Animation I (ANI 201-401)

Course Description: This is an introductory course to the art and technology of animation. Through weekly assignments students will immerse themselves in a variety of basic animation techniques, both handmade and digital. We will explore important aspects of each technique such as timing, arcs, drawing, storytelling and animation design. We will also view many animation films and videos, both historic and contemporary, and students are expected to discuss films in class and write thoughtful, 1st person reaction papers to certain works. The coursework will prepare the students to complete a final project of 15-30 seconds in the media of their choice, and lay the groundwork for intermediate studies in animation. This is a labor intensive class, where you will frequently animate in class, but will also require a great deal of effort outside of regular class time.

Course Objectives: Students will have the opportunity to experiment with a variety of approaches to creating animations including drawing, Photoshop and After Effects, experimental materials such as sand, cut-outs or clay, and stop-motion. They will learn about animation as an expressive medium and an essential part of art and cinema. We will also discuss the many roles for animators in the commercial sector, including advertising, feature films, and gaming.

My Office Hours: I am available to assist students with all assignments, both animation and writing. If you are having difficulty w/ either please don't hesitate to contact me and set up an appointment. Regular hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3-5 p.m., and most Fridays, 11-2. Other times by appointment. lbarcy@cdm.depaul.edu

Grading and Expectations: Students are expected to come to class each week prepared to work and animate in class. You should also be prepared for any in-class discussions.
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.
A indicates excellence, student has worked exceptionally hard and has developed on both a technical and conceptual level. Approaches work with enthusiasm and dedication.

B indicates above average work - Students conceptual approach or skills have improved. Effort is evident. Student has a genuine interest in their work. Needs some improvement either technically or conceptually.

C indicates satisfactory work. Basic requirements have all been met. Work needs improvement in two or more areas. May need to improve attitude, working methods, punctuality, or ability to plan work.
D work is unsatisfactory in some respect, key concepts are not understood or assignments are missing. Possible frequent tardiness.
F is substantially unsatisfactory work, or failure to show up.

Attendance: Chronic lateness and absence will be reflected in your final grade. I am not a stickler for being right on time, every time, I understand that delays happen, but if you frequently waltz in more than 10 minutes late and miss part of a lecture you'll hear about it. If you know that you're going to be late for whatever reason you can always email me, but this does not excuse you from being late.
Please note that I always take attendance, even when it looks like I haven't.
3 tardies = one absence
3 absences = an F for the course

About the Writing Assignments: Every other week, you will be asked to view a film in class and write a brief reaction paper to that film. It is very important that you read the guidelines for writing these in the COL Documents section. If after reading your first paper it is evident that you could use some assistance with your writing, I will require that you visit the Writing Center. (Make sure I get the confirmation note or email that says you've done this.)

The Grading Breakdown Maximum Points
1st Reaction Paper (2 pages) 5
2nd Reaction Paper (2 pages) 5
Reactions to reading assignments (3) 15 (5 points each)
Drawn assignment 10
"Straight ahead" animation 5

Bouncing ball 10
The Walk (upper extremities and revisions to lower) 15
Stop-motion (either 2 or 3-dimensional) 10
Final Project 20

*Late Assignments are automatically marked down an extra point for every day they are late.

What You Need to Bring to Class:
- A lot of energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to your medium.
- Your weekly assignments in readable form (on your thumb drive, on COLweb, disc, on the Lunchbox, or anything that works.)
- A hard copy of any current writing assignment. This is what I give notes on so it's important that I get a paper copy. I will not print out your assignment for you.
- Art supplies (depending on assignment)
- An un-ruled sketchbook and drawing supplies
- Your lightbox as needed.

Textbooks and Materials: (required) The Animation Bible by Maureen Furniss
The Animators Survival Kit by Richard Williams
A portable lightbox - You can purchase one for about $40 at Blick Art Materials.
A pegbar - purchase at the bookstore

Recommended websites to peruse: www.awn.com www.cartoonbrew.com
Look up the links on COLweb - I post more as I find them.

ANI 201 SCHEDULE - FALL 2009
Subject to change- always check back for updates!

WEEK ONE
Sept. 10, Thursday
Intro to class, animation facilities and resources. Basic terms and watch inspirational films. Intro to the drawing projects - "The Morph" and The Cycle.

Morph - 18 drawings minimum
Cycle - 12 drawings minimum

Assignments: Purchase yourself a shiny new PEG BAR at the bookstore asap! Small light tables can be purchased at Blick or Pearl Art Supply if you're really into it- plus it lets you work at home.
Begin drawing keys for Morph and Cycle projects - See guidelines for hints on how to do this. All drawings are due next class although you do not yet have to shoot them.
Read Chapters 1 and 2 of The Animation Bible - reactions due Thursday, Sept 17.
WEEK TWO
Sept. 15, Tuesday
All drawings due today. Demo on how to test your animation on the Animation Lunchbox. (See guidelines on COL Documents page.)

The Straight Ahead project. Intro to Photoshop and After Effects. Layers and importing. Getting to know the interface of each program and working in a timeline.

Assignment: Shoot your drawn animation on the Lunchbox (Reel 20). Straight Ahead - Photoshop and After Effects Animation - 5 seconds -Both Due on Tuesday, Sept 22

Sept. 17, Thursday

Reactions on reading material due today.

Production day: Take turns shooting drawings on the Lunchbox in 722 and show me your tests. Make revisions to drawings as needed. Continue working on your Straight Ahead animation this week.
More drawing techniques demonstrated as time allows.

Screening Today - Reaction Paper on ONE of the films we've watched so far due Sept 24th.

WEEK THREE
Sept. 22, Tuesday
Straight Ahead and Drawn Animation due.
Intro to the Bouncing Ball project. Key framing, arcs, timing, the illusion of weight and gravity. Screen Richard Williams dvd.

Assignment: Work on bouncing ball project. Due Sept. 29th
Read Pages 1-35 of The Animators Survival Kit.

Sept 24, Thursday
First reaction paper due. Making the bouncing ball more complex - adding squash and stretch effects.

Assignment: Finish bouncing ball w/ squash and stretch -Due October 1st.

WEEK FOUR
Sept. 29, Tuesday
View Bouncing ball assignments and critique.
2D Stop-Motion and other "Under the Camera" techniques. Working with clay, particles and demo on making 2d puppets.

Assignment: Read Chapters 10 and 11 of The Animation Bible and write a brief reaction. Also shoot 10 seconds, minimum, of 2-dimensional stop-motion on the Lunchbox. Shoot on Reel 20. Due October 6th.
October 1, Thursday

Complex Bouncing Ball Due. Continue demos on stop-motion techniques. Discuss timing and other shooting options such as still cameras and frame capture software.

Assignment: Finish your Stop-Motion and written reaction.
WEEK FIVE
October 6, Tuesday
Stop Motion Animation Due Today as well as reaction to reading material.
Digital cut-out and jointed animation, planning a jointed character, rigging a jointed character: parenting and pivots.

Assignment: Create jointed silhouette character in Photoshop, rig in After Effects. Due October 8th!

Oct 8, Thurs.
Rigged jointed silhouette character due. Walks, staging, ease-in/ease-out, arcs, follow through and overlapping action. Begin jointed walk (lower body ONLY). View Richard Williams if time.

Assignment: Complete first pass at lower body section. Due October 13th.

WEEK SIX
Oct. 13, Tuesday
First pass at lower body section of walk due. Characterization, exaggeration, weight, breaking joints, whips and waves, panning backgrounds. Revise lower body walk based on critique feedback.

Oct. 15, Thurs,
Revised lower body section of walk due. Work on finishing upper portion of walk.
Read The Animator's Survival Kit, pp. 102-122 (section on walks)
Assignment: Read The Animator's Survival Kit, pp. 102-122 (section on walks) This will help you with this assignment tremendously!
Finish walk assignment. Due Oct 22.

WEEK SEVEN
Oct. 20, Tues.
Complete Jointed walk due.
Visual story development through storyboarding. Developing original ideas for your final. Read Chapters 3 and 4 (on pre and post production) in The Animation Bible and write reaction. Making an animatic.
Screen films today - 2nd Reaction paper due on Nov. 3rd.

Assignment: Begin final storyboard. 10-15 panels. Please note that the storyboard is considered a part of your final project grade and is required. Due Oct 22.

Oct. 22, Thurs.
Final project storyboard due. In class critique - respond to each others boards and give good feedback. Be prepared to make revisions if needed. Come prepared to work on final in class next week.

WEEK EIGHT
Oct. 27, Tues.
Revised storyboard due. Begin final animation. Discuss planning, workflow. In the next few weeks you should come to class prepared to work. We will have more of a studio environment and I will be addressing technical issues as they arise.
Oct. 29, Thurs.
Continue working of final animation - individual meetings.

WEEK NINE
Nov. 3, Tues.
2nd Reaction Paper due. Continue working of final animation - individual meetings.
Bringing your work into Premiere, editing and exporting it. Strategies for adding sound (optional).
Nov. 5, Thurs.
Continue working of final animation - individual meetings.

WEEK TEN
Nov. 10, Tues.
Work on finals - individual meetings.

Nov. 12, Thurs.
Work on finals - individual meetings. All finals due next week. No one is still animating or rendering or exporting, no exceptions.

FINAL CRITIQUE - Time and Date TBA
Final project due - ATTENDANCE MANDATORY -NO LATE PROJECTS ACCEPTED. View finished projects -give praise or constructive criticism. Have a good break!

School policies:

Online Instructor Evaluation

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 two weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online at https://mycti.cti.depaul.edu/mycti

Email

Email is the primary means of communication between faculty and students enrolled in this course outside of class time. Students should be sure their email listed under "demographic information" at http://campusconnect.depaul.edu is correct.

Academic Integrity Policy

This course will be subject to the academic integrity policy passed by faculty. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/

Plagiarism

The university and school policy on plagiarism can be summarized as follows: Students in this course 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 any 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.

Incomplete

An incomplete grade is given only for an exceptional reason such as a death in the family, a serious illness, etc. Any such reason must be documented. Any incomplete request must be made at least two weeks before the final, and approved by the Dean of the College of Computing and Digital Media. Any consequences resulting from a poor grade for the course will not be considered as valid reasons for such a request.

Resources for 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 either:

PLuS Program (for LD, AD/HD) at 773-325-4239 in SAC 220
The Office for Students with Disabilities (for all other disabilities) at 773-325-7290 Student Center 307