Course info

A hands-on course in the fundamentals of animated media production with special emphasis on integrations between analog and digital techniques. Students will work with a range of traditional animation methods including hand drawn and lens-based stop-motion animation (2D down-shooter, pixilation). A series of low stakes exercises focus on core animation principles. Three short film projects introduce students to the entire animation pre-production through post production process including concept, style, and story development, planning, production management, editing, and sound design. The course will also introduce students to a wide array of current and historical animation approaches, practitioners, concepts, and applications, which students will be expected to thoughtfully analyze and discuss. The class is oriented on human rather than computer generated animation to allow students to practice learning and embodying fundamental animation principles and motion timing as much as possible, rather than relying on computer generated algorithms. At the same time, we will examine how traditional techniques have translated into digital applications, and use software as appropriate. This class is geared to multiple skill and experience levels, and does not require prior animation or art experience.

Different MAC 247 – Topics in Animation and Visual Effects sub-topics may be taken for credit.