ClassInfo

ANI 101 Animation for Non-Majors

Matthew Marsden

Fall 2015-2016
Class number: 11421
Section number: 403
MW 3:10PM - 4:40PM
LEWIS 01005 Loop Campus

Summary

ANI 101
Animation for non-majors Fall 2015 |Monday- Wednesday 3:10 - 4:40 pm|
Instructor: Matt Marsden
mmarsd@saic.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 3 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.



Texts

Bibliography Required Text:
The Animation Bible by Maurine Furniss.




Grading



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.



Prerequisites

NONE.


WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Schedule


Day 1

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


DISCUSS: INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE.
DISCUSS 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.


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 2
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 3

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
Week 3 Cont.
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A (AT LEAST) 25 DRAWING METAMORPHOSIS ANIMATION. FIRST 3 PAGE ANALYSIS PAPER ON BOZZETTOS ALLEGRO NON TROPPO. PRINT OUT AND HAND IN HARD COPY. DUE NEXT WEEK.
.
Week 4 DISCUSS: ROTOSCOPE ANIMATION. FINDING AND/OR SHOOTING FOOTAGE APPROPRIATE FOR USE IN ROTOSCOPE ANIMATION. IMPORTING VIDEO LAYERS, AND CREATING CLEAR VIDEO LAYERS IN PHOTOSHOP.
SCREENING - WHEN THE DAY BREAKS-- WENDY TILBY
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A AT LEAST 4 SECOND ROTOSCOPE ANIMATION.

Week 5
DISCUSS: THE INFINITE WORLD OF WALKS AND WALK CYCLES.CREATING EFFECTIVE CONTACT AND PASS POSITION KEY DRAWINGS FOR A WALK. THE USE OF PHOTOSHOP TO CREATE DRAWINGS IN LAYERS FOR ANIMATION.
SCREENING: MEANING OF LIFE ?- DON HERTZFELD
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A WALK CYCLE EMPLOYING THE CONTACT TO PASS POSITION KEY FRAME TECHNIQUE. DUE NEXT WEEK.


Week 6
DISCUSS: STOP MOTION ANIMATION: PIXILATION, ANCHORED PUPPETS AND ON STAND TECHNIQUES. PUPPET PRODUCTION AND SET BUILDING.
SCREENING: BALANCE - WOLFGANG AND CHRISTOPH LAUENSTEIN
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A SHORT STOP MOTION ANIMATION. DUE NEXT WEEK.



Week 7
DISCUSS: CG, MOTION CAPTURE, VISUAL EFFECTS AND ANIMATION FOR GAMING.
SCREENING: RYAN ? CHRIS LANDRETH
CHARACTER ACTING IN ANIMATION. ANTICIPATION. ACTION RE-ACTION. TIMING FOR EFFECT IN CHARACTER ANIMATION. EXAGGERATION IN POSES AND TIMING. PRE PRODUCTION : RESEARCH, CHARACTER DESIGN, COLOR CONSIDERATIONS, LAYOUT.
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE CHARACTER PUPPETS IN PHOTOSHOP AND BACKGROUND DESIGNS FOR FINAL. DUE NEXT WEEK. SECOND 3 PAGE ANALYSIS ON RYAN.


Week 8 DISCUSS: INDIVIDUAL REVIEW OF FINAL.
ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A TWO CHARACTER ACTION
RE-ACTION ANIMATION. DUE IN 3 WEEKS.

Week 9


Week 10

ASSIGNMENT: IN LAB WORK ON FINAL.


ASSIGNMENT: IN LAB WORK ON FINAL AND/OR EXPORT/RENDERING OF FINAL.


Final Critique



AS ABOVE.

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