COURSE# AN225: 2-D Animation
Location: Mac Lab 3 – Room 004
Instructor: Michael Shaw
Time: Monday and Wednesday 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Office Hours: Monday and
Wednesday: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM, Mac Lab 3 (Room 202)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Welcome to AN225! This class is an intermediate course
in animation production. Each week we will focus on a different part of the
production process and build towards creating a short film of exceptional
quality and a portfolio of art that demonstrates your understanding of animation
production methods. The class is
geared to refine your current animation abilities while enhancing the
traditional drawing and technical software skills you already have. This is done through emphasizing the
more nuanced parts of animation production: Design and Layout. We will spend time researching
different artists and jobs in the animation and surrounding animation arts
industry to gain a firm understanding of best practices in a professional
setting! We will also explore the processes and challenges of independent
animation development to help you find a way to best apply what you learn in
class. I encourage you to consider methods, techniques, and philosophies of
animation that you have never done before. Part of this class is about
encouraging you to experiment as you develop your own artistic voice!
Methods of Study – The Flow of Class is as Follows:
Class Readings:
Each topic we cover in class will have an
accompanied reading or video that provides more information and instructions on
the current study. These readings are
meant to give you the confidence and understanding to practice new techniques
on your own!
Interactive Demonstrations:
The best way to learn how to animate is to
practice hard, and see how others animate!
This semester will have many interactive demonstrations on making
quality animated content. Each demonstration
will be on an individual topic that you will be able to integrate into your
current animation skill-set! For
example, our first project: An animated portion of dialogue will help you
explore the methods of syncing audio to the action of a character on screen.
Projects:
The class is divided into multi-week projects
that are designed to incrementally build your confidence and competence in
animation and production. Checkpoints will be specified with final due dates
issued later on in the semester. Ample
time will be given during each project for evaluation, reflection, and
revisions until you create works of art you can be proud of! As the class will
move quickly, make sure you stay on top of your assignments so you do not fall
behind. We will be sure to explore
techniques that boost your craftsmanship as well as your speed as an animation
artist.
During the semester, the class will also
participate in a group assignment, where you will work as a team to produce an
animated short of your choosing!
I. Animation
Exercises and Practice: Flexibility, Weight Distribution,
Performances, Volumetric Animation Effects, and more!
II. Conceptual development and preproduction: Visual Storytelling Research, Layout,
Environment Design, Character Design, Story Design
III. Pitch Season: Pitching your short film to the
class so it can be green-lit for production.
IV. Production: Producing an animated film as a
solo artist and as a team, while learning about the different job duties of an
animation artist.
V. Post-Production/Compositing: Utilizing
school facilities and technologies to complete and refine your animated film.
VI. Career
research: (Interspersed throughout the semester
in every assignment.) This includes internship research, your value as an
animation artist, creating portfolio content, demo reels, submitting to film
festivals, and more!
DEPARTMENTAL OUTCOMES:
Students will demonstrate
the capability to organize and present concepts verbally.
Students will demonstrate
the capability to organize and present concepts audibly.
Students will produce
evidence of an understanding of the methods of animation production.
Students will be able to
coherently communicate the content of their animation productions.
Students will demonstrate
the time management skills necessary to complete the entire film creation
process.
Students will demonstrate
the capability to effectively publish their animation art via the web, and
integrate it into their current body of work.
PROFESSIONAL OUTCOMES:
Students will demonstrate
the ability to write an artist statement.
Students will demonstrate
the ability to document their work.
Students will demonstrate
basic computer/software literacy applicable to their field.
Students will demonstrate
the ability to give a public presentation about their work.
Students will demonstrate
the ability to research to stay current in their field.
Students will demonstrate
basic knowledge of communication etiquette in their field.
Students
will demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively.
-------Assignments
and Requirements ------
You are
required to attend class everyday, on time. We will start class @ 9:00
every day, unless otherwise noted. The first 7 minutes of class will be
for students to load projects and assemble assignments for the day. Any student
in the door after 9:07 will be considered tardy. As written the Student
Handbook, students who miss 6 days of class (three weeks of course instruction)
will fail the course. Three Tardies = 1 Absence. This will be strictly
enforced. Prior to this event, any student that must miss a day needs to notify
me ahead of time, long before the start of class. Anyone who wonders into
class at least 30 minutes after class begins will be considered absent for the
rest of the day. 4 absences (two weeks worth of absences) result in a loss of
one letter grade.
------- IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ARE ABSENT
--------
If you are absent, you must catch up on
assignments via consulting other students first, and myself via email second. I
reserve the right to notify students ahead of time for any day that MUST NOT BE
MISSED due to course content be it finals, assessments, midterms, or other
coursework. It is YOUR responsibility to
stay caught up in class during the semester.
----Turning in
Assignments -----
Each Assignment will be due on a scheduled date, given at the
beginning of the assignment. Part of your grade depends on turning each
of your assignments in on time at designated checkpoints. As long as you are meeting current deadlines,
all assignments can be turned in for final review at the end of the
semester. Any missed checkpoints during
the semester will factor into your final grade for that project/assignment.
Supplies:
1)
1 ream of 10f Ingram Bond
Animation Paper and 1 plastic peg bar (for those of you who elect to work traditionally)
Additional paper can be purchased for $35.00
2)
Folder and Notebook for
taking notes. You are required to keep track of your notes. You will also be
required to turn in your sketches for review from time to time, so be sure to
keep your sketchbook on hand during class!
3)
$100 Deposit to check out
audio equipment. Upon completion of the
class, or the major, you will receive this deposit back. This single deposit
can count for multiple classes within the department.
4)
External Hard Drive: Can purchase online and
use with other classes. If you already have it, great! If not, it’s an
investment that can last you long beyond your undergraduate career. The Computers primarily use USB 3.0
connections. The hard drives listed below are examples, compatible with mac and
PC, but require formatting to go cross-platform.
Western
Digital Example:
6) TEXTBOOKS:
The Animator's Survival Kit,
Expanded Edition: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Formulas for Classical, Computer,
Games, Stop Motion and Internet Animators - Richard Williams ($25.00)
Other Reading materials
will be provided in class for you.
7)
Pencils, tablets, erasers, etc!
For those that draw traditionally, it may help to obtain a pack of
non-photo blue and blue pencils for sketching characters and drawings!
GRADING:
Each assignment will be awarded a grade based on the following
rubric. Plus(+) and minus(-) will denote
more or less intricate mastery of objectives. Students will be allowed to
turn in higher-quality versions of their projects at midterm for a higher grade
as long at the original project was turned in at specific checkpoints.
Group assignments will be graded on individual achievement, and
group achievement. Both grades count 50% of any group assignment.
A - Excellent. Assignment objectives are completed above and beyond the
course requirements to great effort and great success. Technical and
conceptual skills are on display in a masterfully coherent manner with clean
craftsmanship.
B - Proficient. The assignment completed
demonstrates most mastery of the skills presented, and objectives are completed
beyond course goals. Much effort, and a clear and concise direction shines
through the final result. There are still a few issues that can be pushed
further.
C - Competent. The assignment completed
demonstrates relative mastery of the skills presented, and objectives are
completed to average sufficiency. Assignments are successful, and
craftsmanship and technical skills are on display -- All are completed at an
average level.
D - Deficient. The assignments completed are missing demonstrations of the
skills presented, and/or required objectives have yet to be completed. There
are conceptual and technical flaws and hurdles that have not been overcome.
F - Failure. The majority of the project
is either not completed, and/or objectives for assignment are not met.
Final Grades will be based on a comprehensive average of all of
your projects, as well as midterm and final milestones for portfolio upkeep.
ON MISSING PROJECTS
AND DELETED SAVES: Always BACK UP YOUR
FILES IN THREE SEPARATE PLACES.
In the event that you lose your projects, remember that I can not
grade what does not exist! You are
solely responsible for the security of your files. Your files are not 100%
secure on the server or computer. You should have multiple copies on multiple
sources at all times. Utilize Google drive, external hard drives, cloud storage
solutions like Dropbox, our school server and other uses!
TO PREVENT A LOSS OF
DATA WHEN IN CLASS:
Stay organized when saving your projects. Keep your class
information in a giant folder, and be sure to back up your projects after class
each day. Work from the Documents folder on the computer’s hard drive. DO NOT rely on SMALL FLASH DRIVES UNDER
4GB, or the School Desktop for saving your art. Remember that you can
always back up your artwork to the school server.
Copyright
LEARNING ACCOMMODATIONS:
In compliance with MCA policy and equal access laws, I am
available to discuss appropriate academic accommodations that you may require
as a student with a disability. Request for academic accommodations need to be
made during the first week of the semester, except for unusual circumstances,
so arrangements can be made. (more below under TITLE IX POLICIES)
HEALTH and SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
As more and more work, education and recreation involves
computers, everyone needs to be aware of the hazard of Repetitive Strain Injury
to the hands and arms resulting from the use of computer keyboards and
mice. This can be a serious and very painful condition that is far easier
to prevent that cure once contracted, and can occur even in young physically
fit individuals.
Paul Marxhausen - visit his site below.
http://eeshop.unl.edu/rsi.html
http://www.mydailyyoga.com/yoga/rsi.html
DEPARTMENT AND LAB POLICIES:
1. Immediately submit an online
tech request to report any
problems with a lab computer or printer.
2. Main MCA computing info site = mca.edu/labs -- go here for
answers to frequently asked questions and online tutorials for MCA specific
technologies.
3. Food and Drinks must be kept closed and in designated areas
(table against wall, or similar area away from computers) to prevent spillage.
4. Keep the Lab Clean. Dispose of all trash -- Paper scraps, old
media etc. Dispose of food in the receptacles in the SLEAZE and SLIME to
prevent ants.
5. Leave your workstation in an orderly fashion. All materials
left on the desktop will be deleted periodically to conserve virtual memory.
Organize files within the documents folder on your account. Delete your trash
from your desktop and trash bin.
6. Back up work to an external source. Remember files are only
safe if they exist in 3 separate locations. MCA servers are not to be
considered secure and used only for temporary storage.
7. Log Out of your workstation prior to your departure. Upon your
departure, the chair should be pushed in. Your monitor, keyboard and mouse
should be placed in their proper positions.
OSHA MANDATE:
Memphis College of Art students and faculty are required to follow
the standards detailed in the "OSHA” Materials guidelines.
TITLE IX POLICIES:
Accommodations for
Students with Disabilities
Students with a special learning need are encouraged to let their
instructor know at the beginning of the course. Reasonable accommodations (such
as extended time for exams, readers, scribes, and interpreters) are provided on
an individual basis as determined by documented need. It is the student’s
responsibility to provide authorized documentation to Student Affairs or
Achievement Center Support Staff as early in the semester as possible.
Course Content and
Title IX Reporting
All faculty and staff at Memphis College of Art are designated
“responsible employees” and required to report any information regarding sexual
harassment, sexual or domestic abuse, or sexual or domestic violence to the
Title IX Coordinator. Students should be aware that information disclosed to
faculty (whether through assignments or as a personal disclosure) that indicate
experiencing sexual harassment, abuse, or violence while a student at Memphis
College of Art requires that your instructor disclose this information to the
Title IX Coordinator to ensure students’ safety and welfare are addressed. The
Title IX Coordinator will contact you and/or those involved about
accommodations, remedies, and resources available at Memphis College of Art.
More information about Title IX policies and procedures can be found on the Title IX
webpage at mca.edu.
