ANI390 CDM Japan 2011: Computer Gaming and Animation in Japan
Winter 2014
Shiro Akiyoshi
sakiyosh@cdm.depaul.edu
Office: CDM 455
Phone: 312.362.5934

Summary of the course
This course is one of the two course sequence which the students participating in the CDM Japan Study Abroad program should take. Undergraduate students register for this course (IT 398) in the Fall and another course (ANI 390) in the Winter, for a total of 8 credits. IT 398 satisfies the Junior Year Experiential Learning domain requirement. Graduate students register for only this course (IT 599) in the Fall for 4 credit hours.
The CDM Japan Study Abroad offers students a unique opportunity to learn/observe first-hand the practices of Japanese game and animation development. A 2-week trip to Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka takes students to visit several gaming and animation companies in Japan. Through touring the studios and meeting with the developers and managers, students will learn the characteristics and practices of Japanese gaming and animation industries. Throughout the trip, students learn about the culture of Japan and how it is reflected in Japanese computer/video games and animation films.

The program is led by Noriko Tomuro (the instructor for IT 398/599) and Shiro Akiyoshi (the instructor for ANI 390).

Textbooks and reading list:
There are no required textbooks for this course. Suggested reading materials will be announced later.

Prerequisites:
At least one course on gaming or animation. Recommended courses are GAM 224 or 226 (Intro to Game Design), ANI 105 (Intro to Visual Design) and GAM/IT 228 (Ethics in Computer Games and Cinema).

Grading:
Attendance and Participation: 20%
Post Trip Company Visit Report: 20%
Final Project: 60%

Projects:
1. Company Visit Report:
Due on 1/26
Select two companies you visited, and write a detailed report of at least 2 pages on the visit including your reflection. You should also include some post-research which you did (must do) on the things presented/discussed during the visit (to a given company).

2. Final Project:
Every student writes a research paper (of 8 pages or more, single space) on one of the topics you select. The paper may draw from the material provided in the pre-trip meetings, and include reflection from the trip, and further investigation of the topic, which the student conducts after the trip.
or you may select a new topic.
Alternative format:
Students may choose to work on art work, manga, animation, game, game design document, etc., instead of a research paper. The theme of your work must be drawn from your experience of the trip.
Proposal Submission, 1/17
Prepare a proposal that includes the following information:
•The concept or subject matter, how it was related to your trip experience?
•Prepare three different project ideas (a few paragraph for each idea) to choose from
•If you are doing it in a team. List members of your team

Proposal Submission 1/24
Prepare a well-developed proposal (one page or more) typed explanation of your project. The proposal must include:
•The concept or subject matter, how it was related to your trip experience?
•Project summary: formats, size, length, mediums, software, etc. and scope of the project
•Examples, references, inspiration or reference work
•Project timeline

Schedule:

1/10 Class Meeting #1
Discussion of our experiences
Discussion final project

1/17 Final project proposal submission (COLWEB)
You will receive feedback from faculty members by email.

1/24 Finalized proposal submission (COLWEB)
After you submit your proposal, faculty members will give you specific feedback and guidelines for the process and your final presentation.

2/7 Class Meeting #2
Group critique on final project in progress
Exchanging photos, slide show, etc.

2/21 Class Meeting #3
Group critique on final project in progress

3/14 Class Meeting #4
Final Project Presentation #1

3/21 Class Meeting #5
Final Project Presentation #2