Animation Artist

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.

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.

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