ANI 395 Animation Project II
Summary
DePaul
CIM
Animation Project II
Spring 2014 | M, W, CDM rm 527
Instructor: Lisa Barcy
Office: CDM 454
Email: lbarcy@cdm.depaul.edu (best way to reach me)
Office hours : M, 9:30 ? 11, W, 2-5, Fridays ? by appointment
ANI 395
Course Description
ANI395 a continuation of ANI 394. This production-based course is the second half of a two-course sequence that provides the student with an Animation capstone experience. These courses connect the student??s Animation coursework with their overall Liberal Studies coursework through three components: class lectures and discussions, independent analysis and reflection, and the creation of a significant animation project. Students will employ the knowledge they have learned and the skills they have acquired in all their Animation courses to date to produce a significant animation project. The course sequence is designed to be taken in two consecutive quarters. PREREQUISITE(S): ANI 394
Learning Outcomes: The purpose of this class is to help you succeed in creating your animation.
This course will concentrate on facilitating the student??s production of animation projects. The topics of idea generation, experimentation, problem solving, planning and time management, and the process of critical analysis will be applied to the student??s work, with the choice of animation technique, content and form left to the individual. Students will learn the importance of bringing projects to completion. All students should leave the class with a completed film that is suitable for their portfolio and/or submission to festivals.
Texts and Materials
REQUIRED TEXTS:
None
RECOMMENDED TEXTS:
??The Animators Survival Kit??
Richard Williams, Publisher: Faber and Faber Inc. 2001
Acting for Animators
Ed Hooks, Publisher: Heinemann
??The Art of 3-D Computer Animation and Effects, Third Edition (Paperback)??
Isaac Victor Kerlow
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; 3 edition 2003
??Stop Staring??
By Jason Osipa
??The Art of Rigging. Vol. 1/Vol. 2??
Publisher: CG Toolkit 2005.
www.cgtookit.com
Mel Scripting:
??Mel Scripting for Maya Animators??
By Mark Welkins
Reference Websites
www.awn.com
www.animationmeat.com
www.stopmotionanimation.com
www.montereymotiongraphics.com/armatures/index.html
www.autodesk.com
www.learning-maya.com
www.creativecrash.com
Attendance
As this is a film production class, a significant portion of your time will be spent in class doing work. It is your responsibility to make sure that you bring enough materials to class each week so that you can work effectively. Leaving class early will be considered an absence. Student absences are not expected to exceed more than 2 classes. A third absence will result in the lowering of your final grade one full letter. Any student missing 4 classes will be given a grade of ??F?? for the semester.
The student is responsible for any lectures or assignments missed. If an assignment is due a week that you are absent, it is your responsibility to make sure it still arrives on time. This is for your benefit. A good portion of our class time will be spent doing hands on tutorials, screening films, and critiquing work. Lecture notes will not make up for these missed learning experiences.
You may not miss final class date. Doing so will equal an automatic two letter grade reduction of your final grade. If for some reason you cannot make one of these dates you must contact your instructor BEFORE the class that you must miss. Excuses given after the fact will not be accepted.
No incompletes will be given without documented proof of circumstances beyond your control.
Work Expectations
The Two Rules
Rule 1: The most important thing this quarter, is that you consistently work. You are required to put in at least 8 hours on your project per week.
Rule 2: You must bring something to work on during each class regardless of what is due that day
Class Work
Assignments
Refer to the Standards for Achievement (below) for an explanation of the grading of milestones and the final piece.
Late work: Because the majority of grade for each assignment is based off of completeness, any late assignments will be an automatic F for that assignment.
Digital Assignments:All assignments handed in digitally must be in the following format (please note upper and lower case usage)
lastnameFirstname_projectname.extension
example:stewartalexander_Animatic.mov
BACK UP YOUR WORK: Failure of computer software and or Hardware will not be accepted as an extenuating circumstance for late projects or incomplete grades so back up your work on a regular basis and always save incrementally if working on a computer.
Writing Expectations: All students are required to write a minimum of 10 pages this quarter to meet your Liberal Studies requirement. This will consist of one Reading Analysis paper as well as a Statement of Creative Purpose.
Your Reading Analysis:
This should be 4-5 pages typed and reflect your understanding of the author?s theories, specific points that resonanted with you either in an negative or positive way, and how you feel the content relates to your own work or goals. More details in the assignment sheet provided.
The Creative Statement ? This is essentially your Artist Statement and something we will work on developing in three separate phases. Your statement should reflect your approach to your creative work, sources of inspiration, subjects you are exploring, why you do what it is you do, and future goals as an animator. A first draft is required as well as a second draft after the group critiques. Don?t be surprised if you find yourself changing them drastically or starting from scratch ? this is totally normal and almost always a good move.
Critiques
Unless I tell you otherwise, assigned work must be completed and submitted through COLweb one hour BEFORE class starts. This will keep us from wasting valuable class time. Handing in something unfinished is always better than nothing at all. Due to the large size of our class, and the limited class time, not everyone??s work will get a full review during class. If you??d like more feedback, arrange to discuss your work with me during my office hours. We will view and discuss everyone??s final project during the last class.
Grading
10% Reading Analysis
10% Creative Statement
5% Resume
35% Amount of sustained work on project over the quarter, meeting
project milestones
40% Finished animation
A = 100-93 A- = 92-90
B+ = 89-88 B = 87-83 B- = 82-80
C+ = 79-78 C = 77-73 C- = 72-70
D+ = 69-68 D = 67-63 D- = 62-60 F = 59-0
Standards for Achievement:
Grade A:
Student performs in an outstanding way. Student exhibits high levels of achievement and craftsmanship in all work. Design criteria is exceeded and student challenges him/herself in project design. Student exhibits commitment to expanding ideas, vocabulary and performance.
Grade B:
Student exhibits above average progress and craftsmanship. A design criterion is exceeded. Student exhibits above average interest in expanding idea, vocabulary, and performance.
Grade C:
Criteria of assignment is met, and all requirements are fulfilled. Student shows average quality work and spends minimal to average amount of time and effort on projects.
Grade D:
Student performance is uneven and below average. Requirements for projects are only partially fulfilled.
Grade F
Student fails to meet minimum course requirements. Levels of participation and craftsmanship are extremely poor.
Cell Phones
Use of cell phones in the class and the lab is prohibited. Please turn your phone off before entering class. Mistakes will happen but repeated failure to turn your phone off will result in a lowered grade for the class. All phone conversations should be conducted outside the class ? don??t disturb those working in the lab and put others in an uncomfortable situation.
Headphones
Whether working with sound in your project, or simply listening to music while working, you need to be considerate of others and wear headphones. Be aware that if the volume is high enough, others can still hear what you??re listening to despite the headphones. Inconsiderate behavior will result in a lowered grade.
Academic Integrity
Work done for this course must adhere to the DePaul University Academic Integrity Policy, which you can review in the Student Handbook or by visiting http://www.depaul.edu/university-catalog/academic-handbooks/Pages/default.aspx.
Plagiarism
The university and school policy on plagiarism can be summarized as follows: Students in this course, as well as all other courses in which independent research or writing play a vital part in the course requirements, should be aware of the strong sanctions that can be imposed against someone guilty of plagiarism. If proven, a charge of plagiarism could result in an automatic F in the course and possible expulsion. The strongest of sanctions will be imposed on anyone who submits as his/her own work a report, examination paper, computer file, lab report, or other assignment which has been prepared by someone else. If you have any questions or doubts about what plagiarism entails or how to properly acknowledge source materials be sure to consult the instructor.
Materials and Supplies
All assignments in this class will be either submitted online or via CD/DVD. Instructor will notify preferred method of submission for each assignment.
Any assignment handed in late or when not present in class may be put on a USB drive, CDROM or DVD and sent to my mailbox on the 4th floor of CDM.
All USB drives, CDROM??s and DVD??s must be labeled clearly with the following information:
-Your name
-The name of the assignment
-The class number and name you are submitting the assignment for
-The term (ex. Spring 2012)
Schedule
This schedule is subject to change throughout the semester, and will be adapted to fit the needs of the students.
Unless otherwise noted, all assignments will be submitted online 1 hour prior to class.
Subject/Assignment Due Snynopsis
Week 1
March 31,
April 2
Review of syllabus, quarter plan. Reading and reflection. Individual meetings to review project progress.
Lecture on sound basics and requirements
Week 2
April 7.9
20% of animation due
Individual Critiques
20% animation
Week 3
April 14,16
Soundtrack roughed in, sound screening
Rough sound
Week 4
April 21,23
45% of animation due
In Class Screening
45% animation
Week 5
April 28, 30
Reading analysis due. Lecture on Creative Statement
Reading Analysis
Week 6
May 5, 7
75% of animation due
In-progress screening
75% animation
Week 7
May 12, 14
Creative statement Part 1 due
Creative Statement
Week 8
May 19, 21
100% of animation is due
Individual critiques.
All Animation Complete
Week 9
May 26, 28
Final Screening! Films must be completed.
Attendance is mandatory. Failure to submit finished project and be present will each lower final grade for the project by one grade.
Films Complete
Final Screening
Week 10
June 2, 4
Final creative statement and resume due for critique.
Lecture on video portfolio, resume format, design, cover letters.
Final Creative Statement
Resume
Week 11
June 8
Video Portfolios
Attendance is mandatory.
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296