Categories
Nigel Class

Week 5: Research Frameworks

Useful website for following the harvard style and quate the documents

ATLAS.ti: https://atlasti.com/

Qualitative and Quantitative Research methods are two established research traditions that underpin all academic articles.

Quantitative research is an empirical approach that uses numerical data and statistical analysis to test theories and explain or predict phenomena.

Use of Numerical Data: It involves measuring research variables and collecting data strictly in the form of numbers.

Statistical Analysis: It relies heavily on mathematically-based methods—specifically statistics—to analyze the collected numerical data.

Testing and Prediction: The primary goal is to empirically test theories to determine if they can accurately explain or predict social phenomena or human problems.

Qualitative research is a complex, multifaceted approach that produces findings without relying on statistical analysis or numerical quantification.

Complex to Define: Because it is rooted in many different theoretical frameworks (paradigms), qualitative research has multiple dimensions, making it difficult to capture in a single, simple definition.

Non-Numerical & Non-Statistical: The most practical working definition is based on what it is not: it is any research where the conclusions and findings are generated entirely outside of quantification (meaning it does not use math, numbers, or statistical procedures).

Epistemology: (a) Which paradigm or worldview will inform the study design?

Theoretical perspectives: (b) Who or what will be studied?

Methodology: (c) Which research strategies will be used?

Methods: Which research methods or tools will be used to collect and analyse data?

Topics including the arts, entertainment, media or technology can be viewed from one or more of these perspectives.

Environmental/ecological issues

Gender representation

Ethnic representation

Cultural heritage/Exchange

Cultural appreciation and appropriation.

Diversity

Colonialism

Ethical issues

Education

Industry/Vocation

Equality/Human Rights

Community/Social Issues/Social justice

Politics/Government Hegemony https://www.youtube.com/shorts/B9h1wz4NaXo

Experimental or Commercial

Emergent Practice

Screen based / Expanded cinema

Installation

Interactive

Augmented

Virtual reality

Broadcasting

Games

Cinematography

Production design

Categories
Nigel Class

Week 4: Developing a Literature Review

A literature review is an objective, critical summary of published research literature relevant to a topic
under consideration for research. Its purpose is to create familiarity with current thinking and research on
a particular topic, and may justify future research into a previously overlooked or understudied area.

A literature review is important, as it provides an overview and an analytical analysis of what is known about a
particular topic. It establishes and identifies:

  1. An understanding and knowledge of a topic.
  2. The current research in this area.
  3. Gaps in the literature that helps justify your research.
  4. The context for your research and illustrates how it relates to the wider research landscape in this area.
  5. The key authors writing in this field

One way to approach a literature review is to start out broad and then become more specific. Think
of it as an inverted triangle, or a funnel.
Using the funnel comparison, find:

  1. The background information to your topic. This will identify the broader issues and research
    related to your topic and help you orient it, in the wider subject context.
  2. Narrow downyour focus and identify the research that is closer to your area of research.
  3. Focus on specific research that is directly related to your topic

Go broad
Start by looking at the broader issues around your project. Look at works that
give a general overview of your topic and put it into the context of the bigger
research landscape.
This will show an awareness of the breadth of your subject.
Narrow down
Then try and focus your research on issues that are more related to your topic.
Focus on the specific
Look at the most relevant research that relates to your topic and spend more
time discussing these key studies that are directly related to your research.

Introduction: Sets the stage by defining the core theories and main ideas of the research topic.

Main Body: Organizes sources logically, moving from broad background information down to specific studies. It also points out what is missing or flawed in the current research.

Conclusion: Briefly wraps up the findings, explains how past studies support your work, and suggests next steps for future research.

Categories
Nigel Class

Week 3: Understanding and Establishing A Research Topic

1. Topic & Questions Define exactly what you want the reader to learn. Break your topic down into a logical flow of main questions and detailed sub-questions.

2. Sourcing & Critical Analysis

  • Source Types: Use both Primary (original artifacts, interviews, raw data) and Secondary (academic books/articles analyzing a subject). Use reliable platforms like Google Scholar.
  • Be Critical: Never take sources at face value. A good thesis analyzes the context and compares the different biases or perspectives of the authors.

3. The 4 Stages of Research Explore, Plan, Execute, and Finalize.

4. Planning & Structuring

  • Build an Argument: Structure your thesis to make a specific point; do not just list events in chronological order.
  • Take Control: Dictate the structure yourself—don’t let your raw notes guide you. Group relevant notes by chapter, assign supporting literature to each section, and ruthlessly cut irrelevant material.
Categories
Nigel Class

Week 2: Thesis Proposal Structure

Thesis structure

A thesis will usually contain most or all the following sections:

  • Title page

A clear title or research question

  • Abstract

A short overview of the reasons for and the aims of the research.

  • Acknowledgements (Optional)

You may wish to acknowledge any significant contributions to the research from others

  • Contents page(s)

Examples will be provided.

  • Introduction

Here you should provide context for the study, briefly outline the methods of the study and establish the overall and specific objectives. The reader should clearly understand what they will learn.

  • Literature review

Review all the literary materials and sources you plan to use in your research, establishing how they will provide a foundation to support the enquiry and enable the study to reach viable findings and fulfil the research objectives.

  • Methodology

This section should review approaches and methods applied to develop findings, including any not covered in Literature review. This might include literary comparison, case studies, surveys, interviews, experiments, exhibitions and events. It should explain how these methods will generate relevant findings or results.

  • Themed topic chapters

This will form the main part of the discussion and the number of topics /chapters will vary. Main chapter headings should be clearly labelled e.g., Chapter 1. Contexts in Animated Documentary.

Chapter subtitles should be labelled as e.g., 1.1 Enactment and Re-enactment of Documentary, 1.2 Interview and Animated Documentary

  • Results/or Findings (Optional)

This section will present findings and discuss the implications. Consider the practical value your findings will provide to practitioners, educators, and other academics in your field, any ways your work can challenge existing theories and assumptions in your field.

  • Conclusions

Conclude the study by evaluating and reviewing the implications of the study identifying any policies that could be impacted by your findings, problems your work can potentially help to fix, or how your work might contribute to current or future research. Identify any limitations and recommendations for future research.

  • Reference list

List all the sources cited in your thesis. Arrange your references alphabetically by author surname.

  • Bibliography

List books that you have consulted but not cited. Arrange your references alphabetically by author surname. You may also require a filmography

  • Image list

       For academic referencing, visuals are categorised as either:

       Illustrations (artwork, photos, screenshots, film stills, charts, graphs etc.) or,

       Tables (numbers or text in columns and rows)

  • Appendices

Materials such as letters or relevant documents can be presented here.

Categories
Nigel Class

Week 1: Thesis Proposal Brief: Topic potentials motivations and applications

From this week, I got the information about this unit and next task and process. In particular, Thesis Proposal Approaches, Thesis Proposal Structure. These are link for these topics.

Thesis Proposal Approaches: https://moodle.arts.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/2090152/mod_folder/content/0/Thesis%20Proposal%20Approaches%20.docx?forcedownload=1

Thesis Proposal Structure: https://moodle.arts.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/2090152/mod_folder/content/0/Thesis%20structure%20and%20notes_master_V1.docx?forcedownload=1

I could understand about tips for writing thesis, especially, structure and contents which I should include in this thesis.

Summary: Should Include the Contents in Thesis

Keep Objective Style

Following Harvard Style: https://www.citethemrightonline.com/

1 Objective (Planning & Topic Selection)

  • Select a Topic: Choose a motivating topic with potential impact that meets your assignment’s learning outcomes.
  • Define your Target: Clearly identify your Audience (who will read it) and Purpose (what you want them to know).
  • Plan the Research: Read the brief, break your thesis into logically ordered main questions and sub-questions, and plan your investigation.

2 Structuring the Thesis

Establish a working title and use the following 5-part structure:

  1. Introduction: State the main issue, the topic being investigated, and the report’s purpose.
  2. Methodology: Explain your chosen research methods, why you selected them, and how you applied them.
  3. Literature Review: Critically evaluate the existing sources and literature that inform your research.
  4. Investigation: Present your main discussion, options, and findings based on evidence (use citations and sub-headings).
  5. Conclusions: Provide final takeaways or recommendations for your audience based on your findings.

Key Guidelines for Thesis & FMP

  • Sources: Use and properly cite academically recognized sources (books, media, etc.).
  • Practical Project (FMP): Base your project on your career goals. Decide how to exhibit it and whether it connects directly to your written thesis.
  • Format: Choose an approach (experimental or commercial) and a medium (screen, installation, interactive, AR, games, etc.).
  • Research Value: Define your audience. Clearly state why your research is original, important, and how it advances existing knowledge.
  • Assessment Focus: You will be graded on deep research (Enquiry), skill synthesis (Knowledge), experimentation (Process), clear articulation (Communication), and professional quality (Realisation).
Categories
Advanced and Experimental 3DCA Techniques

Week 1: Layout, Composition, and Camera Language

Original Storyboard during winter vacation assignment

This film engages the viewer to see the screen from left to right with showing the character appear from left to right. Not only that, thanks to this technique, the narrative structure can maintain consistency. 

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
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Page 5
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Page 8

Self-Study Resources

Activity/Quiz: Storyboard – Creative Adaptation

For this storyboard, I changed the story after the father picks up the baby to a different one than in the main story.
Specifically, the father puts the baby in a stroller and walks away, but the baby wants to chase after his father.
We changed the camera composition to depict this story as the father walking away and the baby wanting to chase after him.

Two Storyboards of 5 + 5 emotions

I created two stories that show what the main characters are doing in the bar and what emotions they are feeling in five shots. In this assignment, we shared the two stories in a group work, and then we chose one of the two and worked on it in pairs, one as a director and one as an animator.

Categories
Maya Unreal Engine

Summary and Showreel for Final work

Maya Animation class with George

In this class, I started by learning the 12 principles of animation and was able to build a solid foundation in animation. I worked on many animation exercises, such as bouncing ball, pendulum, small creature jumping, weight shift, walk cycle, and body mechanics. Through these exercises, I realized again how important it is to carefully observe references and make a clear plan. I also found that drawing movements by hand in 2D is very effective for imagining the motion. In addition, I learned that planning must always include timing, space, and the number of frames.

This was my first time using Maya, so I faced some difficulties, but I feel that I learned the basic knowledge and skills needed for animation. I actively asked my classmates and teacher for advice and tried to use an objective perspective to notice points that I would not have realized on my own.

In the next semester, I want to further improve my animation skills and expand the range of what I can create in my animation projects.

Maya Animation class with Ting

In this class, I focused on animating characters. I learned not only the 12 principles of animation but also many useful tips for creating animation. Working on exercises like “Juice Box” and “Golden Pose” helped me strengthen my basic skills and improve my knowledge.

The “Golden Pose” exercise was important because it taught me how to show a character’s situation and emotion clearly. I also learned about other important points in character animation, like the center of gravity (COG). Through the “Franky Pose to Pose” and “Body Mechanics” exercises, I gained more experience and understanding of animation. These exercises were challenging, but by asking my classmates and teacher for feedback, I was able to improve steadily.

I also really enjoyed the time at the end of class when we shared and presented our animation works.

I want to use what I learned in this class in the next semester and continue to grow as an animator.

UE5 class with Serra

In this class, I focused on learning UE5. I had never used UE5 before, so I worked hard to keep up with the lessons. Especially, UE5’s UI and controls are different from other software like Maya or Blender, so it was challenging at first. I also struggled with UE5-specific terms like “Sequence” and “Level.”

However, through the class, I realized that UE5 has a lot of potential. I found it very useful that rendering time can be shorter, there are many ready-to-use assets, and it is a very versatile software that allows modeling, animation, and rendering all in one.

For the final project, I used UE5 to create my work, and I was able to greatly improve my skills. But there are still many things I don’t fully understand, so I want to continue learning on my own next semester to use it more confidently. In the future, I hope to be able to do modeling in Blender, motion in Maya, and camera work and rendering in UE5.

Showreel

This is my Unit 1 showreel. I included a lot of motion in it. I put together everything I learned in the 3D Computer Animation Fundamentals class in this showreel. Through this project, I really felt that I grew a lot as an animator.
Next semester, I want to use what I learned here to improve even more and keep working hard.

Categories
Maya

Week 12: Presentation

Categories
Design for Animation

Week 12: This is a critical report and Presentation Video.

Critical Report Doc: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1y_l44ZUC7LN6Ef0uDzjy99vm_d5USdq1?usp=sharing

Critical Report Presentation: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1y_l44ZUC7LN6Ef0uDzjy99vm_d5USdq1?usp=sharing

This presentation is a three-minute talk based on my critical report.
It was the most challenging assignment for me, mainly because I am not confident in speaking English.

However, through this task, I felt that I had a valuable opportunity to improve several skills, including academic writing, reading books, and speaking in English.
Although there are still many areas where I need to improve, I would like to continue studying and practicing so that I can develop these skills further.

Categories
Maya

Week 11: Body Mechanics

Spline motion

Final polished body mechanics motion

First, I followed the reference video closely and created the basic movement. The teacher gave me feedback that it was done well. However, I felt that the movement was a little plain, so I decided to add some exaggerated motion. I focused especially on overlapping and anticipating, which made the movement feel more vivid.

At first, when adding overlapping, I moved each backbone one by one. The teacher advised me that it is better to select all the bones and move them at the same time. When I tried this, the movement of the back became more unified.

Also, I learned that for the arm bones, it can be better to switch from IK to FK depending on the motion. Each type of bone has its own characteristics, so it is important to choose the right one according to the situation.