4B030E - Movement for Characters 01 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2033 | Version 0
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | 4B030E | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Movement for Characters | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Business and Creative Industries | ||
| Faculty Group: | Games and Design | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Design | ||
| Module Leader: | Matthew Gravelle-Eagles | ||
| Module Team: | Thomas Walters, Gustavo Arteaga | ||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2027 | Final Year of Intake: | 2032 |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 30 | Credit Level: | 4 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | |||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | 100057 - animation | ||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 100 | ||
Document Version Information
| Version | 0 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2027 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2033 |
Module Aims
To develop students’ understanding of body mechanics and performance in character animation.
To enable students to apply animation principles to both human and animal movement.
To encourage observation, experimentation and iterative development in character animation practice.
Content Summary
This module develops your understanding of character-based animation through the study of body mechanics, gesture and expressive movement. Building on the animation principles introduced earlier in the course, you will explore how weight, balance, momentum and intention contribute to believable and engaging character motion.
During the first half of the module, you will investigate human movement through observational study and practical animation exercises that examine body mechanics, physical effort and character intention. In the second half, you will extend these principles to animal movement, exploring how different anatomical structures and locomotion patterns influence animated performance and behaviour.
Through studio-based experimentation, observation and progressive refinement, you will learn to analyse real-world movement and translate it into convincing animated actions and performances. As a Level 4 module, Movement for Characters strengthens your understanding of animation as a performance-based medium and prepares you for more advanced character animation, acting and storytelling modules later in the course.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 9 |
| Seminar | 3 |
| Tutorial | 8 |
| Project Supervision and Mentoring | 8 |
| Formative Assessment - Scheduled | 8 |
| Practical Classes and Workshops | 10 |
| Demonstration | 10 |
| Guided Learning | 10.5 |
| Summative Assessment and Preparation | 60 |
| Independent Learning (Including self-directed study and support) | 173.5 |
| Total Hours Selected | 300 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Apply principles of body mechanics, timing and weight to produce short character animation sequences. |
| LO2 | Analyse and refine character movement through observation, experimentation and reflective evaluation. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Creative Portfolio | Human movement animation exercises demonstrating observation, locomotion, timing, weight, balance and physical performance principles. Submission to include integrated reflective commentary evaluating technical development, iterative practice and application of movement principles. ONLINE. INDIVIDUAL. | 0 | 500 | 50 | No | 40 |
| Asynchronous Assessment | Creative Portfolio | Animal movement animation exercises exploring movement interpretation, stylisation and expressive character performance. Submission to include integrated reflective commentary evaluating experimentation, character performance communication and animation development processes. ONLINE. INDIVIDUAL. | 0 | 500 | 50 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Creative Portfolio | ✔ | ✘ | |
| Creative Portfolio | ✘ | ✔ | |