WOODBURY UNIVERSITY
ACADEMIC QUALITY • INNOVATION & CREATIVITY • TRANSDISCIPLINARITY
COMMUNICATION • THE INTEGRATED STUDENT • SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
School of Media, Culture, & Design
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMATION
PROGRAM GOALS
Discover your creative voice • Master the use of visual language • Focus your skill set
Develop critical thinking skills • Act as a professional
SECOND YEAR IN MAJOR
ANIM 262 Introduction to 3D Computer Animation
Studio, 3 units, 15 weeks
Term
Spring 2014 Digital Animation Studio
Tuesday and Thursday, 7-9:30 pm
Design Center D202
Instructor
Edith Clara
Subject for e-mails: Anim262
Course Description
Instruction in the fundamental principles of animation as applied to 3D digital animation. Emphasis on the basic process of modeling, texturing, lighting and rendering. Students will create a series of simple animations, and model and light simple props using a 3D software.
Portfolio Project
A DVD presentation of all major projects. Supporting written material, storyboards, and concept sketches should accompany the DVD either as slide shows in the DVD or in portfolio format.
Prerequisites
ANIM 111 Digital Citizenship.
All students are expected to be proficient in color theory, design principles, painting and manipulating pictures using Photoshop, using basic compositing and motion graphics skills to create visual content. Students are also expected to be able to sketch to at least communicate intent and design strategy.
Program Learning Outcomes
● Exhibit mastery of hand-based and digital art skills in creative projects.
● Apply animation principles in the design and production of time-based media.
● Develop and coordinate art and design strategies in both collaborative and independent production settings.
● Engage in constructive critical analysis of both creative process and product when offering and receiving critiques in a studio setting.
● Communicate artistic intent in a professional manner that illustrates a working knowledge of animation history and related fields.
● Demonstrate artistic mastery of the tools and technology in a chosen skill set of animation through presentation of a professional quality reel and portfolio.
Required Texts
Introducing Autodesk Maya 2014: Autodesk Official Press [Paperback]
Dariush Derakhshani (Author)
ISBN-10: 1118574907 | ISBN-13: 978-1118574904 | Edition: 1
$32.98
Companion Website *Maya Files
Suggested Reference
The Animator's Survival Kit – Revised Edition: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Formulas for Classical, Computer, Games, Stop Motion and Internet Animators
Richard Williams
ISBN-13: 978-0865478978
Available at Amazon ($24 new)
Character Animation Crash Course
Eric Goldberg
ISBN-13: 978-1879505971
Available at Amazon ($24 new)
Learning Activities and Assignments
This is an introductory class that provides a comprehensive overview of the CG creation and production processes. It is characterized by:
A themed project based approach.
80% of tool learning is accomplished outside of the classroom
Link to Weekly Independent learning tools
Emphasis is placed on understanding how CG functions in general. It is very important for our students to engage with the industry and becomesocially fluent and agile. This is achieved by meeting industry professionals who come frequently to class as part of a lecture series. Reporting and demonstrating a critical look on the industry is a graded assignment.
Focus is brought on the language of animation, time-based arts and design in the CG realm (terminology, paper writing, industry forums, conferences, blogging, etc.).
Quizzes will be administered at random to test the assimilation of reading/watching/listening material.
Instructional Process
Studio classes are project-driven classes. At least part of every class session will be spent working on the class project with the exception of midterm and final reviews. Sessions may be supplemented by video presentations, demonstrations, class critiques and discussion. Students acquire an understanding of the class objectives through the production of their projects. One-on-one critiques are provided as time permits. Students are asked to present their projects verbally and to participate in the group critiques in order to develop presentation skills and methods of critical evaluation. In addition to the 5 hours of in-class time, students are expected to work a minimum of 15 hours per week outside of the class.
Materials of Instruction
Pencil, paper for thumbnail sketches;
· HB lead Pencils should be used for layout, character drawings and animating.
· Cost: Prismacolor or other similar pencils are approx. Cost: 60¢-$1.25+tax@ pencil.
· Kneaded erasers, as needed, Cost .90¢ each.
· Paper for visual development: these range from small sketchbooks to individual sheets of drawing paper. Cost, approx. $12 - $15+tax @sketchbook to individual sheets.30¢ @ sheet.
Most of these art materials can be purchased at the school bookstore or at local art supply stores, Staples or Office Depot.
Copies of artwork on 8.5 x 11 printing paper @ ~.05 ¢ each. (Woodbury printing cost)
Flash drives minimum 16GB, ~ $26, blank CD’s or DVD’s for your Midterms and Finals. Available at the Woodbury bookstore, Fry’s, Best Buy or office supply stores.
Detailed Class Content Schedule
When a reading or an online lesson is indicated it must be completed before the start of the class on the date it is assigned.
Term Project Requirements
Complete a simple narrative project encompassing all steps of the CG production pipeline. Student is recommended to create a weekly production schedule to maintain on task (see Google Docs template).
Theme for this year is: Environmental Awareness
The term project will be constructed from refined versions of selected weekly projects.
Students have freedom of format for the piece they will produce over the semester. One constraint is that it shouldn’t exceed 30 seconds. Also it must be in the form of a narrative animated piece (not necessarily with characters but its better with characters!).
The level of rendering is up to the student and his/her abilities and taste in different rendering styles. Proper staging using color is expected - while photorealistic textures aren’t required the shots must be set artfully in support of the story. Flat shading is fine provided lighting principles are applied with originality and relevance.
As far as the soundtrack is concerned students are encouraged to keep it minimal but again, relevant. Dialog for facial animation is encouraged but not required - pantomime and body language go a long way.
Final piece is due on vimeo and embedded into student blog.
Student Blog
For this class - students need to maintain and publish their work on a blog. A blog can be created for free at http://www.wordpress.com in a couple of minutes. Here is an example http://woodburycg.wordpress.com
A free vimeo account is also required in order to present work properly. A free vimeo account can be opened in minutes at http://www.vimeo.com (choose “Basic Account”) - Here is an example: https://vimeo.com/woodburycg
Instructions for embedding Vimeo clips in the blog are available here: http://en.support.wordpress.com/videos/vimeo/
Essays
2 essays, minimum 750 words, choose from one of the six following subjects:
1. Choose an animated film and critique the lighting, texturing, rendering, compositing. Provide annotated film frames to support your argument. Critiquing doesn’t necessarily mean pointing at what is wrong or could have done better! Build an analysis of a compositing and visual development strategy / vision of the filmmakers. It is highly suggested that you view the film in BluRay on a properly calibrated screen. Research the visual development that formed the foundation of the film’s look.
2. Prepare questions and go interview a CG professional in a studio in the area (or conduct the interview with Skype). Focus on the key skills required to be a good compositor CG artist. Questions and answers about the tools used are not very important here. What is important is to illustrate how the CG pipeline is instrumental in implementing the vision of the director.
3. Write a global cultural comparative analysis of films produced in CG. What are the differences if any between cultures in producing films in CG
4. Research and analyze the outsourcing phenomenon. How does it affect production?
5. Research and analyze the historical development of CG animation. Has story changed due to new technologies
6. Free subject {per instructor approval}
Assessment and Evidence of Learning
GRADE BREAKDOWN
Student projects will be evaluated by instructor on basis of completion by deadlines, meeting specified criteria, and showing evidence of ability, creativity and imagination. Project grades will be issued on a numerical scale, which includes all stages of the project including development, application and presentation. Students are expected to address all components as significant parts of the entire process.
Point Grading System for Assignments
Each Assignment is worth 10 points for a total of 70 points or 49% of the Final Grade.
Each of the following earns 2 points.
1- Deadline Compliance
2- Quality of Presentation
3- Demonstration of technical understanding
4- Class participation
5- Creativity and originality
Project criteria is evaluated based on a point system as follows:
5= Excellent, 4= Good, 3= Average, 2= Weak, 0= Not Shown
EVALUATION CRITERIA
● Deadlines, Presentation and Preparedness
● Visual Language (appeal, clarity of story, design)
● Software Proficiency
● Effort & Animation Skills (shot continuity, pacing of story, editing, cinematography, timing and quality)
● Effective visual, written and verbal presentation skills
● Attendance
● Blog entries
Project grades will be issued on a point system as follows:
● Projects 49% of grade
● Essays 5% of grade
● Midterm 9% of grade
● Final Review 11% of grade
● Attendance 26% of grade
Assignments / Due Date / Grading Points / Percentage of final grade1st Project / 1-23-14 / 10 / 7%
2nd Project / 2-06-14 / 10 / 7%
3rd Project / 2-20-14 / 10 / 7%
4thProject / 3-13-14 / 10 / 7%
5th Project / 3-27-14 / 10 / 7%
6th Project / 4-03-14 / 10 / 7%
7th Project / 4-17-14 / 10 / 7%
Subtotal / 70 / 49%
Midterm / 2-27-14 / 8 / 9%
Essays
Paper 1 / 2-27-14 / 2 / 2%
Paper 2 / 3-27-14 / 3 / 3%
Final Review / 5-1-14 / 11 / 11%
Attendance / 26 class sessions / 26 / 26%
Total / 120 / 100%
Students will be graded on the following criteria:
Creativity: The energy and originality of thought applied to the design and animation of each project.
Participation: Students will be graded according to the strength of their participation in the team, as well as their individual contributions.
Craft: The skill given to producing the projects with emphasis on timing and quality.
Student grades are determined by the following criteria:
● Effective visual, written and verbal presentation skills
● Active and verbal participation in class activities, discussions and critiques.
● Attendance with necessary materials and project preparation
● Deadline compliance
● Personal challenge and effort in project completion.
● Juried presentation of project.
Judging for the final review will be based on, but not limited to:
● Creativity/originality.
● Artwork/draftsmanship.
● Clarity of story.
● Personalities of characters.
● Quality of Animation.
● Cinematography/staging of actions.
● Shot continuity, pacing of story (editing).
● Use of sound and dialogue.
● Entertainment value.
● Completion of work.
● Quality of presentation
Class grades are awarded by the following percentages of the total of the final scores.
● A 93-100% Clearly stands out as excellent performance
● 90-92%
● B+ 87-89%
● B 83-86% Grasps subject matter at a level considered to be good to very good
● 80-82%
● C+ 77-79%
● C 73-76% Demonstrates a satisfactory comprehension of the subject matter
● 70-72%
● D+ 67-69%
● D 60-66% Quality and quantity of work is below average and marginally acceptable
● F 59% and below. Quality and quality of work is unacceptable.
Attendance
Class attendance is required and is a strong determinate to the students’ success in the course. Roll will be taken and absences beyond 3 will lower the final grade. Students with absenteeism in excess of 4 will be encouraged to drop the course. It is important that students who are not prepared with their assignments still be present for valuable class critiques. Students should obtain 2 phone numbers from student colleagues and be prepared for the next class should they be absent.
Attendance is factored into the grade and points are allocated as follows:
1 = present, 0.5 = tardy, 0 = absent
Project Labeling and Archive Policies
Students are required to include a Woodbury ID label containing the following information on the back of all projects submitted to the instructor:
● class number
● class name
● semester
● instructor's name
● student's name
● student's contact information.
Media should be labeled on the package, and name, class and year should be included on the media/ disc. A printable pdf of the Woodbury ID labels are available on the portal in the MCD: Animation link on the Student page. Blank Avery labels may be purchased at the bookstoor. Projects will not be accepted without this information. The university reserves the right to retain student work for archival purposes. See the Woodbury Catalog for the official policy on archiving of student work.
Late Projects
Late or incomplete assignments and projects are discouraged and will adversely affect the students overall grade. Late projects will receive a one number grade reduction for each class meeting past the deadline. Projects more than 3 class meetings late will not be accepted. Projects will not be accepted after the last regular class session. Students are required to participate in the juried final review. Failure to attend the review will result in an automatic F.
NASAD Accreditation Standards
Woodbury University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Our program learning outcomes are based on competencies and experiences listed in the NASAD Handbook 2012-13 Standards for Accreditation, VIII.D.;IX.A. Animation.
A .pdf copy of the most recent NASAD Handbook plus addendums are available for download online at the following link:
http://nasad.arts-accredit.org/index.jsp?page=Standards-Handbook
Academic Honesty Policy
See complete policy on line at: http://my.woodbury.edu/Staff/AA/Shared%20Documents/Approved%20Academic%20Honesty%20Policy.pdf