Homework for Wednesday!

1. Continue working on your animations! 
2. Come up with a pitch for a 30 second story.
• 1 character. And 1 antagonist. The antagonist does not have to be a person.
• There must be a conflict!
• Design your character! 
• Create a sample setting for your movie!
• Create a unique visual language for this film!
• DO RESEARCH!
3. Come to class with an idea for your final ready to present to me!

Homework for Tuesday!

Know your animation idea!

Bring in 2 artists for reference for your character design! 

Have your character fully designed! You can see references at this link for tips about better character design. http://www.creativebloq.com/character-design/tips-5132643

Project Paraphrase:  Do one exercise from http://www.animatorisland.com/51-great-animation-exercises-to-master/

1. Pick a number from 3 to 16.  You will animate that action in the form of a 5-6 second story.
2. I must know:
1. How will you animate this story?
2. What will you add to your character to better tell the story?
3. Your character does not have to be human. Can be anything!  Your character can NOT be a licensed character

Goals and Grading for Walk Cycle!

For Monday, turn in your walk cycles! Remember that I need these in Toonboom, complete.  This means having arms, legs, and inbetween drawings!  Here are the parameters for grading:

WALK CYCLE PROJECT:
Accuracy of Figure Drawing
Clarity of Walk Cycle:  Is the movement and motion clear?
Solidity of volume and modeling: Is the character "on model?" (meaning: are the proportions for your character right?)
Craftsmanship

Extra Credit (Storytelling):
Excessive Craftsmanship!
Color!
Environment! (If your walk cycle is already moderately successful!)
Giving your raw figure a character design!

DM 520:

Extensive craftsmanship of line and of form.

Detailed representation of character's appearance, where we see this figure less as a model, and more as a person.

Refined treatment of lines and walking environment: 

Homework for Friday!

1)  Your Ball Bouncing Project is Due!

I will grade based on the following:

• Craftsmanship: Clean lines? Solid transitions?
• Timing of your ball bounce: (Too fast? too slow?)
• Spacing of your ball bounce: (Positioning of your drawings. Remember to check the easing of your animation's movements!)
• Clarity of storytelling: Are we beginning to push away from your animation simply being a ball bouncing across the screen?  Is it becoming something new?
• Environment staging, color choice and pallets: Does your color scheme feel arbitrary, or does it supplement the "story?" Does the stage enhance the storytelling as well?

DM 520 Requirements for grading (in addition to the above:)

• Accuracy of Modeling of character:  Does the character feel like its proportions are consistent throughout the entire animation?
• Technical quality of Environment design:  Does the environment demonstrate a clear and solid understanding of perspective that enhances the character's actions? Does the environment feel like a stage, where the environment feels full and complete, yet the character is able to move freely through the space without clutter?
• Fluidity of motion in your animation: Do the actions feel fluid?  Is the animation beginning to develop a more advanced sense of timing and spacing?

2) Complete your original 9 drawings, and start on your inbetweens!  

You will want to have the majority of your inbetweens done by the end of Friday if possible.

Homework for Tuesday, May 12, 2014

Hello Class! Welcome to the summer semester! I'm excited to see what we produce as a class. =D

• Review the Syllabus!
• If you will need a light box to view your art when we move to traditional animation, review the light box post on the blog below and purchase the materials! All can be found at home depot. Bring some tools to help cut a box.  Note: We have empty mac boxes we can use here, but you can also bring your own box! you just need one that is long on one side, yet large enough to fit a light into.
• Read the Following in the Animator's Survival Kit:
• Pages 39-69: Basics of Animation
• 78-101: Production philosophy in animation
• 102-131: Animating walking characters!
• Continue working on your ball bouncing animation! I would like to see one 50-frame animation you are happy with!  You will have some time to continue working in class where we will push beyond our current abilities!

As always, email me if you have any questions!

Links mentioned in class:
http://the12principles.tumblr.com/ : The 12 Principles in Animation!
http://livlily.blogspot.com/ : The Living Lines Library!

Lightboxes of Awesomeness!

Go! Go! Go! Have fun -- plan for the future -- you will be using 10f paper as an intro student -- however, you may want to move to a 12f or 16f paper in future classes. Below are the standard paper sizes:
10f - 8.5X11
12f - 10.5X12.5
16f - 13.5X17
Do not buy a 10f pre-built lightbox -- You will grow out of it!
Materials below can be found at the Home Depot down the street -- You can walk there!

 

23 W CFL -- Do not buy "soft" white -- only purchase daylight color temp

1600 Lumens -- 100W replacement -- 10.97 for four -- go in as groups and split the pack  

explanation of color temp

 

5 1/2" Clamp Light -- 6.97

 

12 ft. Extension Cord -- 1.47 -- You may be able to find cheaper or bring one you already have.

 

18" X 24" X.093 Acrylic Sheet -- Do not purchase glass -- Glass is not allowed in studio

9.78

*if you are going smaller -- fruit box example -- do not attempt to cut plexi yourself -- the lowe's on perkins will cut for free -- example a 60X30 sheet = 6 15X20 pieces -- they will do 3 cuts free

cost for the larger sheet that can be split among students = 37.00 -- again cutting plexi yourself is hard often rough / and/or cracks etc.

If you are purchasing an under cabinet light make sure it has a plug that will go in the wall also make sure you are buying the correct color temp -- med as shown above will produce and ugly pinkish light and will serve to distract. The light above is 12.97 -- but the bulb is the wrong color temp thus you will then need to buy a T8 replacement bulb that will run you another 7.00 -- The light above is from the poplar home depot -- it is the wrong color! Lowe's on perkins sells an 18" under cabinet light for 10.97 and has the right color temp.

Summer 2014 Syllabus!

DM 200

Intro to Animation Techniques

Mac Lab 4

T,TH 1-3:35

Michael Shaw

michaelshaw.art@gmail.com

mshaw@mca.edu

office hours by appointment

Course Description

In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of traditional animation production. Below are the major blocks of study covered in the course:

I.  Introductory Animation Procedures, Timing and Principles

II. Walk Cycles and Locomotion

III. Weight and Object Interactions

IV. Flexibility and Emotion

V. Storytelling and Performance (subtle action, dynamic action, foreshortening)

Course Outcomes

·      Students will demonstrate the capability to organize and present concepts verbally.

·      Students will demonstrate the capability to organize and present concepts visually.

·      Students will produce evidence of an understanding of the methods of Animation production.

·      Students will be able to communicate content in their Animation productions.

·      Students will demonstrate the time management skills necessary to complete the post-production process.

·      Students will demonstrate the capability to effectively publish their Animation production.

·      Students will research and identify screening opportunities.

·      Students will research and identify career goals.

Professional Practice Outcomes

·      Students will demonstrate the ability to write an artist statement.

·      Students will demonstrate the ability to document their work.

·      Students will demonstrate the ability to exhibit work beyond the classroom.

·      Students will demonstrate basic computer/software literacy applicable to their field.

Methods

DM200 is geared towards instilling within the students a rich foundation in traditional animation principles, techniques, and philosophies.  Students begin the class learning about the mechanics of animation, working on paper to create short cartoons.

Outside of class, students are required to draw in sketchbooks for a minimum of 1 hour per week.  The contents of which are to be a combination of gesture drawings from observation, and designs for characters, environments, and objects they may have from their own cartoon ideas.  This assignment supplements the drawing practices they have had prior to starting the class, and promotes healthy content creation to for future projects.

Standard class assignments are mostly be regulated to short animation drawing assignments with regular deadlines.

Each week, a lecture is given with interactive demonstrations.  Required reading assignments are given each week to supplement what is learned in each class. The next project is introduced with an emphasis on how it builds a well-rounded skill set for future animated projects. 

Accompanying each lecture is at least one screening that emphasizes the current skills each student is building. These screenings will embody a comprehensive list of various schools of thought the world, and through Animation's history (in the format of movies, television, web shows, etc) and will be appended to as time goes on.

In creating their animations, students are encouraged to act out and time their respective shots using school equipment (in-house cameras, webcams via imac, or otherwise) and refine their animations through trial and error. For projects spanning more than one week, daily grades will be given for reaching assigned milestones in their projects.

In Class Discussion, Critique, and Exercises

You will be expected to do original analyses of your work and that of others – your peers and recognized professionals and to complete in class exercises illustrating the techniques presented. Extra time outside of class will be needed to master the skills and complete the exercises presented in class.

Blog

You will be required to keep a blog for this course that includes thumbnails, sketches, assignment write-ups and final documentation for each assignment. You should also use these spaces for idea development exercises and reading /screening responses.

Visiting Artist Lectures

You are required to attend 50% of these lectures and post a short review to your blog. Review Guidelines

Evaluation and Grading

Grading will be based on:

Creativity, aesthetic and conceptual development

Technical execution

Participation in critique and class discussions

Attendance

Blog and Sketchbook development

Visiting Artists Lecture reviews

Assignments are due at 1p.m. on their scheduled dates. If you are to miss a scheduled due date, work must be handed in prior to absence. Points will be deducted for failure to participate in critique. Late assignments will not be accepted. Lost files are not an excuse for a late assignment. Loss of data, files, or other associated items needed for any assignment or project will require that you recreate your work, with no exceptions. 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. No files are safe unless backed up to 3 locations.

Attendance Policy

Punctual, consistent attendance and serious participation in class is required for receiving credit. If there are five absences during the semester, credit will not be granted. If you have three absences, your grade will be lowered by one letter grade. Three late arrivals/early departures = 1 absence.

Materials and Supplies

Textbook: 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

Supplies:
Sketchbook
1 Ream 10f Ingram Bond , 1 plastic peg bar – DM 200 course materials pay in business office bring receipt to class – $42.40 -- Course materials purchased in bulk to save you $10.00

Light box – Build your own approx 20.00 – Buy 119.95 + 15.24 shipping = 135.19 Build/Buy for at least 12f paper size. Do not purchase a 10f box – in the future you will likely want to draw larger.
Pencils
Erasers
Ruler
External Hardrive, large jump drive, or blank DVD's to save work and archive

Copyright

You must receive copyright permission for all non-public domain media used in your film projects. Public domain material can be found at http://www.publicdomain.org/ and http://www.creativecommons.org/. Visit American University's Center for Social Media Website for detailed information regarding the difference between rights infringement and fair use.

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.

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 than to cure once contracted, and can occur even in young physically fit individuals. Paul Marxhausen – visit his site below

http://rsi.unl.edu/
http://www.mydailyyoga.com/yoga/rsi.html

All students are required to follow the standards detailed in the "EPA Material Handling Protocols

Department and Lab Policies

Immediately submit an online tech request to report any problems with a lab computer or printer. 

Main MCA computing info site = mca.edu/labs  -- go here for answers to frequently asked questions and online tutorials for MCA specific technologies.

No Food or Drinks in Lab.

Keep the Lab Clean. Dispose of all trash -- Paper scraps, old media etc.

Leave your workstation in an orderly fashion. All materials left on the desktop will be deleted. Organize files within the documents folder on your account. Delete your trash from your desktop and trash bin. 

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.  

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.