This course explores the evolution of the animation art form, its ways of expression, the power of its language, symbolism, variety of mediums, communication of ideas, political viewpoints, creation of impact and mood. Students study the visual and design styles of both commercial and independent animation from America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Far East. At the conclusion of this course, students will understand the art of animation from its early roots through the present, having studied the development of animators, studios, technologies, styles, business, and the influence of social/political change. Prerequisite: none

This course focuses on gaining an understanding of the basic principles of movement, which form the foundation of both 2-D and 3-D animation. Students analyze motions of people and objects, and translate that knowledge into animation. Motion attributes such as gravity, weight, spacing and timing are studied, in order to create animation that is believable and that expresses mood and personality through a character’s individualized movement. Also discussed are various technical aspects of animation filmmaking, typical production workflows, and standard industry terms and tools. At the conclusion of this course, students will have a clear understanding of motion dynamics and the associated practices and principles of animation that provide a strong foundation for their continuing animation studies. Prerequisite: none

The emphasis of this course is on developing imaginative concepts, using the language of film and animation through the storyboard process. Students illustrate animated story ideas, focusing on expressive character development, layout and set design. At the conclusion of this course, students will be capable of using the storyboard process to write animated story ideas, utilizing elements of composition, camera angles, continuity, character and motion dynamics. Prerequisite: none

This course begins with a broadened definition of the word “animation”: a viewpoint of the animator as artist, and an emphasis on the importance of the concepts an animator brings to explorations of frame-by-frame filmmaking. Hands-on experimentation includes a variety of non-standard techniques and materials: pixilation, painting and scratching on film, cut-out collage animation, sand or gravel animation, silhou¬ette animation. Students study the work of early and contemporary experimental animators. By the conclusion of the course, students have learned to utilize numerous innovative methods for creating animation and developed their ability to integrate an experimental approach when working with more conventional 2-D and 3-D animation production techniques. Prerequisite: AN 1310 History of International Animation

Students are introduced to the digital tools necessary to integrate animated, live action and still imagery into a final video production. Techniques include image capture and manipulation, matte generation and keying, keyframe animation using layered digital images, color correction and special effects. Students each create a customized interactive DVD, using rendered class productions. At the conclusion of this course, students will have learned to composite a variety of digital elements, correct and eliminate inherent problems, and enhance the video imagery with effects. Prerequisite: FD 1010 Digital Image Making

Drawing and Acting for Animation requires a solid understanding of human and animal anatomy and behavior. Within the course, students work in a studio life-drawing environment, and participate in field trips focused on the outdoor lab, character model building and sculpture. Simplified drawing technique is examined, along with character behavior as it applies to “moving drawings,” with an emphasis on mass, volume, structure, and design. By the end of the course, students have learned the value of solid character structure, how to create drawings that convey emotion and how to more effectively create key poses and realistic facial and body expressions. Prerequisite: AN 2310 Creative Visualization and AN 2230 Fundamentals of Animation

Students learn sound design and production for creation of dialogue, sound effects, and music tracks. Recording techniques for the creation of these audio elements are studied and practiced. Video production, including DV camera operation and non-linear editing will be studied in the second half of the term. Sound and video editing as well as pre-visualization software are used to link and finish these elements of the animation post-production process. At completion of the course, students will demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles of video editing and sound design, and their practical application to an understanding of animation production. Through numerous tutorials and individual projects, students will evidence comprehension and creative application of course material. Prerequisite: AN 2340 Tools + Techniques of Contemporary Animation

Students who have completed 60 – 90 credit hours must participate in a first Animation portfolio review. Each student’s portfolio is critiqued for style, creativity, composition, color, execution and presentation of the work, with direction of how to improve the work. Prerequisite: FD1990 Freshman Portfolio Review

The final step in the animation creation process is the delivery to an audience. Students may study HDTV, IMAX, multi-view dimensional imaging, rapid prototyping, mobile video and robotics. They participate in studio work applying their own animation techniques to some of these new formats. At the conclusion of the course, students will have developed strategies and experience in assessing future technologies and integrating them into their own animation work flow. Prerequisites: AN 1310 History of International Animation

This class continues to develop the student’s skills in motion analysis. More advanced action and movement concepts are introduced. Further study of human and animal locomotion is covered. Students are encouraged to develop some of their own characters in the latter half of the course and will begin to investigate personality and emotion in their animation. Other subjects covered during this class will be dialogue or lip sync and effects animation, such as fire, smoke, rain and snow. At the conclusion of this course, students will have a greater understanding of weight, motion, timing, and various aspects of drawing as they relate to believable character animation. Prerequisite: AN 2360 Drawing + Acting for Animation

This course deals with the preproduction, scanning, digital ink and paint, and postproduction techniques of traditional hand-drawn animation. Individual projects include work with digital camera moves, 3-dimensional space, sound editing and scene timing. Each project is designed to be suitable for a demo reel, encouraging students to challenge and exceed current expectations of their abilities. At the conclusion of this course, students have a body of work that represents attention to professional 2D computer production techniques, and several creative shorts appropriate for demo reels. Students must demonstrate an ability to adhere to a demanding schedule and evidence an understanding of 2D digital pre-production and post techniques, as well as creative filmmaking and direction. Prerequisite: AN 2340 Tools + Techniques of Contemporary Animation

Students direct their knowledge of 2-D hand layout and drawing, scanning, digital ink and paint knowledge into designing, planning, and producing a high quality animation, including sound and computer post-production. At the conclusion of the course, students will have completed a schedule of milestones, including script/storyboard, schedule development, design and layout of characters and sets, acquisition of music, effects and dialog, and the production of an animatic of the story. Subsequently, within AN 3840, students will produce and post the film. Prerequisites: AN 2420 Animation Sound Design + Video Production

Using clay figures and wire armature puppets, students will explore the world of stop motion animation. Application of fundamental animation principles in a stop motion setting is emphasized, along with expression of personality through movement. Students will gain experience with techniques and concepts for lighting dimensional characters and sets, and will analyze outstanding examples of stop motion animation. At the conclusion of this course, students will have learned how to: build a puppet suitable for animation; operate a camera and software for capturing their work; achieve smooth movement and believable timing in stop motion animation. Prerequisite: AN 2420 Animation Sound Design + Video Production

This second thesis class provides students with continued opportunity to create and produce an animated film that further expands their styles, skills and techniques. Students utilize pre-production progress gained within AN 3341 and AN 3342. Following the schedules developed in Thesis I, students are able to successfully complete the animation production process. Using the plan visualized through the animatics, students work through tasks and problems as each shot is animated and rendered. Post production includes editing the shots, syncing all sound and music and final delivery and projection of the film. At the conclusion of the class, students have completed the process of animation production and the film envisioned in Thesis I. Prerequisites: AN 3341 2-D Animation Thesis 1 or AN 3342 3-D Animation Thesis 1

The Senior Portfolio Review is scheduled at the end of the term preceding the final term of study. The review begins students’ preparation for the graduation exhibition and for transition from the academic environment to the professional world. The student’s demo/graduation show reel is critiqued by department faculty, as well as discuss about their post graduation plans. Prerequisite: AN 3000 Animation Sophomore/Junior Portfolio Review

Students explore different stylistic approaches for individual animated productions, and design original characters and environments. Areas of study include perspective, character and prop model sheets, background and character layouts, and proportion sheets (for multiple characters in a production). In addition, students produce full color samples of their master backgrounds and color keys of the main characters. Upon completion of this course, students will have a greater working knowledge of perspective and composition, knowledge of how these pertain to cinematic motion and design, and several finished works for their portfolios. Prerequisite: AN 3310 Character Animation + Motion Studies or AN 3720 3-D Computer Animation Motion Studies

Students learn about business practices in the animation industry, including business organization and operation as employer or employee, studio specialist or freelance generalist. Current and historic developments in copyright law are studied, as well as the ethical/non-ethical uses of animation. At the conclusion of this course, students will have assessed their animation education through the lens of the reality of the business world, and assessed their expectations for a career in animation. Students will understand the realities of the budgeting process, learned procedures for legal use and protection of copyright, and developed an understanding of the ethical use of this art form. Prerequisite: AN 1310 History of International Animation

This course is designed to simulate a real production studio environment. Students work together to produce a high-quality short film. Together, students combine their ideas into a cohesive theme, using skill sets learned in previous courses. Students’ collective knowledge is used to develop an idea, write the script, produce a storyboard, and design the look and feel of the animation. Students experience the importance of successful leadership and team member interactions. At the conclusion of the course, students will have completed the pre-production necessary for AN 4445 Collective 2. Prerequisite: AN 3840 2-D/3-D Animation Thesis 2

Advanced students explore their creative ideas by stepping outside the boundaries of digital animation technology and art through the historic study and creation of unique animation. This experimental course allows the exploration of various forms of computer animation as a means of expression. Upon completion of the course, students will have expanded their artistic style through the creation of a finished animation. Prerequisites: AN 4420 3-D Advanced Dynamics + SFX

Following AN 4330 Animation Collective 1, this course focuses on completion of the animation production and post-production, including key-frame character animation, effects animation, rendering, editing, and final sound. Students learn the value of cooperation for achievement of a goal, and gain experience in conflict resolution. At the conclusion of the course, the collective team will have successfully completed a high-quality film suitable for entry in film festivals. Prerequisite: AN 4330 Animation Collective 1

Students study compositing techniques for matting 2-D and 3-D animation with live action. Techniques include blue/green screen set-up, lighting and camera techniques, using 2D/3D, motion tracking and compositing software. Students explore necessary pre and post-production project planning strategies to ensure seamless results invisible to the viewer. This is an advanced class/ Technical Director level. At the conclusion of the course, students will have practical experience in visualizing, planning, and executing original and innovative approaches to the seamless combination of different layers of art, as well a finished piece representing the work. Prerequisite: AN 3320 2-D Computer Animation or AN 3660 3-D Computer Animation Lighting + Materials