Level 1: Syllabus
Week 1:
LIVE CLASS: Introduction to the Animation Course-click here for live classroom
ASSIGNMENT: Test Image: Download and install your animation software and upload a test image to your student folder labeled TEST IMAGE. to make sure your student folder is connected and working. It can be a drawing or just a random jpeg image.
OPTIONAL: Line of Action: The student will draw 2 pages of 4 to 6 drawings each of characters in motion. They will upload 2 .jpg images to their student folder labeled WEEK 01 – Line of Action
Week 2:
LIVE CLASS: Squash and Stretch-click here for live classroom Links to an external site.
ASSIGNMENT: Bouncing Ball PART 1: In either Maya or Hand drawn animation, the student will animate a bouncing ball that bounces at least 4 times. There are no limitations. The student can add anything to the assignment that they would like.
There are YouTube videos that will walk the student through the basics of the assignment in either Maya or Flipbook or Toon Boom.
They will upload their animation as a video file to their student folder labeled WEEK 02 - Bouncing Ball Part 1.
DO NOT UPLOAD THE ANIMATION FILE. ONLY A VIDEO FILE SUCH AS AN MP4, AVI OR QUICKTIME.
Week 3:
LIVE CLASS: Anticipation-click here for live classroom Links to an external site.
VIDEO REVIEW*: After the Bouncing Ball PART 1 assignment is turned in a video review will be given offering suggestions for improvement.
ASSIGNMENT: Bouncing Ball PART 2: Using the suggestions in the video review, the student will refine the bouncing ball assignment and turn in the revised version to their student folder labeled WEEK 03 - Bouncing Ball Part 2 Links to an external site.. DUE FEB. 22nd.
DO NOT UPLOAD THE ANIMATION FILE. ONLY A VIDEO FILE SUCH AS AN AVI OR QUICKTIME.
ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE THE NIGHT BEFORE THE NEXT CLASS TO ENSURE THEY CAN BE SHOWN IN THE STUDENT SHOWCASE.
Week 4:
LIVE CLASS: Software Training-click here for live classroom Links to an external site.
VIDEO REVIEW*: After the Bouncing Ball Final assignment is turned in a video review will be given offering suggestions for improvement. It does not need to be turned in again.
STUDENT SHOWCASE: Bouncing Ball Student Assignments will be shown during class. A final grade will be in the Video Review.
ASSIGNMENT: Character Waving PART 1: In either Maya or Hand Drawn animation, the student will animate a character waving. Again there are no limitations. The student can add anything to the assignment as long as it contains a character waving.
There will be a basic Maya animation rig Download Maya animation rig available for those students who want to complete the assignment using computer animation.
There will be a YouTube video that will walk the student through the basics of the assignment in Maya or Toon Boom, including how to use the animation rig. Check the Assignment tab to the left.
The student will upload their animation in a movie file to their student folder labeled WEEK 04 - Character Wave Part 1 Links to an external site.. DUE MAR. 1st.
DO NOT UPLOAD THE ANIMATION FILE. ONLY A VIDEO FILE SUCH AS AN AVI OR QUICKTIME.
Week 5:
LIVE CLASS: Pose to Pose and Straight Ahead Animation-click here for live classroom Links to an external site.
VIDEO REVIEW*: After the Character Waving PART 1 assignment is turned in a video review will be given offering suggestions for improvement.
ASSIGNMENT: Character Waving PART 2: Using the suggestions in the previous week’s video review, the student will refine the character waving assignment and turn it in again to their student folder labeled WEEK 05 - Character Wave Part 2 Links to an external site.. DUE MAR. 8th.
DO NOT UPLOAD THE ANIMATION FILE. ONLY A VIDEO FILE SUCH AS AN AVI OR QUICKTIME.
ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE THE NIGHT BEFORE THE NEXT CLASS TO ENSURE THEY CAN BE SHOWN IN THE STUDENT SHOWCASE.
Week 6:
LIVE CLASS: Timing and Spacing-click here for live classroom Links to an external site.
VIDEO REVIEW*: After the Character Waving Final assignment is turned in a video review will be given offering suggestions for improvement. It does not need to be turned in again.
STUDENT SHOWCASE: Character Waving Student Assignments will be shown during class. A final grade will be given in the Video Review.
ASSIGNMENT: Lip Sync PART 1: The student will spend the next 3 weeks working on making a character talk using their own voice recording (or they may choose someone else’s voice if they wish).
In Hand Drawn: The student will design their own character and submit a .jpeg or other such digital version (it can be a digital photo from a phone if need be). And…make a digital voice recording (via phone or computer) and submit both to their student folder labeled WEEK 06 - Lip Sync Part 1 Links to an external site.. DUE MAR 15th.
In Maya: The student will make a digital voice recording (via phone or computer) and submit it to their student folder labeled WEEK 06 - Lip Sync Part 1 Links to an external site.. DUE MAR 15th. They can design a character if they would like for fun. There will be a Maya animation facial rig available for those students who want to complete the assignment using computer animation.
DO NOT UPLOAD THE ANIMATION FILE. ONLY A VIDEO FILE SUCH AS AN AVI OR QUICKTIME.
Week 7:
LIVE CLASS: Solid Drawing and Staging-click here for live classroom Links to an external site.
VIDEO REVIEW*: After the Lip Sync PART 1 assignment is turned in, the student will receive a video review helping them to plan out their course of action during the next stage of the assignment. The student will also receive a .wav digital audio file of their voice recording that will work in their animation software.
ASSIGNMENT: Lip Sync PART 2:
In Hand Drawn: Using the Limited Animation technique, the student will animate lip sync using their character. They will not need to turn anything in this week as they will have 2 weeks to complete the assignment.
In Maya: The student will use the “Mouse” Facial rig Download “Mouse” Facial rig and animate lip sync to their voice recording. They will not need to turn anything in this week as they will have 2 weeks to complete the assignment.
There will be a YouTube video that will walk the student through the basics of the assignment in both Maya and Flipbook and Toon Boom Harmony.
NOTHING DUE THIS WEEK. The Student will have an extra week to complete their assignment.
Week 8:
LIVE CLASS: Exaggeration-click here for live classroom Links to an external site.
ASSIGNMENT: Lip Sync Part 2:
In Hand Drawn: Using the Limited Animation technique, the student will continue to animate lip sync using their character. They will turn in a movie file to their student folder labeled WEEK 07-08 - Lip Sync Part 2 Links to an external site.. DUE MAR. 29th.
In Maya: The student will use the “Mouse” Facial rig Download “Mouse” Facial rig and continue to animate lip sync to their voice recording. They will turn in a movie file to their student folder labeled WEEK 07-08 - Lip Sync Part 2 Links to an external site.. DUE MAR. 29th.
DO NOT UPLOAD THE ANIMATION FILE. ONLY A VIDEO FILE SUCH AS AN AVI OR QUICKTIME.
ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE THE NIGHT BEFORE THE NEXT CLASS TO ENSURE THEY CAN BE SHOWN IN THE STUDENT SHOWCASE.
Week 9:
LIVE CLASS: Arcs-click here for live classroom Links to an external site.
STUDENT SHOWCASE: All Student work will be shown during class.
VIDEO REVIEW*: The student will receive a video review of their Lip Sync assignment which will include their final grade. The assignment will be complete, and they won’t need to turn it in again or make any changes to their animation, but the review will serve as an additional learning tool.
ASSIGNMENT: Curious Character PART 1: The student will spend the next 3 weeks working on making a character appear curious through the use of body language and circumstance. There are no limitations on the assignment. The student may create any scenario they can dream up as long as the character appears curious.
In Hand Drawn: The student will create a pose test of the major poses of the animation. They will upload a movie file to their student folder labeled WEEK 09 - Curious Character Part 1 Links to an external site.. DUE APR. 5th.
In Maya: The student will create a blocking (or pose) test of the major poses of the animation. They will submit the movie file in stepped mode and upload it to their student folder labeled WEEK 09 - Curious Character Part 1 Links to an external site.. DUE APR. 5th.
There will be a Maya animation rig available for those students who want to complete the assignment using computer animation.
There will be a YouTube video that will walk the student through the basics of the assignment in Maya and Toon Boom Harmony.
DO NOT UPLOAD THE ANIMATION FILE. ONLY A VIDEO FILE SUCH AS AN AVI OR QUICKTIME.
Week 10:
LIVE CLASS: Slow in and Slow out-click here for live classroom Links to an external site.
VIDEO REVIEW*: After the Curious Character PART 1 assignment is turned in, the student will receive a video review giving them suggestions to improve their animation as they move forward.
ASSIGNMENT: Curious Character PART 2:
In Hand Drawn: The student will begin to in-between and flesh out their animation. They will not need to turn anything in this week as they will have 2 weeks to complete the assignment.
In Maya: The student will use the animation rig and begin to spline out their animation, taking it to a more polished state. They will not need to turn anything in this week as they will have 2 weeks to complete the assignment.
NOTHING DUE THIS WEEK. The Student will have an extra week to complete their assignment.
Week 11:
LIVE CLASS: Overlapping Action and Primary/Secondary Action-click here for live classroom Links to an external site.
ASSIGNMENT: Curious Character PART 2:
In Hand Drawn: The student will finish and complete their curious character animation. They will turn in a movie file to their student folder labeled WEEK 10-11 - Curious Character Part 2 Links to an external site.. DUE APR. 19th.
In Maya: The student will finish and complete their curious character animation. They will turn in a movie file to their student folder labeled WEEK 10-11 - Curious Character Part 2 Links to an external site.. DUE APR. 19th.
DO NOT UPLOAD THE ANIMATION FILE. ONLY A VIDEO FILE SUCH AS AN AVI OR QUICKTIME.
ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE THE NIGHT BEFORE THE NEXT CLASS TO ENSURE THEY CAN BE SHOWN IN THE STUDENT SHOWCASE.
Week 12: End of Class
LIVE CLASS: Appeal-click here for live classroom Links to an external site.
STUDENT SHOWCASE: All Curious Character Student work will be shown during class.
VIDEO REVIEW*: The student will receive one last video review giving them final feedback on their Curious Character assignment.
*NOTE: Any assignments that are received more than 1 week late will be graded, but will not receive a video review. Any assignments turned in after the last class will also receive a grade but not a video review.
Welcome to the Animation Course!
We're so excited to get you started in animation! This syllabus has everything you need to complete the course, so make sure you refer to this document every week. There are 12 weeks in this course and each week, you’ll have one class recording video and one assignment. Some assignments will have videos when you need more instructions outside of what we talk about in the class recordings. Before you begin, you should download your animation software. Instructions to do so are here.
Syllabus: The Animation Course – Level 1
Week 1:
RECORDED CLASS: Introduction to the Animation Course-click here for Class Recording
OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT: Line of Action: The student will draw 2 pages of 4 to 6 drawings each of characters in motion.
Week 2:
RECORDED CLASS: Squash and Stretch-click here for Class Recording
ASSIGNMENT: Bouncing Ball: In either Maya or Hand drawn animation, the student will animate a bouncing ball that bounces at least 4 times. There are no limitations. The student can add anything to the assignment that they would like.
There are YouTube videos that will walk the student through the basics of the assignment in either Maya or Flipbook.
Week 3:
RECORDED CLASS: Anticipation-click here for Class Recording
ASSIGNMENT: Anticipation Practice: The student will draw a series of 3 stick figures with structure that show a beginning position, an anticipation and a resolution. This is for the student's benefit and will not need to turn it in, so they can do as much as they have time for in their schedule.
Week 4:
RECORDED CLASS: Software Training-click here for Class Recording
ASSIGNMENT: Character Wave PART 1: In either Maya or Hand Drawn animation, the student will animate a character waving. Again there are no limitations. The student can add anything to the assignment as long as it contains a character waving.
There will be a basic Maya animation rig available for those students who want to complete the assignment using computer animation.
There will be a YouTube video that will walk the student through the basics of the assignment in Maya, including how to use the animation rig.
Week 5:
RECORDED CLASS: Pose to Pose and Straight Ahead Animation-click here for Class Recording
ASSIGNMENT: Character Wave PART 2: The student will continue and complete the Character Wave Assignment.
Week 6:
RECORDED CLASS: Timing and Spacing-click here for Class Recording
ASSIGNMENT: Lip Sync PART 1: The student will spend the next 3 weeks working on making a character talk using their own voice recording (or they may choose someone else’s voice if they wish).
In Hand Drawn: The student will design their own character and make a digital voice recording (via phone or computer).
In Maya: The student will make a digital voice recording (via phone or computer). They can design a character if they would like for fun. There will be a Maya animation facial rig available for those students who want to complete the assignment using computer animation.
Week 7:
RECORDED CLASS: Solid Drawing and Spacing-click here for Class Recording
ASSIGNMENT: Lip Sync PART 2:
In Hand Drawn: Using the Limited Animation technique, the student will animate lip sync using their character. They will have 2 weeks to complete the assignment.
In Maya: The student will use the “Mouse” Facial rig and animate lip sync to their voice recording. They will have 2 weeks to complete the assignment.
There will be a YouTube video that will walk the student through the basics of the assignment in both Maya and Flipbook.
Week 8:
RECORDED CLASS: Exaggeration-click here for Class Recording
ASSIGNMENT: Lip Sync Part 3:
In Hand Drawn: Using the Limited Animation technique, the student will continue to animate lip sync using their character.
In Maya: The student will use the “Mouse” Facial rig and continue to animate lip sync to their voice recording.
Week 9:
RECORDED CLASS: Arcs-click here for Class Recording
ASSIGNMENT: Curious Character PART 1: The student will spend the next 3 weeks working on making a character appear curious through the use of body language and circumstance. There are no limitations on the assignment. The student may create any scenario they can dream up as long as the character appears curious.
In Hand Drawn: The student will create a pose test of the major poses of the animation.
In Maya: The student will create a blocking (or pose) test of the major poses of the animation.
There will be a Maya animation rig available for those students who want to complete the assignment using computer animation.
There will be a YouTube video that will walk the student through the basics of the assignment in Maya.
Week 10:
RECORDED CLASS: Slow in and Slow out-click here for Class Recording
ASSIGNMENT: Curious Character PART 2:
In Hand Drawn: The student will begin to in-between and flesh out their animation. They will have 2 weeks to complete the assignment.
In Maya: The student will use the animation rig and begin to spline out their animation, taking it to a more polished state. They will have 2 weeks to complete the assignment.
Week 11:
RECORDED CLASS: Overlapping Action and Primary/Secondary Action-click here for Class Recording
ASSIGNMENT: Curious Character PART 3:
In Hand Drawn: The student will finish and complete their curious character animation.
In Maya: The student will finish and complete their curious character animation.
Week 12: End of Class
RECORDED CLASS: Appeal-click here for Class Recording