Syllabus for Cartoon Animation A & B:

Description:

An introduction to the practice, theory, and history of animation within art and independent media through Challenges, lecture, readings and project critiques. Production will cover process and the principles of animation. Emphasis is on creative content, experimentation and critical thinking. Students work with computer based editing and animation tools to create a significant animation project using the principles of animati.

 

Students will work on hand drawn animation and use computers to process their work. These systems will be used with various input/output peripherals and several software packages (MonkeyJam, Flash, Maya, and other tools) to create animated shorts. Technical materials and essays will be handed out periodically and available on the server or online.

 

No prior experience is required but basic computer literacy is the recommended prerequisite and some experience with computer imaging is suggested.

 

Requirements and Grading:

NOTE: Attendance is required. Any unexcused absence will count against you, potentially above and beyond the percentage of the grade that is under "Participation". Attendance will be taken at all meetings and is MANDATORY. Your FINAL grade will be dropped ONE LETTER GRADE for every 3 absences. Two late arrivals or early departures will count as one absence. Six absences counts as an automatic failure of the course. I am NOT kidding. Absence from a class is not an excuse for not doing an assignment or project. You are fully responsible for completing the work.

 

Grading is based on conceptual and aesthetic merit as well as technical execution and effort (as in any arts course). Late assignments will be significantly downgraded.

 

A	Excellent work exceeding expectations. Outstanding participation, attendance, and assignments. A student producing work in the top 20 % of his or her class.
B	Above average assignments and mastery of tools and concepts, participation and attendance.
C	Average execution of assignments, participation and attendance.
D	Well below average work, participation and attendance.
F	U nsatisfactory work, participation and attendance.

I am aware of the difficulty of juggling the tasks of learning complex software and dealing with content. Therefore, the work called "Assignments" are "Lite". That is, unless you do something manifestly unartistic or derivative, grades will be assigned more on technical merit — is it finished, does it work — than on content. However, for the "Projects," grading is based on conceptual and aesthetic merit as well as technical execution and effort (as in any arts course).

 

Participation	20 %
Assignments, Written and Technical (Lite)	40 %
Final Project	40 %

Lab Access:

The TCAP is accessible Before school, Nutrition, Lunch and afterschool when Mr. Chavez is present.

 

 

Supplies:

 Pencil, Folder

You will be given storage space on our networked server. You may want to purchase a Firewire/USB harddrive, DVD-Rs, or USB key for extra backup and storage. These can be purchased at any computer store. 

 

You may want web space for this class if you want to focus on Flash and delivering your project online. You can use your own if you prefer, or go to the Main Library SINC Site and request a sparky account or make sure you have a current passwd to yours if you have one. Once you have a sparky account, you can request web space through it. Send email to webmaster@sparky.ic.sunysb.edu with the subject line: I want web space. We will use the Mac ftp program fetch to upload sites to this account.

Recommended Materials:

The following books (or many others according to your interests) might be helpful for additional technical assistance and context for assignments. Try the Campus Bookstore, the library, amazon.com, and most other bookstores with a computer section. Much technical help can be found in the programs themselves and online.

Flash: I like the Visual Quickstart books, although go browsing for a text that speaks in a manner that you understand.Maya: Foundation by Alias or I also like the Visual Quickstart books are a good place to start. I would recommend a character rigging book if you really want to do character animation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 1

 

 

Acme Bio and photo