This week we learned about story structure and how it helps organise ideas clearly when we create narratives. Story structure is the way events and actions are arranged in a story so that the audience can understand the journey from beginning to end. A good structure usually has a clear setup, a build-up of tension or conflict, and a resolution that answers the main question of the story.
We studied how events must connect through cause and effect, which means one event leads logically to the next. This makes the narrative easier to follow and gives the story a sense of purpose and direction.
We also learned that different structures can change how a story is experienced. For example, a typical three-act structure has a beginning where characters and their goals are introduced, a middle where obstacles and tensions develop, and an ending where the conflict is resolved.
As part of class discussion, we analysed how structure affects viewer engagement and how we can apply these principles to our own story projects. This helped me understand not just what happens in a story, but why and how it happens in a satisfying way.
In Week 3, we worked on the “Heavy Object & Change of Mind” planning assignment. The main goal was to find a strong reference that includes both physical action and emotional change. The character needed to interact with a heavy object, and there had to be a clear shift in intention or decision. This task helped me understand how to combine body mechanics with acting and storytelling. I learned that the emotional change must be clear and motivated, not random. We also did self-study on Parent, Constraints, and Locator functions in Maya. These technical tools are important for controlling objects and characters more efficiently in animation, and I realised they will be very useful in later projects. In addition, we submitted the final version of our “Hunter to Prey” previs. Reviewing and finalising that project helped me reflect on camera design and story clarity. Overall, this week connected performance planning, technical skills, and narrative thinking together.