In Week 01 of Advanced 3D Computer Animation, Professor Nigel Mairs explained the structure and expectations for the thesis proposal, which is a 1500-word Research Proposal for the Final Major Project. The session focused on understanding how to begin developing a strong research topic and how this proposal will form the foundation of the final submission.
He guided me through the key elements required in the proposal, including identifying topic potential, motivation, and possible applications. He also emphasized the importance of considering the purpose, significance, and ethical aspects of any chosen research topic. This helped me understand that the proposal is not only about selecting an idea but also about justifying why the topic matters and how it contributes to a wider context.
Step 1: Studying a No Dialogue Animation
For the week 01 assignment, I explored non-dialogue animation to understand how storytelling can work without spoken language. I watched and studied “One – Indian Animated short Film“ by Midnight Kettle, about the coin and its journey from manufacturing machines to daily life use.
Through this, I observed how emotion and narrative can be conveyed purely through actions, expressions, and visual storytelling. This gave me a clearer idea of how animation can communicate meaning without dialogue.
From this session, I understood the importance of starting early with research thinking and choosing a topic that I am genuinely interested in. I began reflecting on my own areas of interest and how they could be developed into a strong research direction. This week helped me set the foundation for my thesis by focusing on clarity of topic, purpose, and long-term relevance.