Course Syllabus

DANM 131: Introduction to Animation

Description:

This course is designed to introduce students to basic methods and practices in animation, while exposing them to artists working independently in this field. The course will provide an overview of techniques ranging from hand-drawn frame-by-frame animation, to object animation and pixilation. Each class will consist of a short demonstration, viewing of related works, hands-on experimentation, and critique. Weekly assignments will further student’s exploration of animation approaches and techniques. Students will learn basic post-production through the use of Final Cut Pro. The course will conclude with the creation of final projects in which students will develop and create an animated short in a medium of their choosing, and a collaborative animation defined and implemented by the group.

Course Requirements:

Assignments: Students are required to complete animation exercises for each class meeting, and a final project by the end of the quarter. All assignments will be presented to the class for group critique. Assignments handed in after their original deadline will be marked down half a grade (5%) for each day they are late.

Research: Spend time watching and reviewing the web resources listed on the syllabus. These resources will play a critical role in class discussions. Note: The dates listed are the days the resources are assigned. Be familiar with the materials by the following class meeting.

Collaborative Animation: The class will design and produce a collaborative animation over the last three weeks of the quarter. Each student will be asked to propose two concepts that they feel would be interesting to execute as a group. Keep this in mind throughout the course and jot down any ideas that have potential.  The chosen idea will be storyboarded, shot, and edited during our final meetings. Each student will be assigned a role in the production and post-production processes.

Final Project: Students must complete a final project, which is due on the last day of class. This animation can utilize any of the techniques covered by the course. Idea proposals will be emailed for approval, then presented to the group in storyboard format. The final project is due on the last day of class and will not be accepted at a later date. (Due Dec 5th)

Animation Presentations: Over the course of the quarter each student will be required to give a presentation on an independent animator of their choosing. Students may present the work of any independent animator as long as their name does not appear on the course syllabus.

Presentations should include:

• A five minute discussion of their background, techniques, and ideas.

• An example of their work (no more than 8 min - or an excerpt of a longer piece)

The following links should be useful in finding acclaimed animated shorts:

http://www.annecy.org/about/archives/2012/award-winners

http://www.annecy.org/about/archives:en

http://www.animationfestival.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=239&Itemid=954

Attendance: Due to the technical nature of the material, it is critical that students attend all class meetings. More than three unexcused absences will be grounds for not passing the course.

Grading Criteria:

Class Attendance and Participation (15% of Final Grade)

Assignments (30% of Final Grade)

Animation Presentation: (10% of Final Grade)

Participation in Collaborative Animation (20% of Final Grade)

Final Project (25% of Final Grade)

If you qualify for classroom accommodations because of a disability, please submit your Accommodation Authorization Letter from the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to me within the first week of the Summer Session. Contact DRC by phone at 831-459-2089 or drc@ucsc.edu for more information.

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Week One: Hand-drawn Frame by Frame Animation Part One - Basic Motion

Oct 1st:        • Review of syllabus and course expectations

1. • Student introductions
   

2. • Demonstration on how to set up an animation environment
   

View and discuss:  

“Lapsus” Juan Pablo Zaramella, Argentina, (2008)

“El Empleo” Santiago Grasso, Argentina (2008)

“Vincent” Tim Burton, USA (1982)

Oct 3rd:        • Frame by frame animation demonstration, using flip books.

1. • Students experiment with animating a bouncing ball, rotating cube, and shattering glass.
   

2. • In class demonstration and workshop on using the animation stations
   

3. • Sign-up for animation presentation dates
   

View and discuss:

                        “Fallen Art” Tomek Baginski, Poland (2005)

                        “JEU” Georges Schwizgebel, Switzerland (2006)

                        “Words Words Words” Michaela Pavlatova, Czech Republic (1991)

Assignment One: Create a short animation using the movement we learned in class. Choose any subject you like but incorporate a bounce, a break, and a rotation. (Due Oct 10th)

Web Resources:

Bouncing Ball Tutorial (http://www.idleworm.com/how/anm/01b/bball.shtml)

Animation Studio Stuff for Students (http://animation-studio-stuff.blogspot.com)

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Week Two : Editing Animation in Final Cut

Oct 8th:         • Demonstration of editing techniques in Final Cut Pro

1. •In-class troubleshooting work time.
   

2. •Animation Presentation: Amit
   

View and discuss:

                        “The Street” Caroline Leaf, Canada (1976)

                        “Your Face” Bill Plypton, USA (1987)

                        “Strange Invaders” Cordell Barker, Canada (2001)

Oct 10th:      • Discuss approaches to instructional critique

1. •Critique Assignment One
   

2. •Final Cut Pro tutorial on transitions, color correction and adding titles
   

3. •Animation Presentation: Conrad
   

View and discuss:

“Dimensions in Dialogue” Jan Svankmajer, Czech Republic (1982)

“Oscuridad-luzloscuridad” Jan Svankmajer, Czech Republic (1989)

Assignment Two: Transitions. Draw five objects that don’t look like each-other but relate in some in-obvious way. Create unique transitions between each of your five objects. Think beyond traditional wipes, pans or dissolves and let the transitions key the viewer to your concept (Due Oct 17th).

Web Resources:

The National Film Board of Canada Animations (www.nfb.ca/explore-by/title/?genre=1)

Future Shorts (www.futureshorts.com/)

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Week Three: Introduction to Sound in Animation

Oct 15th:      • Demonstration of audio capture in Audacity

1. • Introduction to Creative Commons and Archive.org
   

2. • Overview of basic audio editing techniques, filters and transitions in Final Cut Pro
   

3. • Animation Presentations: Jake M & Nicole
   

View and discuss:

                       “The Music Scene” Blockhead (2010)

                       “Begone Dull Care” Norman McLaren & Evelyn Lambart, Canada (1949)

                       “Guard Dog” Bill Plympton, USA (2003)

                       “Tower Bawher” Theodore Ushev, Bulgaria (2008)

                      

Oct 17th:      • Review and critique Assignment Two

1. •Animation through space exercise (preparation for assignment three)
   

2. •Animation Presentations: Aaryn & Julian
   

View and discuss:

“Space Drawing No. 7” Chen Sai Hua Kuan, Ireland (2012)

                        “How the Frog’s Eye Sees” Skip Battaglia, USA (1987)

                        “Two Sisters” Caroline Leaf, Canada (1990)

Assignment Three: Pick a place you want to animate. Create loose drawings while moving through that space. Try to capture the feeling of this space by the way your “camera” moves through it. Remember you don’t need to carefully render each frame, space can be implied with simple lines. Find or create audio to compliment your work. (Due Oct 24th)  

Web Resources:

Creative Commons (http://creativecommons.org/)

Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org/)

Bill Plympton Gallery (http://www.plymptoons.com/gallery/gallery.html)

Article and Interview with Bill Plympton  (http://www.flypmedia.com/content/drawing-it-his-way)

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Week Four: Lip-syncing

Oct 22nd:      • Record audio for lip-syncing demonstration

1. • Introduction to lip-syncing guides for character animation
   

2. • In class studio time to work on lip-sync.
   

3. • Animation Presentations: Cameron & Sara
   

View and discuss:

“For the Birds” Pixar, USA (1986)

“Creature Comforts” by Nick Park and Aardman Animations, United Kingdom (1989)

                        “Rejected” Don Hertzfeldt, USA (1999)

Oct 24th:       • Review and critique Assignment Three

1. •Lip-syncing workshop (continued)
   

2. • Animation Presentations: Joy & Claire
   

View and discuss:

“Still Life With Animated Dogs” Czech Republic, Paul Fierlinger (2001)

“The Signal” Marlene Rask, Denmark, (2011)

Assignment Four: Choose or record an audio quote you think would be interesting to animate. Consider what new levels of content animation introduces to the recording. Use your lip syncing guide to help match the words in the quote. Think outside the box, talking objects, singing fruit, be creative! (Due Oct 31st)

Web Resources:

Creature Comforts (http://www.creaturecomforts.tv/uk/)

Being a bird (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvETCQiUCv4&feature=related)

The Pet Shop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ-sBf7laMM)

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Week Five: The Walk Cycle

Oct 29th:       • Tutorial on how to create a walk cycle for character animation

1. • In-class troubleshooting and work time
   

2. • Animation Presentations: Jennifer & Jake R
   

                        View and Discuss:

                        “Walking” Ryan Larkin, Canada (1972)

                        “Gulp” Sumo Science, Aardman United Kingdom (2011)

                        “The Necktie” Jean-Francois Levesque, Canada (2008)

                     

Oct 31st:       • Critique Assignment Four

1. • Walk cycle tutorial (continued)
   

2. • Begin work on animated self-portrait
   

3. • Discuss directions for under the camera animation.
   

4. • Animation Presentations: Francis & Edward
   

View and Discuss:

“Skhizen” Jeremy Clapin, France (2008)

“The Adventures of Prince Achmed” Lotte Reinger, Germany (1926)

                            

                       

Assignment Five: Create an animated self-portrait. This can incorporate a walk cycle if you wish but does not have to. Think beyond literal ideas of portraiture and explore how you might express identity through motion (Due Nov 7th).

Assignment Six: Write a one paragraph description of your final project idea. Describe the content as well as the techniques you are thinking of using. Email me the description by midnight November 3rd.

Bring to class: Magazine or drawing cutouts for the under the camera animation workshop.

Web Resources: Walk Cycle Tutorial (http://www.idleworm.com/how/anm/02w/walk1.shtml)

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Week Six: Animating Under the Camera

Nov 5th:        • Demonstration and workshop of under the camera animation techniques.

1. •Under the camera silhouette and collage collaborative exercise
   

2. • Post-it animation and pixilation exercise
   

3. •One on one meetings to discuss final project directions
   

4. • Animation Presentation: Arielle & Justin
   

View and discuss:

                        “Deadline” Bang-Yao Liu, Taiwan (2009)

                       

Nov 7th:        • Post-it animation and pixilation exercise (continued)

1. •One on one meetings to discuss final project directions (continued)
   

2. •Review and Critique Assignment Five
   

3. •Begin Final Project Storyboards
   

4. • Animation Presentation: Julie
   

View and discuss:

                       “Hisab” Ezra Wube, Ethiopia (2011)

                       “Making of Progress” Ezra Wube (2010)

                       “Western Speghetti” PES, USA (2008)

                       “Roof Sex” PES, USA (2002)

                       “The Deep” PES, USA (2010)

                       “Journey Through a Melting Brain” David Daniels, USA (1995)

                        Interview with David Daniels - Art of the Title

                     

                     

Assignment Seven: Create a storyboard (in digital format) for your final project. If you hand-draw your storyboard, please photograph or scan the image for your class presentation. If you plan to use animation equipment other than the document cameras provided in the lab you must also submit an animation sample demonstrating that you have overcome the technical hurdles of an alternative setup(Due Nov 14th).

Web Resources:

William Kentridge Exhibition (http://moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/williamkentridge/)

PES web portfolio (http://www.eatpes.com/)

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Week Seven: Object Animation and Pixilation

Nov 12th:      Veterans Day (NO CLASS)

Nov 14th:      • Final project storyboard presentations

1. •Begin Brainstorming Collaborative Animation
   

2. •In-class work time on storyboard revisions
   

View and discuss:

                      “Neighbours” Norman McLaren, Canada (1952)

                      “Her Morning Elegance” Oren Lavie, Israel (2009)

                      “The Gerber Generation” Commercial, USA (2010)

                      “Videomusician” Gabriel Shalom, Germany (2007)

                      “PIKA PIKA” TOCHKA! Japan, (2007)

                      “Muto" Blu, Argentina (2008)

                    

Assignment Eight: Come up with two to three ideas for the Collaborative Animation Project. Write a one paragraph description of each idea describing your proposed techniques and content. Email your ideas to me (jruelle@ucsc.edu) by Sat. Nov 17th, 11:00 pm. Begin work on final project.

Web Resources: Blu Web portfolio (http://www.blublu.org)

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Week Eight: Collaborative Animation (Part One)

Nov 19th:      • Create collaborative animation storyboard

1. •Define roles (i.e. actors, animators, camera people etc.)
   

2. •Decide on what materials need to be gathered
   

3. •Agree on an environment for the shoot
   

4. • Animation Presentations: Sam & Tal
   

View and discuss:

                        “A Wolf Loves Pork” Takeuchi Taijin Japan, (2009)

                        “The Hardest Button to Button” The White Stripes, USA (2003)

                        “La Maison en Petits Cubes” Kunio Kato, Japan (2008)

                        “Logorama” H5 and Minuit Productions, France (2010)

                        “Pixels” Patrick Jean, France (2010)

Nov 21st:       • Finalize the collaborative animation storyboard.

1. •Construct props, and run preliminary tests.
   

2. • Animation Presentations: Franklin & Rene
   

View and discuss:

                        “The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics” Chuck Jones, USA (1965)

                        “Sidewalk Scribble” Peter Lowey, Australia (2010)

                        “The Metamorphosis of Mr.Samsa” Caroline Leaf, Canada (1977)

                        “Madame Tutli Putli” Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski (2007)

                          Making of Madame Tutli Putli NFB

Assignment: Finish constructing props needed for collaborative animation shoot.

Continue work on final project.

Web Resources: Flash Web Awards (http://www.thefwa.com/)

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Week Nine: Collaborative Animation (Part 2)

Nov 26th: Collaborative animation shoot.

Nov 28th: Collaborative animation shoot (continued)

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Week Ten: Final Review

Dec 3rd:        • One on one meetings to review final projects

1. • Collaborative animation edit
   

2. • In-class studio time to work on revisions
   

3. • Presentations: Sam & Tal
   

View and discuss:

                       “The Owl Who Married a Goose” Caroline Leaf, Canada (1974)

                       William Kentridge on PBS “Anything is Possible”

Dec 5th:         • Final projects due

                       • Critique

View and discuss:

Mary and Max (2009)

December 7th: Open Studio Animation Showcase 12 - 4pm

Location: Room 317 DARC

Invite friends!