ClassInfo

ANI 101 Animation for Non-Majors

Matthew Marsden

Winter 2012-2013
Class number: 25945
Section number: 502
MW 3:10PM - 4:40PM
CDM 00214 Loop Campus

Summary

ANI 101
Animation for non-majors Winter 2013 |Monday-Wednesday 3:10 ? 4:40 pm|
Instructor: Matt Marsden
mmarsd@artic.edu

Course Description As an introduction to the art of animation this course will cover the materials and programs required to create convincing animated movement as well as methods for the production of individual creative content. The material will be covered through weekly assignments, lectures, demonstrations, critiques and screenings of relevant films culminating in a (at least) 10 second final project.

Liberal Studies Arts and Literature Domain
Description ANI 206 is included in the Liberal Studies program as a course with credit in the Arts and Literature Domain. Courses in the Arts and Literature Domain ask students to extend their knowledge and experience of the arts by developing their critical and reflective abilities. In these courses, students interpret and analyze particular creative works, investigate the relations of form and meaning, and through critical and/or creative activity to come to experience art with greater openness, insight, and enjoyment. These courses focus on works of literature, art, theatre, or music as such, though the process of analysis may also include social and cultural issues. Students who take course in this domain choose three courses from such choices as literature, the visual arts, media arts, music, and theater. No more than two courses can be chosen from one department or program.

Attendance Is mandatory as many of these animation techniques build upon one another. Three or more absences will result in a significant grade reduction.

Tardiness is defined as not in the classroom when attendance is called or departing before the class has been formally dismissed by the instructor. Tardiness that exceeds thirty minutes will be counted as an absence. TWO late arrivals or early departures, or a combination of both, are counted as one absence. If you arrive late for class, it is your responsibility to make sure that you have been marked tardy rather than absent.


Class Work This class will require much work on the computer using Photoshop and After Effects.
In order to complete all of the digital art production and animation students will have to allot a considerable amount of non class time to lab work.
There will be two 2 page analysis papers about an animation that we watched in class. For some of these the subject will be your choice, other times I may assign a specific animation or subject.
Written work submitted in this course may be verified using Turn-It-In .Turn it in technology ensures that the work is the student's own creation and not in violation of the University's Academic Integrity Policy. Submission of work in this course constitutes a pledge that the work is original and consent to have the work submitted to verify that fact.


Grading

20% Attendance and participation in class
40% Weekly Animation Projects
20% Writing Assignments
20% Final project and Final Critique

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.

Cell Phones
and Laptops Use of cell phones in the class 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. Laptop computers must be closed during all screenings, and may only be used for note taking.

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.

Bibliography Required Text:
The Animation Bible by Maurine Furniss.


Schedule

Week 1 This schedule is subject to change throughout the semester.

DISCUSS: INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE. FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF ANIMATED MOVEMENT. PERSISTENCE OF VISION. LIVE ACTION VERSUS ANIMATED MOTION PICTURE MOVEMENT. THE JOYS OF FLIP BOOK ANIMATION.
SCREENING: TRIK FILM 3 -- GEORGE GRIFFIN
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A 25 DRAWING INDEX CARD FLIP BOOK. DUE NEXT WEEK.


Week 2
DISCUSS: LEVER ANIMATIONS. SIMPLE CYCLES. PRINCIPLES OF EASE-IN AND EASE-OUT. INTRO TO AFTER EFFECTS. CREATING AND/OR IMPORTING IMAGERY IN PHOTOSHOP. IMPORTING TO AFTER EFFECTS. ANCHOR POINTS AND PARENTING IN AFTER EFFECTS. RENDERING AND EXPORTING.
SCREENING: BATHTIME IN CLERKINWELL ?- ALEX BUDOVSKY
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A CYCLING LEVER ANIMATION IN AFTER EFFECTS. DUE NEXT WEEK.



Week 3
DISCUSS: KEY TO KEY VS. ANIMATING STRAIGHT AHEAD. ARCS AND MOTION PATHS. STRETCH AND SQUASH.
SCREENING: MANIPULATION -- DANIEL GREAVES
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A BOUNCING BALL ANIMATION EXPRESSING EITHER LIGHT AND AIRY OR HEAVY AND HARD CHARACTERISTICS. DUE NEXT WEEK.



Week 4

DISCUSS: TRADITIONAL 2D CELL ANIMATION. INBETWEENING AND LIFT AND TRACE. TIMING IN ANIMATION USING VARIED FRAME RATES AS WELL AS THE ADDITION AND REMOVAL OF DRAWINGS. IMPORTING AND SEQUENCING SCANNED DRAWINGS INTO AFTER EFFECTS. DRAWING DIRECTLY INTO THE COMPUTER AND THE WACOM TABLET.
SCREENING: EXCERPTS FROM ALLEGRO NON TROPPO -- BRUNO BOZZETTO
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A (AT LEAST) 25 DRAWING METAMORPHOSIS ANIMATION. FIRST 2 PAGE ANALYSIS PAPER ON BOZZETTOS ALLEGRO NON TROPPO. PRINT OUT AND HAND IN HARD COPY. DUE NEXT WEEK.
.
Week 5 DISCUSS: CHARACTER ACTING IN ANIMATION. ANTICIPATION. ACTION RE-ACTION. TIMING FOR EFFECT IN CHARACTER ANIMATION. EXAGGERATION IN POSES AND TIMING.
SCREENING: ROLLERCOASTER RABBIT -- ROB MINKOFF
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A TWO CHARACTER ACTION
RE-ACTION ANIMATION. DUE NEXT WEEK.

Week 6
DISCUSS: THE INFINITE WORLD OF WALKS AND WALK CYCLES.CREATING EFFECTIVE CONTACT AND PASS POSITION KEY DRAWINGS FOR A WALK. HELD CYCLES AND THE PANNING BACKGROUND. RUNS, SKIPS, HOPS.
SCREENING: MEANING OF LIFE ?- DON HERTZFELD
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A WALK CYCLE EMPLOYING THE CONTACT TO PASS POSITION KEY FRAME TECHNIQUE. BEGIN RESEARCH AND PUPPET DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FINAL PROJECT. DUE NEXT WEEK.



Week 7
DISCUSS: STORY BOARDS. GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION. THE BASICS OF FILM LANGUAGE: SHOTS, SCENES, EDITING DEVICES: CUTS, DISSOLVES, FADES. SHOT SIZES AND ANGLES, ETC.
SCREENING: THE VILLAGE -- MARK BAKER
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A SET OF PSD STORY BOARDS THAT CLEARLY ILLUSTRATES YOUR FINAL PROJECT. 2 PAGE ANALYSIS ON -- THE VILLAGE


Week 8
DISCUSS: STOP MOTION ANIMATION: PIXILATION, ANCHORED PUPPETS AND ON STAND TECHNIQUES. PUPPET PRODUCTION AND SET BUILDING. INTRO TO THE LUNCHBOX DIGITAL PENCIL TESTER.
SCREENING: BALANCE - WOLFGANG AND CHRISTOPH LAUENSTEIN
ASSIGNMENT: INDIVIDUAL REVIEW OF STORY BOARDS. FINISH ALL PUPPET PRE-PRODUCTION IN PHOTOSHOP.



Week 9
DISCUSS: CG, MOTION CAPTURE, VISUAL EFFECTS AND ANIMATION FOR GAMING.
SCREENING: RYAN ? CHRIS LANDRETH
ASSIGNMENT: ANIMATE IN AE.


Week 10 DISCUSS: INDIVIDUAL REVIEW OF FINAL.
ASSIGNMENT: IN LAB WORK ON FINAL AND/OR EXPORT/RENDERING OF FINAL.




Final Critique



School policies:

Changes to Syllabus

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.

Online Course Evaluations

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.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

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.

Academic Policies

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 with Disabilities

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