ClassInfo

ANI 364 Animation Research Seminar

Lisa Barcy

Office: CDM 502
Spring 2018-2019
Class number: 30876
Section number: 601
MW 1:30PM - 3:00PM
14EAS 00207 Loop Campus

Summary

ANI 364 - Animation Research Seminar Spring 2019
Instructor: Lisa Barcy
lbarcy@cdm.depaul.edu, 312-362-5982
Office hours: M, W, 3:00 ? 4:30, Fridays by appointment, rm. 502 (next to the game lab)
Class meets M,W, 207 in the Daley Building


COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course will introduce students to cross-disciplinary methods of researching and developing, animated work. Through weekly assignments, students will propose potential animated projects that stem from various sources, including but not limited to their liberal studies at DePaul.

LEARNING GOALS:

To introduce students to methods of doing creative research

To prepare students to better utilize their DePaul Liberal Studies education as material for their animation practice

To introduce students to examples of animation that incorporates research effectively

To have students generate concept ideas from a wide variety of fields

COURSE OVERVIEW:

Where do ideas come from? How do they evolve from single images or fleeting thoughts into larger and more complex projects? Does ?originality? actually exist?
In this course, students will collect sources of inspiration from their own liberal studies at DePaul, plus museums, historical writing, works of fiction, sound, and other artists they admire. We will also view several animated films and spend time deconstructing the methods and ideas behind their production. Each week, students will present project proposals and be asked to discuss them with the class on both a conceptual and practical level. Students are expected to maintain both online and handmade repositories for sketches, inspirational material and to incorporate them into their projects as necessary.

PRACTICES
Drawn sketchbook: You will keep a sketchbook for this class. You should fill several pages per week. You should focus on two types of content in your sketchbook: 1) observational drawings of people, places and things; and 2) material that records interesting things you find in your research. This can be patterns, designs, facts, names, maps, logos, color combinations, structures, anything that interests you. We will study several artists? sketchbooks to get ideas and inspiration for what goes into a sketchbook.

PROJECTS: For each project, you will be asked to compile research into a presentable format. Most of the time this will be in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, other times a short animation test (GIFs). Images, descriptive text, hyperlinks, audio recordings or whatever else you have at your disposal that helps illustrate your idea can be included.

IN-CLASS EXPECTATIONS
You should come to class each week prepared to draw or write. Each week we complete various creative exercises and warm-ups and participating in this portion of the class is important. If you?re not the best draftsman in the world, that?s less important than the amount of enthusiasm and effort you put into the assignments, but I want to see that you?re really engaging with the material, or at least trying to have fun with it.

During critiques and presentations, you will be expected to be present and give your full attention to others while they are presenting. Give honest and thoughtful feedback, and share any ideas that build on what that person is trying to do.

?FIELD TRIPS?
I will arrange at least one museum trip this quarter, but we will also have days where depending on the weather we may meet outside for drawing and gathering of ideas. The city is a great resource for artists of all kinds so take advantage of that while you can!


Things You Need for This Class:

Sketchbook and Drawing Tools (b/w and color)
Access to a camera (smart phone OK)
Something with which you can record audible sound
Scissors and glue sticks (an Xacto knife and small cutting board if you?re really hardcore)

The Projects:
1. Scavenger Hunt - 15
2. Art Museum Collision - 15
3. This Day in History - 15
4. Animal Kingdom - 15
5. Flash Fiction Meets Animation ? 20

*ALL ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS ARE POSTED TO D2L UNDER ?CONTENT?

Other Assignments:
1. 2 Reading responses ? one page bullet pointed is fine. Must be posted to D2L and also printed it out and brought to class for discussion purposes. 5 pts. each
2. In class assignments - Yeah ?class participation?. This part of the grade is taken seriously and if you?re chronically late or half-assed about the classwork it will be duly noted. You get out of it what you put into it. 10 pts.


GRADING
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.?
3. A indicates total excellence, good ideas and the hard work is apparent, B indicates good work, C indicates average, uninspired work, D work is unsatisfactory or sloppy work, F is really, really bad, like, ?Did you even come to class?? bad.





ANI 364 ? RESEARCH SEMINAR ? SCHEDULE

WEEK 1 ? 4.1, 4.3

Where do Ideas Come From? Intro to class, assign reading material, watch inspirational films,
In- class writing/drawing exercise.
Good Drawing vs Bad Drawing ? Let?s go outside and draw.

Assignment: Scavenger Hunt Drawings/Animation. Due on Wednesday of Week 2
See details on D2L


WEEK 2 ? 4.8, 4.10

Monday - Meet at the Art Institute and choose your wing. Draw, take photos, etc.

Wednesday - View Scavenger Hunt animations
Screening - Art in animated films
Share your images ? cut and paste time.

Assignment: Create a series of 6 images based on your two sources. See Details in Content of D2L. Due on Wednesday of Week 3


WEEK 3 ? 4.15, 4.17
View Museum Series Assignments
This Day in History ? Draw years, do some online research and go to the library.

Films:
approx 25 min. (est. 11:20)

The Pride of Strathmoor ? 8:36 - https://vimeo.com/96536411
Echoes of Bats and Men - https://vimeo.com/17251908
Nutag (Homeland) - https://vimeo.com/141286954
Glass Crow - https://vimeo.com/15362160

Address One Question for each Film
How would describe the narrative of concept behind the film? How are these ideas realized? (What methods are employed?)
What questions would you ask the filmmaker? (Ask a real question about their film, their thought process or physical process, not a bullshit throwaway question, like ?Do you have any pets??)
Any other questions do you have about the film?


Assignment: Character design, tests and Environment. Part 1 due next week. See details on D2L

WEEK 4 ? 4.22, 4.24
Monday
View TDIH characters - Complete animation tests for next week
Animal Kingdom ? behavior, adaptations, character bios ? assign phylums
Assignment: Choose your phylum (or class or order). Bring your chosen animal and list of facts with you to class on Wednesday to share with class.

Wednesday
Writing character bios/ histories.
Be prepared to draw. I will call on random people to read their character bios so be prepared. Complete character design for Week 5. See details on D2L

WEEK 5 ? 4.29, 5.1
View TDIH Animation Tests
Reading Response #2
Complete Animal Kingdom animation for next week

WEEK 6 ? 5.6, 5.8
Creative Response Exchange ? loan your characters out. Create a new narrative scenario involving both characters.
The Talking Cure ? 4:22- https://vimeo.com/167111872
Little Deaths ? 4:36 - https://vimeo.com/97630854

From this relationship create a short comic that you can easily make copies of and share with the rest of the class. Mini ? bookbinding tutorial to follow.
Mini-comics expo on Wednesday of next week - Everyone walks away with 17 comic books!

WEEK 7 ? 5.13, 5.15
Share your comics!
Intro to Final Project ? Flash Fiction Meets Animation
Read all the stories handed out in class and submit drawings for next week.

WEEK 8 ? 5.20, 5.22
View drawings, develop stories, characters, theme songs, costumes, audio clips, animation tests

WEEK 9 ? 5.27, 5.29
Monday ? Memorial Day ? Building Closed
Work on final projects, individual meetings, presentations as needed

WEEK 10 ? 6.3, 6.5
Work on final projects, individual meetings, presentations as needed

FINAL PRESENTATIONS - June 12 11:30 ? 1:45 ? Attendance Mandatory
We will view everyone?s projects and party down.



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