Higher Occupational Certificate: Animation Artist

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as an Animation Artist. Animation artists create a range of visual content in varying animation, art, and design styles for different purposes. These include cartoons, artistic shorts, music videos, educational videos, narrative features or TV series, title sequences, explainer videos, commercials, and marketing materials. They may use traditional or digital tools or a mix of the two to create digital, traditional or tradigital visual content.

A qualified learner will be able to

• Determine target market for animated visual content and style preferences.
• Prepare for production of animated visual content.
• Create and produce animated visual content in preferred style for specific purposes, clients, and audiences.
• Conduct business processes related animated visual creation.

Rationale

The Graphic Media and Animation Sector in South Africa is a growing sector of the media industry. Though there is an overlap in the basic skills to create graphic media, animation artists require very specific skills. The Higher Occupational Certificate: Animation Artist is developed to include the generic skills required by graphic media developers, and also address the specialised skills required by animation artists. Animation plays a critical role in the media industry for advertising, educational and entertainment purposes.

Animation artists bring creative and innovative ideas to the sector, pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling and graphic design. The qualification is focused on honing the skills required by animation artists to further diversify the offerings of the graphic media sector. This will add to the industry's capacity to create high-quality animations, raising the overall standard of productions in the sector which, promote the South African industry.

The qualification will provide companies in the sector employing qualified animation artists with a competitive edge by offering cutting-edge visual solutions, attracting more clients and projects. This competitive edge is further enhanced by the qualification's focus on developing animation artists to collaborate with professionals from other fields, fostering a multidisciplinary approach within the sector.

The South African society will benefit from the emphasis the qualification places on sensitivity to culture, traditions, and stories, fostering a sense of identity and pride among citizens. Animated content such as films, series, and advertisements provide entertainment, catering for diverse audience preferences and enhancing overall societal well-being. The economy benefits from the contribution made by the South African Animation sector. As the animation sector grows, it creates employment opportunities for animators, scriptwriters, voice actors, and various supporting roles, reducing unemployment rates. Trained animation artists often become entrepreneurs, starting animation studios and related businesses, contributing to economic diversification.

Typical learners include people who are already working within the graphic media and animation environment and those who wish to enter the field. The qualifying learner will operate in occupations such as Animation Artist. Qualified learners may access employment and or establish their studios to earn a living.

Representatives working in all spheres of the graphic media and animation sector were consulted in the realignment of the qualification. There is no similar qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL for Access to Training

Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme if they do not meet the formal, minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme. Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated, and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider which offers that specific qualification/part qualification/skills programme. Such an assessment must ensure that the learner is able to display the equivalent level of competencies required for access, based on the NQF level descriptors.

RPL for exemption

For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme through any means of formal, informal, or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded.

Entry Requirements

An NQF Level 4 qualification.

This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules

Knowledge Modules

• 216601-001-00-KM-01 Basic Elements and Principles of Design, Level 4, 10 Credits.
• 216601-001-00-KM-02 Principles of Visual Content Development, Level 4, 25 Credits.
• 216601-001-00-KM-03 Principles of Photography & Videography for Visual Content Developers, Level 4, 15 Credits.
• 216601-001-00-KM-04 Principles of Design Technology Used by Visual Content Developers, Level 5, 25 Credits.
• 216601-001-00-KM-05 Business Communication and Administration, Level 4, 10 Credits.
• 216601-001-00-KM-06 Principles Underpinning the Animation Pipeline, Level 5, 30 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 115

Practical Skill Modules

• 216601-001-00-PM-01 Assess the Target Market to Determine Animation Client, User and Audience Preferences and Requirements, Level 5, 15 Credits.
• 216601-001-00-PM-02 Conduct Pre-Production Processes in Preparation for Creating Animation Content, Level 5, 25 Credits.
• 216601-001-00-PM-03 Create and Produce Animation Art Content for Specific Purposes, Clients, or Audiences, Level 5, 25 Credits.
• 216601-001-00-PM-04 Conduct Business Supervisory and Administration Functions, Level 4, 5 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 70

Work Experience Modules

• 216601-001-00-WM01 Assess the Workplace Target Market to Determine Animation Art Client, User and Audience Preferences and Requirements, Level 5, 10 Credits.
• 216601-001-00-WM02 Conduct Pre-Production Processes in a Workplace in Preparation of Creating Animation Content, Level 5, 15 Credits.
• 216601-001-00-WM03 Create and Produce Animation Art Content in a Workplace for Specific Purposes, Clients, or Audiences, Level 5, 15 Credits.
• 216601-001-00-WM04 Observe and Report on Business Supervisory and Administration Functions, Level 4, 4 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 44

1. Apply procedures to determine target market for animated visual content preferences by applying industry related processes of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
2. Conduct pre-production processes for creating animated visual content by selecting and applying industry specific pre-production processes, methods, procedures, or techniques.
3. Create and produce animation art content applying animation production methods, processes, procedures, and techniques.
4. Apply business processes related to creating animation art applying key terms, rules, concepts, established principles, and theories.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

ELO 1: Apply procedures to determine target market for animated visual content preferences by applying industry related processes of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

• Analyse, interpret, and confirm client brief that outlines the intended purpose or outcome of animated visual content to be developed applying standard methods, procedures or techniques for unpacking client need requirements.
• Gather, evaluate, analyse and synthesise animated visual content target market preferences data.
• Analyse audience, user and/or market needs for animated visual content by gathering and selecting information from a range of sources and applying basic processes of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
• Consider animation techniques and styles most suitable for desired outcome of animation visual content to be developed applying principles of evaluating and selecting the most suitable style of animation.
• Prepare and present animation style most suitable to the desired outcome of the visual content to be developed to the client using suitable methods and techniques for clarification and confirmation of desired outcomes of animated visual content.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

ELO 2: Conduct pre-production processes for creating animated visual content. by selecting and applying industry specific pre-production processes, methods, procedures, or techniques.

• Generate ideas for the animation using tools and techniques to conceptualise the elements of the production and storytelling techniques and incorporate visual narrative elements into the production's script and storyboard.
• Select and apply animated visual content industry specific production processes, methods, procedures, or techniques.
• Design and develop visually interesting and unique characters that align with the story and target audience using digital or manual techniques and design principles.
• Design environments and props that are appropriate to the selected animation style and content that contributes to the overall visual aesthetic of the production using related methods, procedures, or techniques.
• Plan animation and timing and create an animatic by selecting and applying relevant methods, procedures, and techniques.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

ELO 3: Create and produce animation art content applying animation production methods, processes, procedures, and techniques.

• Effectively animate animated characters, select and apply relevant methods, procedures, and techniques in harmony with the defined visual aesthetic.
• Integrate environments, effects and elements relating to the production with character animation and by applying tools, procedures, and innovative techniques.
• Integrate sound elements, incorporate light effects, and render scenes using tools, procedures, and innovative techniques.
• Apply animated visual content production methods, processes, procedures, and techniques.
• Conduct post-production processes by applying key principles, industry protocols, processes, tools, and techniques.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

ELO 4: Apply business processes related to creating animation art.

• Apply key terms, rules, concepts, established principles, and theories.
• Compile reports and other business documentation by applying business communications principles.
• Organise contracts and projects by applying project, pipeline, and budget management principles.
• Monitor legal compliance and ethical considerations of a production using conventions related to intellectual property, copyright, plagiarism, cultural sensitivity, and audience impact.
• Develop business marketing material by selecting and applying key terms, rules, concepts, established principles, and theories.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated Formative Assessment

The Skills Development Providers will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated External Summative Assessment.

Integrated Summative Assessment

An External Integrated Summative Assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required to issue this qualification. The External Integrated Summative Assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. Additional to the written assessment the learner must also submit a portfolio of evidence compiled of outcomes achieved in the workplace.