Melvyn F Ternan FHEA
Senior Lecturer
Summary
I have previously worked in the animation industry across many disciplines, techniques and sectors. My main subject areas are pre-production for animation, project management, stop motion production and post production.
About
My taught subjects include stop motion animation, animation project development and production and experimental stop motion. In 2013 my first book, Stop Motion Animation, was published by Barrons educational books and translated into six different languages for sale around the world. My research areas include production temporality, animation technique, idea genesis and animation method identification.
I previously worked as a studio animator and compositor for many years, co-founding two animation studios in Bristol before working as a freelance animator and project facilitator. During my time as a freelancer, I worked on over 150 projects covering animation, live action, online production and media distribution. I also work as a voice artist on short, award winning animations.
Since working at Sheffield Hallam University, I have realised a hidden passion for teaching animation, for helping others grow their understanding and development of this creative art form. I am honoured to have been one of the recipients of the Sheffield Hallam University Inspirational Teaching award in 2017 as well as being recipient of the college level award in 2012, 2018 and 2021.
Specialist areas of interest
Pre-Production for Animation
Stop Motion Animation
Visual Techniques within Animation
Post-Production for Animation and Animation Project Management
Melvyn also enjoys studying idea genesis, technique identification and enjoying the freedom of his motorbike.
Teaching
Department of Media Arts and Communication
Social Sciences and Arts
Animation and Digital Media Production
BA (Honours) Animation
Modules taught:
Stop motion animation foundation
Showreel project
Major animation project
Stop motion experimental animation
Publications
Conference papers
Ternan, M. (2015). "Environmental impact on idea Genesis" or "The idea of Ideas". In Where to? : Steps towards the future of walking arts symposium, Falmouth University, 16 April 2015. http://www.falmouth.ac.uk/whereto
Books
Ternan, M. (2013). Stop motion animation : how to make and share creative videos. US: Barron's. http://barronseduc.com/1438002556.html
Media
Watson, A., Lee, J., Gent, S., Ternan, M., Parkin, M., Robinson, A., & Robinson, S. (2015). Showreel for Media Arts Walking Research Group. [DVD]. Sheffield Hallam University: http://www.falmouth.ac.uk/whereto
Presentations
Ternan, M. (2019). Say What? Dialogue animation by hearing-impaired students: challenges and opportunities. Presented at: Educating Animators Conference 2019, Salford, UK, 2019
Ternan, M. (2019). Pedagogical benefits of discontinued animation methodology. Presented at: LTA Conference 2019, Sheffield, UK, 2019
Ternan, M., & Fedotova, O. (2018). Anticipatory Action in Creative Media Education - Dialogue Animation by Hearing Impaired Students. Presented at: MES18, Hong Kong
Ternan, M., Doncaster, A., Powell, A., & Jones, M. (2016). When these university staff utilised Facebook for an entire year - no one expected what happened next. Presented at: 2016 Learning and Teaching Conference, Sheffield, UK, 2016
Ternan, M., & Bacchus, D. (2015). Traditional Animation Principles within Mobile App Development. Presented at: LTA Conference 2015, Sheffield, UK, 2015
Posters
Ternan, M. (2018). From reasonable adjustment to anticipatory action: engaging hearing impaired students into dialogue animation. Presented at: RAISE, Charles Street Building, Sheffield, 2018
Watson, A., Lee, J., Gent, S., Ternan, M., Parkin, M., Robinson, A., & Robinson, S. (2015). Poster for Media Arts Walking Research Group. Presented at: Where to? Steps towards the future of walking arts, Falmouth University, 2015