This week, we started learning how to create a critical report as part of our “Design for Animation, Narrative Structures & Film Language” module. It gave us a clear understanding of how to approach research and organize our ideas.
Getting Started: Structuring the Report
We were taught how to structure our critical report into key sections:
Introduction (200 words): A brief overview of the topic and the purpose of the report.
Critical Review (250 words): A summary of research sources and how they helped meet the objectives.
Main Body (800 words): The main discussion with findings, evidence, and sub-headings for clarity.
Conclusion (250 words): A summary of what we learned and recommendations for future work.
References: A list of sources using the Harvard referencing system (at least five academic ones).
This breakdown made it easier to see how everything fits together and gave us a good starting point.
Choosing a Research Topic
Picking the right topic is important. We were advised to choose something that excites us and makes us want to learn more. The topic should connect to existing research and be relevant to the animation field.
The goal is to make our research meaningful to others and show how it could influence theories or practices. It also needs to meet the requirements of the assignment brief.
Thinking About Ideas
As we discussed the report structure, I started brainstorming potential topics. One idea I liked was how narrative structures in animation affect audience perception. I think this could tie into my future animation projects and help me connect theory with practice.
Connecting Research to Our Work
The session encouraged us to think about our career goals and what areas we want to specialize in after graduation. We reflected on the skills we need to develop and how we can showcase our work during final shows.
An interesting point was how our research can either directly link to our practical projects or explore something entirely different but still useful for our understanding of animation.
Developing Research Skills
We talked about how research can help us expand our knowledge of a subject we’re passionate about. It’s also a chance to understand how our work fits within the bigger picture of historical and modern animation practices.
The session highlighted the importance of critical thinking—questioning, analyzing, and understanding the context of our findings. This approach will help us improve both our theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Creating an Audio-Visual Presentation
Another task we were introduced to was creating a 5-minute audio-visual presentation. This will summarize the key points of our report, such as the goals, research process, and findings.
The presentation should be short and visually engaging, focusing on the main ideas rather than long explanations. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on personal goals, future projects, and the impact of our research on animation theory or practice.
Reflection
This session has helped me understand how to approach my critical report step by step. It also inspired me to think about interesting topics and how I can connect research to my work in animation.