The Art Institute of California – San Francisco
Course Syllabus
Course Number: MA4423 Section A
Course Title: Advanced Character Animation
Class Meetings: Thursday 6pm – 10pm
Session/Year: Spring 2010
Instructor Name: Greg Lemon
Email Address: glemon@edmc.edu
Phone: please use email
Instructor Availability Outside of Class: By appointment.
Advanced Character Animation
Course Description:
Student applies techniques learned in previous character modeling and animation courses to create character animations with purpose and personality. Topics to be covered are effective use of camera, multiple characters with interaction for a film or video game sequence, use of low-polygon character models, realistic texture mapping of low polygon models and cycling of animation for video games/ film.
Course Length: 11 Weeks
Contact Hours: 44 Hours
Lecture: 22 Hours
Lab: 22 Hours
Credit Values: 3 Credits
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The student will create traditional character animation.
Develop a plan and time line for the animation of a character.
Create a longer piece of animation and understand the proper use of cutting, camera angles, etc.
Work two characters in harmony and interaction.
Use the combined motion of character and camera effectively.
Use textures and mapping to conceal low polygon count.
Pose characters for best effort.
Mimic weight and balance.
Create walks, runs, and other motion cycles.
Use animation hierarchy effectively.
Use effective lighting and rendering.
Course Prerequisite(s): MA3324 Character Animation
Text(s):
Suggested text :
Character Animation: 2D Skills for Better 3D (Steve Roberts, 2nd edition, 2007, Focal Press, ISBN 9780240520544). Available in the bookstore in the basement of the Main Building, or from any online bookstore.
The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson; Disney Editions (1995) ISBN:0786860707
Animator’s Survival Kit by Richard Williams; Farber & Farber (2002) ISBN 0-571-20228-4
Cartoon Animation (The Collector's Series) by Preston Blair; Walter Foster (1994) ISBN: 1560100842
Jason Ryan Webinars and Animation Tutorials:
http://www.jasonryananimation.com/main.html
Promo code for a 15% discount off the tutorials: am663363
http://www.jrawebinar.com/
Materials and Supplies: Notebook, writing and drawing supplies as needed. Hard drive for transporting and storing digital files.
Estimated Homework Hours: 16 hours per week
Technology Needed: PC or Mac Lab, Maya
Grading Scale:
All assignments must have clear criteria and objectives to meet. All students shall be treated equitably. It will be that student’s right to know his/her grade at any reasonable point that information is requested by that student. The criteria for determining a student’s grade shall be as follows (on a percentage of total points basis):
A 100-93
A- 92-90
B+ 89-87
B 86-83
B- 82-80
C+ 79-77
C 76-73
C- 72-70
D+ 69-67
D 66-65
F 64 or below
Process for Evaluation:
Attendance and Participation 25%
Assignments and Exercises 75%
Assignment #1 25% - Due Week 4
Assignment #2 25% - Due Week 7
Assignment #3 25% - Due Week 11
Student Evaluation/Grading Policies:
Class time will be spent in a productive manner.
Grading will be done on a point system.
Points for individual activities will be announced.
All work must be received by the set deadlines.
Late work receives a grade of zero!!!
On-time projects may be redone with instructor approval.
ABSOLUTELY NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE FINAL CLASS MEETS WEEK 11.
Classroom Policy:
No food allowed in class or lab at any time. Drinks in recloseable bottles allowed in classroom.
Edible items brought to class or lab must be thrown out.
If student elects to eat/drink outside class or lab door, missed time is recorded as absent.
Attendance is taken hourly. Tardiness or absence is recorded in 15-minute increments.
Break times are scheduled by the instructor at appropriate intervals.
No private software is to be brought to lab or loaded onto school computers.
No software games or social networking sites are allowed in lab (unless in course curriculum).
Headphones are required if listening to music during lab. No headphones are allowed in lecture.
Any student who has special needs that may affect his or her performance in this class is asked to identify his/her needs to the instructor in private by the end of the first day of class. Any resulting class performance problems that may arise for those who do not identify their needs will not receive any special grading considerations.
Disability Policy Statement:
It is our policy not to discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities in its educational programs, activities, or services. If you have a disability-related need for adjustments or other accommodations in this class, contact the Disabilities Services Coordinator at 415-276-1060.
Academic Honesty Policy:
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty while pursuing their studies at AiCA-SF. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: plagiarism and cheating; misuse of academic resources or facilities; and misuse of computer software, data, equipment or networks.
Student work that appears to violate AiCA-SF's standards of academic honesty will be reviewed by the Committee on Academic Honesty. If the work is judged to have violated standards of academic honesty, appropriate sanctions will be given. Sanctions include but are not limited to course failure and academic termination.
Project Descriptions and submission dates.
Project 1 – Full Body Physical Acting scene – 4 – 6 seconds
Due: Week 4, beginning of class
Create a polished animation of a character performing an action in a scene that is primarily physical or athletic in nature. Ideas include, but are not limited to:
avoiding an obstacle
performing a specific athletic motion
interacting with a prop
Animations should be polished to final quality and submitted as playblasted quicktimes.
Project 2 – Full Body Emotional Acting scene – 4 – 6 seconds
Due: Week 7, beginning of class
Create a polished animation of a character performing an action in a scene that is primarily emotional in nature. Ideas include, but are not limited to:
waking up/trying to stay awake
acting bored
talking on a phone (no lipsynch)
waiting for something/someone
displaying an emotion – fear, happiness, etc.
Animations should be polished to final quality and submitted as playblasted quicktimes.
Project 3 – YOUR CHOICE:
Walk and Run cycle ... OR ... 5- second full-body dialogue animation with lipsynch.
Due: Week 11, beginning of class
Create either:
Two polished animations of a character performing a walk and run in a cyclical, repeating fashion.
OR
One 5- second full body dialogue animation with lipsynch.
Animations should be filled with personality and have solid entertainment value and recognizable intent. Animations should be polished to final quality and submitted as playblasted quicktimes.
Weekly Course Outline
Week 1:
Lecture: Introduction to the course. Review syllabus and the 3 course assignments.
Lecture on the professional animation process. Start work on the first assignment.
Lab: Begin working on Assignment #1: Physical Full-body Acting Scene, 4-6 seconds.
Discuss your ideas with the instructor and other students in the class. Find one example of an
existing animated scene showing a very entertaining 4-6 second full-body physical acting shot.
Homework: Project 1 - Video reference and thumbnail storyboards + initial blocking
Reading:
http://www.carlosbaena.com/resource/anim_DemoReels.html
http://www.carlosbaena.com/resource/resource_tips_planning.html
http://www.navone.org/blogger/2007/11/more-on-planning.html
http://www.navone.org/blogger/2007/11/my-one-shot-on-ratatouille.html#links
http://www.navone.org/blogger/2008/07/posing.html
http://www.shaunfreeman.com/animating_tips/live_action.htm
http://frankanollie.com/PhysicalAnimation.html
http://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/HyperGraph/animation/character_animation/princip
les/lasseter_s94.htm
Week 2:
Due: Project 1 - Video reference and thumbnail storyboards + initial blocking.
Lecture: Review and critique examples scenes brought in by students. Discuss each student’s
scenes and look at the storyboards, sketches, video reference and blocking. Discuss stages of
animation: blocking to precede animation. Lecture on using the dope sheet and graph editor.
Lab: Complete blocking on Assignment #1.
Homework: Complete 1st pass for Assignment #1
Reading:
http://splinedoctors.com/2009/12/successful-traits-of-an-animator/
http://www.keithlango.com/tutorials/old/popThru/popThru.html
http://www.keithlango.com/tutorials/old/popThru/polish.html
http://www.keithlango.com/tutorials/old/arcs/arcs.htm
http://www.keithlango.com/tutorials/overlap/overlap.html
Week 3:
Due: Project 1 – 1st pass.
Lecture: Discuss readings and how they relate to the student’s animations. Review each
student’s completed blocking. Lecture on using the graph editor for the animation stage.
Lecture on the final stages of animation polish.
Lab: Continue working on Assignment #1.
Homework: Complete Animation for Project 1.
Reading:
http://www.navone.org/HTML/Tutorial_Splines1.htm
http://www.navone.org/HTML/Tutorial_Splines2.htm
http://tysonibele.com/Main/Tutorials/Secondary/secondary.htm
http://www.keithlango.com/tutorials/old/toonSnap/toonSnap.htm
Week 4:
DUE: PROJECT 1 – FINISHED ANIMATON
Lecture: Review and critique submitted projects. Lecture on Assignment #2 – Emotional Full
body Acting Scene, 3-6 seconds, due Week 7. Props or a simple environment are allowed if
needed to convey your idea. Lecture on developing a character’s inner dialogue.
Creating emotional animation and working with dialogue, beginning with body language,
including the face.
Lab: Begin working on Assignment #2: Emotional Full-body Acting Scene, 4-6 seconds.
Discuss your ideas with the instructor and other students in the class. Find one example of an
existing animated scene showing a very entertaining 4-6 second full-body emotional acting shot.
Homework: Project 2 - Video reference and thumbnail storyboards + initial blocking.
Reading:
http://www.keithlango.com/tutorials/old/LeadFollow/leadFollow.htm
http://www.navone.org/blogger/2007/12/ergonomics.html
Week 5:
Due: Project 2 - Video reference and thumbnail storyboards + initial blocking.
Lecture: Discuss readings and how they relate to the student’s animations. Lecture on animating
eyes and facial expressions. Discuss each student’s scene and look at the storyboards, video
reference and blocking.
Lab: Complete blocking for Assignment #2.
Homework – Project 2 – 1st pass
http://www.navone.org/HTML/Tutorial_DashTake.htm
http://splinedoctors.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/bird_traits.m4a
http://splinedoctors.com/2010/02/acting-ideas/
http://www.keithlango.com/tutorials/old/powerCenter/powerCenter.htm
http://www.keithlango.com/tutorials/old/lipSync.htm
http://www.shaunfreeman.com/animating_tips/planning_out_a_shot.htm
Week 6:
Due: Project 2 – 1st pass.
Lecture: Discuss readings and how they relate to the student’s animations. Review and critique
examples scenes brought in by students.
Lab: Continue working Assignment #2.
Homework: Complete Animation for Assignment #2
Reading:
http://fliponline.blogspot.com/2008/05/watch-eyes.html
Week 7:
DUE: PROJECT 2 – FINISHED ANIMATON
Lecture: Review and critique submitted projects. Lecture on Assignment #3 – Walk/Run cycle
OR 5 second full body dialogue animation – DUE Week 11. Creating smooth cycles. Dialogue
animation.
Lab: Begin working on Assignment #3. Discuss your ideas with the instructor and other students
in the class. Find one example of existing animated references.
Homework: Project 3 - Video reference and thumbnail storyboards + initial blocking.
Reading: http://fliponline.blogspot.com/2007/02/quick-trick-moving-holds.html
Week 8: No Class / Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 9:
Due: Project 3 - Video reference and thumbnail storyboards + initial blocking.
Lecture: Review and critique examples brought in by students. Discuss readings and how they
relate to the student’s animations. Review any resubmissions of Assignment #2. Discuss each
student’s cycle idea and look at the storyboards, video reference and blocking.
Lab: Complete blocking for Project 3.
Homework: Project 3 – 1st pass
Reading:
http://www.navone.org/Media/AnimationThumbs/index.htm
http://www.navone.org/blogger/2007/08/exaggeration.html
http://fliponline.blogspot.com/2007/04/quick-trick-gimbal-lock-just-ignore-it.html
http://splinedoctors.com/2009/10/a-gesture-here-a-gesture-there/
Week 10:
Lecture: Discuss readings and how they relate to the student’s animations. Review each
student’s 1 st pass.
Lab: Finish working on Assignment #3.
Homework: Complete animation on Assignment #3 DUE NEXT WEEK!!!
Reading: http://www.keithlango.com/tutorials/favorTute/DoMeAFavor.html
Week 11:
Lecture: Review of finished Assignment #3. Feedback on next steps for continuing to develop
as an animator.
Lab: Archiving work for portfolio.
No comments:
Post a Comment