Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to use industry-current software to create 2D animations.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Application of the unit 

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.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

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 AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

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

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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.

RANGE STATEMENT 

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 

Competency field 

Visual communication - animation and digital effects

Co-requisite units