ATEC 2383

Traditional Animation
Term: Second Semester, 2008
Meeting Time: Wednesday 4:00-6:45
Location: ATEC 1.202

Contact Information

Instructor: Bruce Barnes:

Phone: (972) 883-2860
Office: ATEC 1.906
Email: bruce.barnes@utdallas.edu
Office Hours: Thursday 12:00-2:00

Course Description: Lectures, chalk talk, and film viewings centering on animation
principles. Weekly animation projects are due at the start of class time for class critiques.

Learning Outcomes:
To learn and utilize essential principles of animation. The principles we will focus on are
used in all forms of animation (hand-drawn, digital, 3D, stop-motion, cut-outs).

We will have weekly projects on principles of motion and timing.

A final project will be due at the end of the semester, which incorporates the animation
and timing principles that are appropriate to your individual piece.

Course Requirements:
Attend all classes and specified lectures on time.
Complete all assignments on time and in a professional manner.
Participation in class critiques and discussions.

Course Methodology:
Class sessions will consist of lectures, chalk talk, DVD/video/web viewings and
discussions focusing on the class assignments. The class format will take on a variety of
styles, as the subject covered dictates.

Students are encouraged to complete all work at the ATEC computer labs in order to
benefit from collaborative learning with your peers. Students choosing “off-site” hard and
soft ware must have their current work files on the system and available for review at the
beginning of each and every class. Problems with “of-site” systems and /or
incompatibility will not be an acceptable excuse and the work will be considered as
missing assignments.
All projects must be saved into a personal, self-named folder within the class folder.
To access the class folder :
//atec01 (zero,one)
login: medialab
password: m0cap (m zero cap)
Network Users
Bruce Barnes
Public
Animation 08

This is the ONLY place I will look for your project. If it isn’t here when I am
evaluating the projects I will consider it a missing project=zero=F

Assigned Text: Animation: the mechanics of motion by Chris Webster

Materials:

Animation paper and peg bars are provided.

You will also be provided with a light box for your use during the semester. Light boxes
will be signed out on the first day and class. You are responsible for the care of the light
box. It is UTDallas property and must be return on completion of your final project at the
end of the semester. All light boxes must be returned to the grad-lab. Take care that the
lab monitor on duty signs you off when you return the light box. At the end of the
semester a list of any remaining light boxes not returned will be turned over to school
officials. Late returnees will have their university privileges revolved and be barred for
registering for further classes.

There is presently two dedicated shooting stations: One is in the break room. The second
one is in the Game Lab. The school has floating licenses of Flipbook Pro, the 2D
software the class will be working with to shot and time out our animation assignments.

As a courtesy to others in the classes, after shooting your work move to another computer
in the game lab to edit or tweak your project.

Pencils are a personal preference. A good choice is an artist grade pencil, preferably a B
grade (B, B-2, B-6) pencils.

Blue and red pencils are standard pencils for hand-drawn animation.

Technical pencils or pencils that produce faint marks are poor choices.
Art supplies can be found at office supply stores or art and craft shops. The Azel Art
Store on the expressway near Beltline offers a 10% discount to all UTD fulltime students,
with school ID.

The Projects

Week One
Soccer ball bouncing

Week Two
Bowling ball and golf ball bouncing

Week Three
Morphing

Week Four
Anticipation/Action/Follow Through

Week Five
Secondary/Overlapping Actions

Week Six
Weight and balance

Week Seven
Walk cycle

Week Eight
Lip Sync

Week Nine
Leaf fall

Week Ten
Flag

Week Eleven and Twelve

The Partner Project

Week Thirteen
Animatic of Final Project due

Week Fourteen
Rough animation on Final project due

Week Fifteen
Final Projects Due

Grading Policies:

Students must satisfactorily demonstrate achievement of course objectives through

fulfillment of course assignments and by contributing to class discussions and critiques.
Course assignments will require students to use software and equipment available at the
ATEC computer labs. Course evaluations will be based on the following:

Points required for Grade:

A
100-90%
B
89-80%
C
79-70%
D
69-60%
F
59 or below.

Each weekly project counts for 5% .

The Final Project counts for 35%
The final is broken up into 3 parts. Animatic 25%, Rough Animation 25% Final In class
display 50%.

All work is due and ready for review at the start of class time. Late work will not be
accepted.

Attendance also is a critical factor in your grade. Everyone is permitted one unexcused
absence. A second unexcused absence will result in a one-letter drop in your final grade
(the end of the semester grade of A goes to B, B to C…) Three unexcused absences will
result in failing the class.