Animation Courses

Concept Development I

Course No. ANIM 201  Credits: 3.0
Faculty Bill Appledorn | Matthew Sweeney | Timothy Switalski

A core requirement to learn digital painting
in motion, scene design, character
development, technical direction, and
related animation production pipeline
standards for developing animated stories,
shorts, films, and animated cinematography.
This course examines the media production
requirements for animation students in
applied professional studios. This course
serves to develop the animator’s core
mechanics and vocabulary in the broad
areas of animation integrated workflow
(story conception, storyboarding, animatics,
motion studies, character flow and design,
scene, set, and props (look artists),
technical direction, and summary of
post-production flow) to meet industry
expectations and professional output.
Offered spring.

Intro to Animation

Course No. ANIM 209  Credits: 3.0
Faculty Gregory Leysens

The goal of this class is to gain a basic
understanding of the fundamentals of
movement, timing and rhythm and how they
convey mood and character, even in the
most abstract sense. Animation is the
artificial movement of an otherwise static
object. By moving that object incrementally
- whether by position, color, shape, size, etc.,we can create movement. By synching that movement to sound, we emphasize the
movement and create further depth and
meaning. Required materials: A 7200 rpm
hard drive. Offered fall.

Drawing for Animation

Course No. ANIM 220  Credits: 3.0

Drawing for Animation is an essential
course for anyone who is interested in visual
storytelling. This course will teach students
how to draw ideas, actions, and gestures
that effectively communicate a story.
Students will draw from live models in
costumes, animals in motion, and create
characters that capture storytelling poses.
An emphasis will be placed on exaggeration, silhouetting, line of action, balance, and gesture: all of which are needed to communicate a character’s attitude and story. This course is highly recommended for animators and illustrators. Offered fall.

Acting + Directing

Course No. ANIM 231  Credits: 3.0

Drawing for Animation is an essential
course for anyone who is interested in visual
storytelling. This course will teach students
how to draw ideas, actions, and gestures
that effectively communicate a story.
Students will draw from live models in
costumes, animals in motion, and create
characters that capture storytelling poses.
An emphasis will be placed on exaggeration, silhouetting, line of action, balance, and gesture: all of which are needed to communicate a character’s attitude and story. This course is highly recommended for animators and illustrators. Offered fall.

Experimental Animation

Course No. ANIM 240  Credits: 3.0
Faculty Adri Nerone

This course will introduce students to the
history and experimental techniques used in
the animation industry. Students will learn
how to bring stories to life through
stop-motion, charcoal drawings and
mixed-media animation. Students will learn
how to build sets, rig puppets, and use
technology such as the green screen/
lighting studio and cameras. This course serves as a great introduction to non- traditional animation for students who are interested in bringing physical materials to life. Offered spring.

Intro to 3D Animation: Character

Course No. ANIM 307A  Credits: 3.0

This is an introductory course in 3D
animation as an art form, with an intensive
focus on of the use and development
characters in animation. Successful
animation breathes life into motion with
clear communication of thought, emotion,
narrative or experience. Any moving object
is a “character” in film or animation. We will
hold regular discussions and workshops on
how the dialogue of an otherwise stagnant
object changes and evolves when put to
motion. Methods of instruction will consist
of lectures, demonstrations, artist research,
studio assignments, in-class lab time, and
group critiques.

Advanced 3D Animation

Course No. ANIM 308-408  Credits: 3.0
Prerequisite(s) Intro to 3D Animation: Character | Intro to 3D Modeling | Intro to 3D Modeling

An advanced project-based course whose
goal is to create finished broadcast- or
web-ready animation or motion graphics
pieces. Emphasis will be on learning After
Effects. This course covers contemporary
issues in motion graphics and broadcast
design. In this class, students will visualize,
develop, and realize various creative
solutions for tasks in 2D and 2.5D animation
projects. Concept development, visual
storytelling, montage theory, typography,
sound design, and principles and meanings
of movement will be explores. Ultimately,
the student will be expected to produce two
complete pieces.

Motion Graphics

Course No. ANIM 310  Credits: 3.0

An advanced project-based course whose goal is to create finished broadcast- or web-ready animation or motion graphics pieces. Emphasis will be on learning After Effects. This course covers contemporary issues in motion graphics and broadcast design. In this class, students will visualize, develop, and realize various creative solutions for tasks in 2D and 2.5D animation projects. Concept development, visual storytelling, montage theory, typography, sound design, and principles and meanings of movement will be explored. Ultimately, the student will be expected to produce two complete pieces.