2D Animation Principles: Syllabus

Course Title: MAA221 2d Animation Principles

Session/Year: Summer 2012

Course Length: 11 Weeks

Contact Hours: 60 (6hrs per week 2 hrs lecture 4hrs Lab)

Credit Value: 4.0

Meeting Days/Times: MON/WED 11:00 am – 1:45 pm, Room 901

Instructor: Sam Ellis

Contact Info: smellis@aii.edu

Office Hours and Location: Monday/Wednesday

8:45pm – 10:15pm, 1019

Class Blog: http://aiwmaa321spring2012.blogspot.com/

Course Prerequisites: ART 211 Life Drawing

Course Description:

In this course students will study timing and weight through a series of projects designed to demonstrate the principles of animation. Issues such as keyframing, in-betweening, and cycling will be addressed.

Core Course Competencies:

1. Apply the twelve principles of animation to traditional 2D animations

2. Apply industry-standard capture techniques, such as image scanning, video capture and pencil test in the creation of 2D animation

3. Create model sheets

4. Evaluate scale and size in relation to character or object utilization

5. Define and apply design terminology according to industry standard

Required Text:

Timing For Animation. Preston Blair, Harold Whitaker and John Halas, Focal Press.

ISBN: 978-0-240-51714-8

***THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON OUR CLASSROOMS eCOMPANION SHELL, PLEASE DOWNLOAD YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR IT!!!***

Recommended Text:

The Animator’s Survival Kit, Richard Williams

Character Animation Crash Course, Eric Goldberg

Reference:

Richard Williams Videos available in the school library

Technology Needed:

2D animation lab with pencil test station.

The Art Institute has computer labs, PC and Mac Computers with Cintiq.

Course Materials:

Pencil, Pen, Paper, 3-Ring Binder, Lightfoot LTD 1/4” Round Hole Peg Bar, Tabbed Dividers
Flash drive or external hard drive for saving homework
Sketchbook for ideas and to work out scenes

Student Evaluation / Grading Policies:

In preparation for portfolio review, and ultimately a profession, it is of primary importance that your work be as good as possible. That being said, any project that has been submitted on time COMPLETED may be redone for a better grade . It may be improved or solved in an entirely different manner as long as it still fulfills the assignment and is documented in writing with evidence and intent of the new direction. If revisions are done poorly, the grade received previously will count. Projects should be reworked based on the critique comments until they are as strong as possible. Doing this is a very important way to improve your skills, focus your creativity, and resolve visual problems. It is also the reality of the creative industry, Revisions and Resubmissions will be Class 20.

When grading projects, my personal experience and aesthetic preferences influence my response.

When I review students projects, I consider the following:

Solid Drawing

Character is anatomically believable

Character has appeal

Simple repeatable design that remains consistent

Character poses are strong, clear, and convey intent

Spacing/Arcs

Animation flows, slows in and out naturally

Character movement follows arcs

Character poses are broken down, and do not follow linear in-betweens

Appropriate number of in-betweens for smooth motion

Timing/Overlap

Sequence doesn’t feel rushed, or bore the audience

Loose objects overlap when moved

Objects and Characters have a sense of weight

Story is conveyed to the audience through pose and time

Creativity

Ordinary solutions are not only dull, but they are not competitive. They do not challenge nor improve the students skill. Solutions should be exciting, innovative and interesting.

Design/Composition

Regardless of your discipline, skillful and creative use of design principles and elements are essential to communication with an audience, remember we are visual communicators. While most viewers cannot identify what may be right or wrong with an image, they sense when something isn’t communicating well due to poor design. Design is important as content in the process of communication.

Craftsmanship

Skill with media is necessary to success. A good idea fails to communicate if worked poorly. I realize most of you have limited media experience, and I will take that into account. Work that we do in class is designed to develop some degree of comfort with the medium.

Appropriateness

All projects have goals and specifications that need to be accomplished and followed. It is expected that these will be met through your solutions. The industry requires this, as will I.

Classroom Policy:

•All work is to be presented professionally in both style and manner. Work must be clean, clear, and must meet core requirements (matting, overlay, color/inks, etc.).

•Assessment will be based on student’s ability to understand the principles of drawing and design and to apply them successfully to each project.

•The student’s overall improvement

•Class Participation/Professionalism

Late Projects:

NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.

NO INCOMPLETE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.

•All projects and presentations must be ready to present at the beginning of class time. If a student is not present on time (one minute past the hour,) that student will be marked absent, and will not be allowed to show work, immediately receiving the letter grade of F and a 0% grade.

In addition, if a project does not meet the required elements for evaluation (i.e. missing an element piece, not mounted if required, or done in an incorrect format,) the student will also immediately receive the letter grade of F, and a 0% grade.

If a student has adequate documentation of a particular situation that prohibits his/her work to be on time (death in the family, illness, court, etc.) exceptions can be made. However, it must be adequate documentation, filled by a supervisor, doctor, or a relevant authority figure.

Grading Scale:

All assignments must have clear criteria and objectives meet. All students shall be treated equitably. It will be that student’s right to know his/her grade at any reasonable point that information is requested by that student. The criteria for determining a student’s grade shall be as follows (on a percentage of total points basis):

Grading Scale Points

A 100 to 92

A- 91.9 to 90

B+ 89.9 to 88

B 87.9 to 82

B- 81.9 to 80

C+ 79.9 to 78

C 77.9 to 73

C- 72.9 to 70

D 69.9 to 69.8

F 69.7 and below

Process for Evaluation:

Activity	Points		Duration
Sketchbook	50	100 Pages Drawn	10 Weeks
Attitude Poses – Model Sheets	50	Ball / Flour Sack / RW Stick Figure / EG Norman	1 Week
Timing and In-Betweens	50	2 Ball Bounce 1 Flour Sack Drop and Plop	2 Weeks
Follow Through and Overlapping	50	Walk Cycle (RW Stick Figure)	2 Weeks
Weight and Balance	60	Lifting a Heavy Rock (Norman)	2 Weeks
Pantomime	100	Group Project 2 Characters Interact 10 SEC per Person	3 Weeks
Midterm Exam	20	12 Principles	*Week 5*
Final Exam	20	12 Principles	*Week 10*
Classroom Participation	50	In Class Actively Engaged

Project Breakdowns	Points	Project Breakdowns
Sketchbook		Weight and Balance
25-50	10	Solid Drawings	10
51-75	10	Spacing and In-betweens	10
76-100	10	Follow Through and Overlap	10
Attitude Poses	20	Squash and Stretch	10
Attitude Posed - Model Sheets		Finish	20
4 Model Sheets	50	Pantomime
Timing and In Betweens		Solid Drawings	10
Solid Drawings	15	Spacing and In-betweens	10
Spacing and In-betweens	15	Follow Through and Overlap	10
Finish	20	Squash and Stretch	10
Follow Through and Overlapping		Acting	25
Solid Drawings	10	Finish	25
Spacing and In-betweens	10	MidTerm and Final Exams
Follow Through and Overlap	10	20 Questions Each	40
Finish	20	Class Room Participation
		Absence -10 Points each week	-40
		In Class -1 per week	-10

Course Schedule: MAA202 2D Animation

-Week 1- MODEL SHEETS DUE CLASS 03

Class 01 - Intro to Animation / Starting Right
Class 02 - Intro to using the Capture Station / Timing and Spacing

-Week 2- BALL BOUNCE DUE CLASS 06

Class 03 - Straight Ahead VS Pose to Pose / Working Methods

Class 04 LAB/ More timing and More Spacing

-Week 3-

Class 05 LAB / Building Walks
Class 06 - Ball Bounce Crit & Intro to Walk Cycles

-Week 4- WALK CYCLE DUE CLASS 10

Class 07 LAB / Flexibility in a Walk
Class 08 LAB / Flexibility

-Week 5-

Class 09 -MidTerm EXAM 12 Principles - LAB / Overlapping Action and Weight
Class 10 - Walk Cycle Crit Intro to Anticipation and Weight / Takes

-Week 6- HEAVY LIFT DUE CLASS 14

Class 11 LAB / Vibrates

Class 12 LAB / Anticipation and Accents

-Week 7-

Class 13 LAB / Sneaks Runs and Animal Action
Class 14 Heavy Lift Crit Intro to Group Project Keys and In-betweens.

-Week 8- Group Project/ 2 Characters Scare Switch-a-roo DUE CLASS 20

Class 15 LAB / Directing and Performance
Class 16 LAB

-Week 9-

Class 17 LAB

Class 18 LAB

-Week 10-

Class 19 -Final EXAM 12 Principles & Sketchbooks Due - LAB

Class 20 CRIT Group Project

*All information listed above is subject to change without notice.

Class Policies:

50% Instructor’s Help + 50% Self Help = 100% Class Success

Sharing your progress with the class and me is important. I don’t accept the excuses of losing your work due to the corrupted files or missing flash drive before the due date, especially when I have never seen your work in progress.

Attending all classes and submitting all assignments on time does not guarantee you passing. You need to demonstrate a base competence in animation to pass the class.
A key element to the successful completion of this course will be your ability to interact with and act out your characters in the class. Failure to participate in such events or practices will result in a lower participation grade, more importantly it will have an adverse effect on your final animation work.

Submitting Assignments:

All assignments need to be handed in personally to me. Do not hand assignments to another instructor or drop it on my desk or box unless you are told otherwise All assignments must also be uploaded to the class blog before the start of class

Drop/Add Policy:

Students are dropped from school if they don't attend ANY of their classes during the first two weeks of the quarter. If they attend only one day of one class, they are charged for the tuition for all the classes in which they are registered.
The drop period ends at 7pm on Monday of week 2.
The add period ends at 7pm on Tuesday of week2.

Students with Disabilities:

The Art Institute of Washington is committed to providing qualified students with a disability an equal opportunity to access the benefits, rights and privileges of school services, programs and activities. The Art Institute of Washington provides reasonable accommodations to students with documented disabilities.

Accommodation requests should be submitted as far in advance as possible. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Student Affairs Department to initiate this process (phone #). The Student Affairs Department will assist qualified students with disabilities in acquiring reasonable and appropriate accommodations.

Attendance Policy:

It is the goal of this policy to improve the academic performance of students in the classroom by stressing the importance of course attendance and reinforcing the work-ready expectations of employers for employee attendance. All students are expected to adhere to these industry standards. Students are encouraged to refer to page 39 of The Student Handbook 2010 -2011 for the AiW Attendance Policy.

In the Media Arts & Animation Program students are required to attend all class meetings. Students must arrive on time, come prepared and ready to work, and stay for the duration of the class. There are no excused absences. Any one of the following qualifies a student to receive a demerit from class (earning one demerit):

Arriving late to class (after official class start time)
Leaving before the end of class
Failure to attend class
Failure to come to class prepared with all assignments and required materials, as determined by the instructor (art supplies, textbooks, etc.)
Cell phones ringing in class without prior authorization by the instructor
Inappropriate behavior and/or lack of participation in class activities (to be determined by the instructor)

Once a student has accumulated a total of three (3) demerits, s/he will be notified by their instructor that s/he is on probation and in danger of receiving an “F” in the course. Students who accumulate a total of four (4) demerits in a course will receive a grade of “F” at the end of the quarter. Furthermore, it is the student’s responsibility to make up any missed coursework due to absences.

Student Conduct Policy:

The Art Institute of Washington expects its students and employees to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. In addition, the Art Institute has a strict policy that disallows sexual harassment of either students or employees. All students or employees are encouraged to report any professional or sexual misconduct to the Dean of Student Affairs.

Academic Dishonesty:

The Art Institute of Washington defines an act of academic dishonesty as any attempt to take the work of someone else and submit it as one’s own. If you are suspected of plagiarism of any kind your instructor reserves the right to fail you for the assignment or the course. Students may appeal in writing to the Dean of Academic Affairs. Please refer to page 39 of the New Student Handbook for the complete Academic Dishonesty policy.

Pages

Syllabus

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