of har...

So, we're off to the Prince Edward Theatre for the 2.30pm matinee performance of Aladdin on Thursday 1st March!  How jolly exciting!  We're all making our own way there and back again (as a number of you are already in London or planning on doing something else afterwards etc), so you'll have to get yourselves organised!  I've got your theatre tickets and you'll need to collect them from me before the show begins.  Knowing you lot as I do, I'm asking you to be at the Prince Edward Theatre by 2pm at the latest .  I don't know this to be sure, but it's likely they won't admit late-comers into the theatre after the show has started, so please don't cut it fine, because if you miss the show (or indeed half of it!) there'll be nothing anyone can do! So - 2pm @ the Prince Edward Theatre. Go here for directions/nearest tube/Google maps! If you're travelling up from Rochester, I suggest you clump together and arrive en-masse. C...

As most of you will know by now, sad and unforeseen events mean the cancellation of Alan's timetabled classes with you for this week.  Next week is reading week, but some ongoing disruption to your week 9/10 timetable is likely.  I'm asking students now refrain from contacting Alan via email or Blogger.  Email myself or Simon Holland and we'll sort stuff accordingly.  Thanks for your understanding and together, we'll watch this space.

In this feature, written for 3D World and previously published in a different form in that magazine, you’ll find tips direct from the people who see reels at a range of animation, VFX, games and architecture studios. There will also be general tips on how you should craft a reel tailored to a specific job. Eddie Leon is the President and CEO of US architecture visualisation studio Spine3D. His idea of the perfect reel is one that is diverse and eye-catching. “It should show a range of talent regardless of the position you are applying for,” says Leon. “Everything from the choice of fonts and colours in the titling to the pace of the music and editing must be chosen carefully. This helps to determine whether or not the artist has a good eye. Technical skills can be taught on the job, but a good sense of colour and composition is hard to teach. It is something that is almost natural to some artists."   He says that another point to consider is that most 3D compa...

FAO Everyone!! I am currently in the process of talking to several animation studios, and many of them have started to look at student blogs, to get a feel for what CAA is all about... just a heads up; potential employers are out there, and they're watching, so make sure that you double-check for typos (especially in headings and titles!) and make sure that you promoting all your hard work in the best possible light!

A message from Kath following today's screening of Blade Runner 2049 : Hi All, Hope you enjoyed the screening this week of the new Blade Runner film. As promised here is my email. Please message me with your essay title/ideas that you are working on and I will reply. kath.abiker@canterbury.ac.uk Some info on the films - the original and the new version - as well as a good quality source on the film and its relationship to postmodernism. Happy watching and reading. Kath https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFAdUuqrlVU https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/08/blade-runner-2049-review-a-future-classic http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/blade-runner-2049-review-spectacular-profound-blockbuster-time/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304073162_Postmodern_Theory_and_Blade_Runner

What follows are instructions for your crit presentations and reminders of what you need to present and submit. Please use your social networks to ensure everyone has seen this information and understood it. Any queries, please leave a comment and I'll clarify where necessary. In response to the three story components given you at the time of briefing, you are asked to pre-produce an original two minute animation.  Your pre-production is to be submitted in 2 parts; 1) Pre-Viz, to include: a) 2d animatic with soundtrack & transitions. b) Maya pre-viz with soundtrack & transitions 2) An ‘Art Of’ publication, to include: a) concept art : environment design b) concept art : character design c) concept art : prop design d) Final environment designs e) Final prop designs f) Final character designs (character sheets) g) Final presentation storyboards h) Final script You are asked to produce a comprehensive blog archiving and annotating your creative developme...

Ethel & Ernest (2016) by Raymond Briggs  Directed by Roger Mainwood "The life and times of two ordinary Londoners living through extraordinary events." Raymond Briggs other works include: The Snowman (1982), Fungus the Bogeyman (1977/2015), Father Christmas (1991), & When the Wind Blows (1986).

Please note due to teaching commitments the interim critique for Premise will be split over two days in week 7. These are Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon (details below). You are asked to attend both sessions regardless of whether you are presenting or not. It is important at this stage that you see each others progress and ideas. As a result of the change there will be no Toolkit 2 class on Thursday. For those of you who now have an extra day please use that time wisely and for those of you who don't we'll take that into consideration in our feedback. Group 1: Presenting Tuesday 20th Feb @ 9.30am - 1pm* Aureo, Jess, Krissy, Michael, Ruth, Michaela, Rhia, Graeme, Greta, Anabel, Alex, Anastajia, Joe. *  All students are asked to attend. Group 2: Presenting Thursday 22nd Feb @ 2pm - 5.30pm* Jen, Laura, Almu, Noah, Polly, Paris, Ellie, Jack, Douy, Sandra, Karolina, Racheal, Alexis. *  All students are asked to attend. A further reminder:...

You'll soon be invited to complete the Internal Student Survey (ISS).  The ISS asks students for a rating of their satisfaction via multiple choice questions for the following areas:  1) Teaching 2)  Assessment and Feedback 3)  Academic Support 4)  Organisation & management 5)  Learning Resources 6)  Personal Development 7)  Overall satisfaction with the quality of your course 8)  Students’ Union There are also free-text questions which ask you to feedback on your course and university experience. Improving the student experience is a key strategy to our development as a University. The survey is crucial to our understanding of what you think about us. It informs us of the things we're doing well and where they need improving. Your feedback is used to improve the student experience. Results become part of formal monitoring processes within the University.   Put simply, UCA takes your feedback via this survey...

According to your timetable, you're down for Maya Classes with Simon on Friday 16th in addition to your animation classes with Nat.   Actually, there are no Maya classes as Simon is guesting at the GEEK Festival, Dreamland, Margate , doing a digital painting demonstration for all the visitors there. This was only confirmed recently, hence the short notice - apologies.   I'm going to be at GEEK on both Saturday and Sunday, manning the UCA stand etc. so come and find us if you fancy a trip to the seaside - and lots of gaming, and cosplay antics too I suspect (on the Saturday at least!).

Just a reminder to complete your 'Cone Of Cogency' and upload a suitably high-res & readable image of your Thesis plan to your blog.  I'll leave feedback over the course of the week.  Add an  @Phil to your post and I'll try not to miss anyone. Here's a reminder too of the structure for next Monday's OGR.  You need to have your Thesis presentation on your blog by 5pm on Monday 19th.  I'll then send the urls to Andrew and he'll leave feedback over the course of that week.  Also included here for your reference is Dee's OGR presentation from this time last year.  Note the Research Proforma entries at the end (well in excess of 6 entries and you should be seeking to be similarly ambitious) and bibliography.  Remember, you're producing these presentations for someone else - so please ensure your spelling, grammar, and formatting are all suitably professionalised and really importantly, you've actually given this exercise the...

Year 2 Tutorials: Tuesday 13th Feb To clarify: Tuesday's tutorials are 'drop in' tutorials. The title on the timetable is 'individual tutorials' and underneath it details the type 'drop in'. This means there are no scheduled tutorial times, however you can 'drop-in' if you wish get any further advice ahead of your interim critique.

Just to remind everyone that as of today, UCA has introduced a new colour-coded lanyard system.  HE students such as yourselves should be wearing an orange lanyard, which can be collected from Reception, the Gateway or Campus Registry.  You should have your ID card visible at all times!

As promised, I have made some contact with animation and design studios up and down the country and today I would like to introduce an award winning animation studio in Manchester - Kilogramme Animation Studio Here is what they have to say about themselves... ' Kilogramme is an award winning animation production company based in Manchester's Northern Quarter. Established since 2005, we produce a wide range of design led multi media animation from interstitials, shorts and adverts for broadcast and online... We cover all aspects of production, from initial concept and design right through to final post production.' I put some questions to Director, Jon Turner - Is working in a studio or working independently more fulfilling? I prefer a studio as you have more people to develop ideas with and learn from. Working from home can be a little lonely. Having said that some people prefer to work that way. How does working as part of team help yo...

I recently asked Jamie Denham, of London-based Sliced Bread Animation , how important he thought it was  to promote yourself on social media... he said that although this is an important aspect, it is just as important to network with peers and studios.  He has suggested a Facebook group, called  Festivus , which highlights festivals and presents job opportunities... join the group today! Festivus Facebook Group

I've got a couple of changes to announce regarding your Thursday Contexts classes with Kath Abiker.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, Kath is now unavailable to work with you on Thursday 22nd February , which means it's self-directed study all the way on that day.  However, on Thursday 15th March, Kath will be working with us for the full day - seeing you for individual tutorials in the morning, and her usual lecture with everyone in the afternoon.  We'll give you more information regarding those individual tutorials nearer the time.  In the meantime, please make a note of these changes and amend your personal timetables accordingly. Many thanks.

Fest Anča International Animation Festival  Registration open until February 25th 2018. Competition Awards –  Anča Award (800 EUR)  for the best short film of the festival –  Anča Student Award (400 EUR ) for the best student short film –  Anča Music Video Award (400 EUR)  for the best music video –  Anča Kids´ Award (400 EUR)  for the best short film for children –  Anča Slovak Award (600 EUR)  for the best Slovak short film –  D Award (distribution prize)  for a Slovak short film Only short animated films  –  completed after January  1,  2016 and submitted with English subtitles  –  are accepted into the Festival’s competition program . Festival film  submissions are free of charge . See here for details!