6B062E - Major Project: Pre-Production (2D and Stop Motion) 01 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2033 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 6B062E
Module Title: Major Project: Pre-Production (2D and Stop Motion)
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Games and Design
Faculty Sub Group: Design
Module Leader: Jonathan Edwards
Module Team: Gustavo Arteaga, Tomos Hooson, James Kimm
First Intended Intake: SEP 2027 Final Year of Intake: 2032
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 6
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 support students in building and developing their major project through practical pre-production materials, testing and iterative refinement. 

  • To develop students’ ability to evaluate their work in progress and make informed decisions in response to feedback, technical challenges and production constraints. 

  • To encourage realistic project planning and professional working practices, including time management, workflow development and appropriate use of specialist skills. 

Content Summary

This module marks the transition from early planning stages into the active development of your major project, focusing on the creation, testing and refinement of work in practice. Building on the plans established in the previous module, you will begin to realise your project through the pre-production of assets, sequences and production material aligned with your chosen specialism. 

The module emphasises ongoing development, encouraging you to test ideas, evaluate outcomes and refine your work in response to feedback, technical challenges and creative opportunities. Through this process, you will develop a deeper understanding of project scope, production planning, time management and the practical realities of preparing and developing a substantial creative project for production. You will exercise choice through the selection of specialist roles, production workflows, creative approaches and development priorities appropriate to your individual project aims and intended outcomes. 

You will establish and refine your working approach, whether operating independently or as part of a collaborative production process, while implementing appropriate workflows, production methods and technical solutions. By the end of the module, you will have further developed a substantial body of pre-production work and established the foundations for sustained project development. 

As a Level 6 module, Major Project: Pre-Production develops pre-production awareness, adaptability and professional working practices, preparing you for sustained production, independent creative practice, freelance working and industry-facing outcomes in subsequent modules. 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Tutorial 10
Project supervision and Mentoring 12
Formative Assessment (Scheduled) 12
Practical Classes and Workshops 18
Demonstration 4
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 pre-production processes and techniques to develop and refine animation work in progress, demonstrating effective use of iterative testing and problem-solving.
LO2 Evaluate and adapt project development in response to feedback, technical challenges and production constraints, demonstrating informed decision-making and realistic project management.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Creative Portfolio Feasibility testing and pipeline development portfolio demonstrating technical experimentation, workflow investigation, material exploration, animation testing and pre-production feasibility processes for 2D and/or Stop Motion animation practice. Submission to include evaluative commentary reflecting critically on testing methodologies, workflow development, technical problem-solving and ongoing production development processesc. ONLINE. Individual (with opportunities for collaboration and specialist consultation where appropriate) 0 1500 60 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio Pre-Production development portfolio demonstrating animatic refinement, production progression, workflow implementation and technical development processes for 2D and/or Stop Motion animation pre-production. Submission to include critical evaluation evaluating production progression, pipeline effectiveness, project feasibility and readiness for full production implementation. online. Individual (with opportunities for collaboration and specialist consultation where appropriate). 0 1000 40 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Creative Portfolio
Portfolio

Reading List

Week 2: Building Work and Production Processes 

 

Essential Reading 

Rodriguez, D. (2012) Animation Methods: The Only Book You'll Ever Need. California: David Rodriguez. 

 

Supplementary Reading 

White, T. (2009) How to Make Animated Films: Tony White’s Complete Masterclass on the Traditional Principles of Animation. Oxford: Focal Press. 

 

Week 3: Technical Development and Problem-Solving 

 

Essential Reading  

Osborn, K. (2019) Cartoon Character Animation with Maya: Mastering the Art of Exaggerated Animation. 2nd edn. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 

 

Supplementary Reading 

Stanchfield, W. (2024) Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: The Walt Stanchfield Lectures – Volume 2. 2nd edn. Oxon: CRC Press. 

 

Week 4: Review, Evaluation and Production Constraints 

 

Essential Reading 

Halpern, P. (2019) Directing in Animation: A Comprehensive Guide to Animated Filmmaking. Oxford: Focal Press. 

 

Supplementary Reading 

Keating, G. (2015) The Art of the Cut: Editing Concepts Every Filmmaker Should Know. Honolulu: Kahala Press. 

 

Week 5: Creative Development and Refinement 

 

Essential Reading 

Caldwell, C. (2025) Story Structure and Development: A Guide for Animators, VFX Artists, Game Designers, and Virtual Reality. 2nd edn. Abingdon: CRC Press. 

 

Supplementary Reading 

Parr, P. (2016) Sketching for Animation: Developing Ideas, Characters and Layouts in Your Sketchbook. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 

 

Week 6: Production Readiness and Project Progression 

 

Essential Reading 

Moore, S. and Wells, P. (2016) The Fundamentals of Animation. 2nd edn. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 

 

Supplementary Reading 

Heagney, J. (2022) Fundamentals of Project Management. 6th edn. Nashville: HarperCollins Leadership. 

 

Online Resources: 

Animate Projects: https://animateprojects.org 

Animation Journals: https://journals.sagepub.com 

BFI – British Film Institute: http://www.bfi.org.uk 

British Film Council: http://film.britishcouncil.org 

Screen Skills: https://www.screenskills.com 

Society for Animation Studies: http://www.animationstudies.org 

The Big Cartoon Database: http://www.bcdb.com 

Toonhound: http://www.toonhound.com