Animation - Overview

Instructor: Mr. Bradford

E-mail: tyler.bradford@yesnet.yk.ca
Website: http://bigbadbradford.weebly.com
Introduction
This course is intended to introduce students to the exciting and rapidly growing field
of animation and motion graphics.
Course Content
Students will learn basic and intermediate techniques in 2D Character Animation
using Flash software as well as 3D Modeling, Character rigging and Animation using
Blender.
Specific techniques and standards for each type of design will be covered. In
addition, there will be a theory portion to the course that covers various parts of
design theory, as well as trends in the industry. Depending on time and student
interest other topics may also be covered.
Course Expectations
It is expected students will adhere to the normal rules set out by the school in
regards to student behaviour.
It is of utmost importance that students will be in class and on time, as all lessons
and demonstrations will be held at the beginning of class.
Students are also required to abide by the Student Information Technology Policy set
out by the Dept. of Education to use the class computers.
Cell phones, IPods, and other music devices are not permitted during instructional
time. During work time music is permitted, provided it is used in an appropriate
manner with headphones. Texting, Facebook and other social media are not
permitted.

Paperless class
All assignments are available on the school server.
If it benefits your learning style, feel free to print out a copy.

Theory Topics
1.
2.
3.
4.

History of Animation
Styles of Animation
Careers in Animation
Design & Layout

Skill Topics
1.
2.
3.
4.

Storyboarding & Comic Life

Stop-Motion Animation
2 Dimensional Character Animation (Flash)
3 Dimensional Animation (Blender)

Evaluation
In Class Discussions & Activities 10%
Assignments 70%

Based on quality of work submitted

See rubrics and assignment sheets for specific details

Portfolio of Work 20%

Showcase of best work produced over the course of the term and any
additional work students wish to show off.

Grades
Up to date (real time) grades will be available via engrade.com
More information and Login code to come once we have some marks to use.

Animation - Syllabus
Comic Book using Comic Life (8 classes)
Week 1:

September 1 4

Tuesday:

Friday:

Intro to Lab
Importance of the Story
Big Buck Bunny
Assignment 4-Panel Comic Strip
Assignment How to Guide
Assignment Comic Life Comic Book
Class time to work on Rough Draft
Class time to work on Rough Draft

Week 2:

September 7 11

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

No School Labour Day

Class time to work on Comic Strip
Class time to work on Comic Strip
Class time to work on Comic Strip
Class time to work on Comic Strip
Comic Strip Assignment Due!

Wednesday:
Thursday:

Storytelling w/ Toontastic (5 classes)

Week 3:

September 14 18

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Planning
Filming
Filming
Editing
Viewing & Uploading

Stop-Motion Claymation (14 classes)

Week 4:

September 21 25

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Production Planning
Storyboarding
Storyboarding
Filming
Filming

Week 5:

September 28 October 2

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:

Filming
Filming
Importing

Thursday:
Friday:

Editing
Editing

Week 6:

September 29 October 2

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Adding Sound using Garage Band

Adding Sound using Garage Band
Finalizing Stop-Motion Animation in iMovie
Stop-Motion Animations Due!
Peer Evaluation of Stop-Motion Animations

2D Character Animation and Flash (36 classes)

Week 7:

October 5 9

Monday:

Mastering the Basics of Flash

Review of Layers, Keyframes & Shape Tweens
Symbols, Motion Tweens & Motion Guides
Squash vs. Stretch (Pg.44)
Assignment Stickman Battle Animation
Lab time to work on Stickman Animations
Lesson on Masking (Pg. 52)
Lab time to work on Stickman Animations
Lab time to work on Stickman Animations
Stickman Battle Animation Design Due

Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Week 8:

October 12 16

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

No School Thanksgiving Weekend

Lesson on Hinging (Pg. 104)
Assignment Flipbook Creating Animation for Flipbook
Creating Animation for Flipbook
Turning Flipbook Animations into Flipbook
Flipbooks Due

Week 9:

October 19 23

Monday:
Tuesday:

Friday:

Assignment - Character Design Sketches

Importance of Organization
Class time to work on Character Designs
Character Designs Due
Assignment Walk Cycle
Lesson on Inverse Kinematics
Lesson on Nesting (Pg. 114)
Lesson on Adding Shadow (Pg. 68 71)
Lab time to work on Walk Cycles
Walk Cycles Due!

Week 10:

October 26 30

Wednesday:
Thursday:

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Assignment Title Sequences (Pg. 108)

Lab time to work on Title Sequences Animation
Lesson on Looping Backgrounds (Pg. 124)
Lab time to work on Title Sequences Animation
Lab time to work on Title Sequences Animation
Lab time to work on Title Sequences Animation
Lesson on Fade In/Out (Pg. 78)
Lab time to work on Title Sequences Animation

Week 11:

November 2 6

Monday:

Friday:

Lesson on Super Text Effect (Pg. 152)

Lab time to work on Jib Jab Animation
Lesson on Page Turn (Pg. 154)
Lab time to work on Jib Jab Animation
Lesson on adding smoke and steam (Pg. 156 161)
Lab time to work on Jib Jab Animation
Lesson on Star Wars text (Pg. 166)
Lab time to work on Jib Jab Animation
Jib Jab Animations Due!

Week 12:

November 9 13

Monday:
Tuesday:

Friday:

Assignment Proposals and Storyboards

Lesson on Fireworks (Pg. 162)
Lab time to work on Proposals and Storyboards
No School Remembrance Day
Lesson on Fire, Rain and Snow (Pg. 172 177)
Lab time to work on Proposals and Storyboards
Proposals and Storyboards Due!

Week 13:

November 16 20

Monday:

Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Assignment Character Animation

Lab time to work on Character Animation
Lesson on Adding Sound (Pg. 186)
Lab time to work on Character Animation
Lab time to work on Character Animation
Lab time to work on Character Animation
Lab time to work on Character Animation

Week 14:

November 23 27

Monday:

Lesson on Lip Sync (Pg. 96)

Lab time to work on Character
Lesson on Lip Sync (Pg. 98)
Lab time to work on Character
Lab time to work on Character
Lab time to work on Character

Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:

Wednesday:
Thursday:

Tuesday:

Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:

Animation
Animation
Animation
Animation

Friday:

Lab time to work on Character Animation

Character Animation Cartoons Due

3D Modeling using Blender (30 classes)

Week 15:

November 30 December 4

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Intro to 3D Modeling
Installing Blender
Noob to Pro -> 2A (Models, Render & Use of Camera)
Noob to Pro -> 2A (Mesh Models - House)
Noob to Pro -> 2B (Smooth Meshes Simple Person)
Noob to Pro -> 2B (Smooth Meshes Spinning a Hat)
Noob to Pro -> 2C (Materials & Textures Beach Ball & Wood)

Week 16:

December 7 11

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Noob
Noob
Noob
Noob
Noob

Week 17:

December 14 18

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Noob
Noob
Noob
Noob
Noob

to
to
to
to
to

to
to
to
to
to

Pro
Pro
Pro
Pro
Pro

Pro
Pro
Pro
Pro
Pro

->
->
->
->
->

->
->
->
->
->

Mountains out of Molehills

Volcano
Penguin
Dice
Goblet

Jeep
Jeep
Jeep
Jeep
Jeep

(Wheel)
(Seat)
(Rocket Launcher)
(Body)
(Assembly Required)

~~~ Christmas Break ~~~

Week 18:

January 4 8

Monday:

Character Rigging
Rattling Bones Video
Inverse Kinematics vs. Forward (Real) Kinematics
Noob to Pro -> Bones
Character Rigging
Bi-Ped Rig (Running)
Character Rigging
Jim (Angry)
Character Rigging
Flying Squirrel

Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Week 19:

January 11 15

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Creating
Creating
Creating
Creating
Creating

Week 20:

January 18 22

EXAM WEEK

Character
Character
Character
Character
Character

Rig
Rig
Rig
Rig
Rig