Character Animation Portfolio

The following prerequisite courses must be successfully completed OR currently enrolled in the semester when submitting portfolio. 

• ARH 2051 History of Western Art II
• ART 2201C Design Fundamentals 2D
• ART 2203C Design Fundamentals 3D
• ART 2300C Drawing Fundamentals I
• ART 2301C Drawing Fundamentals II
• DIG 2000 Introduction to Digital Media (requires a “B” or better)
• DIG 2030 Digital Video Fundamentals
• DIG 2109 Digital Imaging Fundamentals
• DIG 2500 Fundamentals of Interactive Design
• GRA 2101C Introduction to Computer Art
• MAC 1105C College Algebra

Starting Spring 2024: The following prerequisite courses can be completed after submitting portfolio:

• ARH 2050 History of Western Art I
• CGS 2100C Computer Fundamentals for Business

A grade of “C” or better is required for each course listed above. These courses must be completed or enrolled in by the semester applying for portfolio.

A GPA of 3.0 is required for major courses.

Students seeking to transfer courses taken at other institutions should check tes.collegesource.com to confirm equivalency.

WATCH: Portfolio Application Walkthrough
Carefully review the following requirements below.

• Your portfolio must be submitted in a professional manner in a single multi-page PDF document.
• PDF uploads should be sized at 8.5" x 11" and have a resolution of 72 dpi. All pages should be in portrait orientation.
• Your document must follow the naming convention: Lastname_Firstname.pdf
• If submitted work does not meet the required criteria, it will not be accepted for evaluation.

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1. Cover Letter

Your cover letter should be professionally formatted and express why you are interested in the Character Animation Track. Your cover letter should be the first page of your .pdf portfolio document.

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2. Essay

Answer the following two essays in 3-5 sentences each:

• Given your past interactions at work, school or on a team, briefly describe a specific conflict with another person and how you came to a resolution
• You present to your team a piece of artwork that you worked on all night as part of your group’s presentation. During the team meeting, one of your team members says your artwork goes in the wrong direction and doesn’t match the team style. The team votes to not include your work as part of the presentation. How do you deal with this?

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3. Creative Story

You are to write a short story (300 words or less) containing no more than two characters (one character must be an anthropomorphic object) and only one environment.

In addition to the story, submit a one sentence logline. A logline is a one sentence summary or description of a story. Loglines distill the important elements of your story—main character, set-up, and central conflict—into a clear, concise teaser. The goal is to write such an enticing logline that it hooks the listener into requesting to read the entire story. The logline does not count towards the 300 words.

We will be looking at your story structure, creativity, and ability to follow directions. The story must have a beginning, middle, and an end. Keep it simple, visual, and fun. Remember, you only have 300 words

• A character or characters
• in a situation
• with a problem or a goal
• makes two to three attempts to solve the problem or achieve the goal but
• does not succeed and usually makes the problem worse.
• A final attempt occurs at the climax of the story, and the main character or characters either succeed byeither achieving the goal / solving the problem OR absolutely fails. (Victory or Death)
• The denouement. (Affirmation) The result of the final attempt is confirmed as final.

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4. 2D Design, 3D Design, Sculpture, or Building Arts (5 pieces)

Images included in the PDF should take up the majority of the page. On the top margin of the page, please list the following information:

1. title,
2. year made,
3. if for a class/what class,
4. if collaborative – what your part was (what did you do?),
5. media used if applicable,
6. software used if applicable

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5. Observational Drawing (4 pieces)

Observational drawing is drawing something by looking at it, not drawing from a photo, and can be anything as long as the drawing is from observation of the real-life subject. An excellent portfolio example shows that the artist is able to recognize lines, curves, edges, perspective, proportion, hues, values and is able to translate them to paper. Observational drawings should showcase line quality, light and shadow, and composition. In addition, the drawings should show a strong grasp of craftsmanship.

Images included in the PDF should take up the majority of the page. On the top margin of the page, please list the following information:

1. title,
2. year made,
3. if for a class/what class,
4. if collaborative – what your part was (what did you do?),
5. traditional media

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6. Time-based Media (1 piece)

The time-based Media submission can be visual (for example, a video project or an animation) or audio (for example, a song you composed) or a combination of both audio and visual. This piece can also be an edited reel.

The video URL link should be included on a single page within the PDF application.

Video or sound projects must be a total of 1 minute or less in total running time (if a video, time limit includes the credits).

On the top margin of the page, please list the following information:

• title,
• year made,
• if for a class/what class,
• if collaborative – what your part was (what did you do?),
• media used if applicable,
• software used if applicable

Any copyrighted images or music should be properly cited on the enclosed description.

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7. Recommendation Letter
from a current or former employer OR college or university faculty member

The file should be a 1 page PDF, named “student last name_first name_CA Portfolio Recommendation Letter”.pdf

You have three options to submit your recommendation letters:

• Submit at the time you upload your portfolio.
• If you do not have the letter when you upload your portfolio, you may go back to the portfolio submission link, and upload the letter no later than February 8, 2024, at 11:59 PM.
• If you do not have your letter by February 8, 2024, you can email the letter to [email protected] no later than Monday, February 12, 2024 at 5:00 PM.

Recommendation letters will not be accepted after Monday, February 12, 2024 at 5:00 PM.

This specialization is for students specifically interested in a fast-paced and competitive career in Computer Animation. Specifically, they must be willing to work as a member of a team in an intense production oriented environment and be able to communicate their ideas and thoughts clearly. They must be problem solvers who are self-motivated and love to learn.

• Writing Skills (30%)
  Writing skills are exceptionally important to the success of this program. Students will be evaluated on their ability to write both creatively and professionally from three aspects of the application:
  • Cover letter expressing why you are interested in the Character Animation Specialization.
  • Written answers to the essay questions on the application.
  • Creative story that must be written to specifications as stated on the application.
• Academics (20%)
  A review of each applicant’s transcript or audit will be done as an indicator of potential to succeed in the intense course of study found in the upper division of the Character Animation specialization. The following four criteria must be met:
  • A 3.0 GPA in the major is required for acceptance.
  • Students must have completed or be enrolled in all prerequisites at the time of application. (Save any electives for your senior year courses. Foreign language requirements do not need to be completed prior toenrollment in Character Animation)
    • An audit review will determine whether or not the student will have met the required prerequisite courses.
    • Acceptance is conditional until all criteria are met.
    • It is highly recommended that applicants contact SVAD advising prior to application to ensure that all course requirements have been met.
  • Applicants will also be evaluated in terms of how well the directions are followed in their application.
  • In addition, one recommendation is required from a current or former employer or college or university faculty member. Recommendation will be filled out online via getacceptd.com
• Portfolio Review (50%)
  Student portfolios are submitted and evaluated as part of the review to enter the Character Animation specialization in Art BFA-Emerging Media. The review committee looks for professionalism, artistic skills, creativity, and presentation. We are especially interested in seeing life drawings, perspective drawings of environments, and observational drawings. A strong portfolio includes foundation and graphic skills, effective use of 2-D& 3-D form and composition, and additive and subtractive color theory. In addition, portfolios should demonstrate an aesthetic awareness and effective use of medium and tools.Original artwork will not be accepted. Applicants should scan or digitally photograph their work with a minimum width screen resolution of 1000 ppi and maximum width screen resolution of 2000ppi (height should remain proportional to width.) Video submissions should be playable on QuickTime Player. The following four categories of artistic examples should be represented in a portfolio featuring the best 10 pieces of your work:
  • 2D Design, 3D Design, Sculpture, or Building Arts (5 pieces): Traditional or digital visual art or design pieces may be executed in any medium, in black and white or color, and may include, but are not limited to the following media: non-observational drawing, illustration, painting, graphic design, printmaking, collage, or photography, ceramics, sculpture, furniture, jewelry, fashion, fiber art, CG modeling, or CAD drawings. Portfolio pieces should represent classroom assignments as well as independent projects and should be completed, not works-in-progress or sketches.
  • Observational Drawing (4 pieces): Traditional. Portfolios should include drawings from life: figure drawings, gesture drawings, still life, landscapes, as well as interior and exterior drawings of buildings. Portfolios should exhibit ability to draw, and attention to detail. Drawings from observation of real life and not from photographs are required.
  • Time-based Media (1 piece): A strong time-based portfolio piece includes an awareness of composition, effective storytelling and technical skills. Attention to camera angles, sound, or editing is favorably considered. This piece can be visual, audio, or both. Length should be less than 1 minute.

  Any copyrighted images or music should be properly cited on the enclosed description.