This toolbox supports the Certificate II & III in Screen (Animation Strand).

Learning takes place in a virtual animation studio 'Lightbox Animation Studio' where the student is given realistic tasks to carry out supported by:

• demonstrations of key animation skills
• easily accessible background information
• activities for practising skills and assessing progress
• communication with other learners and the trainer.

At any time, the learner can choose to 'solve a problem', that is work on a typical job carried out by an animation studio. Context is provided by grouping concepts under the relevant personnel, simulating a work situation.

There is a section on Getting Started which explains how the toolbox works, and then you can choose a tour or units of competency.

Each of the seven jobs covers an essential component of the animation process - eg. inbetweening, 2D animation, etc.

For example, Job Five is Produce & Manipulate Digital Images. Students are given the task of putting images together into a multimedia promotion for a tourist resort.

The student learns about the project, and then visits each of the studio's experts to gain a deeper understanding of the technical issues. There are also resources to explore and materials to download and manipulate.

The Teacher Guide describes the seven jobs in detail. This extract explains the key features of the toolbox.

A notice board option allows trainers to post samples of work (either their own or learners’) to encourage feedback, promote discussion questions to stimulate the learner’s involvement, generate group discussion or respond to commonly asked questions.

Separating the information resources from the learning activities (rather than embedding them in the lesson sequence) provides flexible access for learners. It also allows teachers to use individual resources.

Try the links on the left to access the resources independently of the Toolbox navigation.

Resources

See a feature on How Digital Cameras Work.

Find out all about 3D Animation.

This extract from the Teacher Guide describes how you can change resources and webpages in the toolbox to suit your own teaching needs.

The Bronze Coast
An example of a Flash animation. (Click on the 'Demo' button.)

How to Draw Lemon Pops
A sample step-by-step guide. (Click on the 'Demo' button.)

Quiz on the Materials Animators Use
(Click on the 'Quiz' button.)

The Traditional Principles of Animation
Very important! (Click on the 'Demo' button.)