Sheridan Course Outlines

ANIM10261
Acting for Animation

I: Administrative Information II: Course Details III: Topical Outline(s) Printable Version

Section I: Administrative Information

Total hours: 28.0
Credit Value: 2.0
Credit Value Notes: N/A
Effective: Winter 2013
Prerequisites: N/A
Corequisites: N/A
Equivalents: N/A
Pre/Co/Equiv Notes: N/A

Program(s): Bachelor of Animation
Program Coordinator(s): Mark Mayerson
Course Leader or Contact: Mark Mayerson
Version: 1.02
Status: Approved (APPR)

Section I Notes: N/A

Section II: Course Details

Detailed Description
Students are introduced to acting for animation. Students learn basic acting theory through a series of interactive lectures, study of film examples (live action and animation) and practical exercises that incorporate the theoretic principles learned. Students analyze human movement as a framework for rendering physical movement in animation, specifically broad physical humor (slapstick) and fight choreography.

Program Context

Bachelor of Animation

Program Coordinator: Mark Mayerson

This course introduces students to acting and provides students with a deeper understanding of animated performance.

Course Critical Performance and Learning Outcomes

 
Critical Performance

By the end of this course, students will have demonstrated the ability 
to perform a full range of acting techniques and explain how they 
apply to animated characters.


Learning Outcomes
To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated 
the ability to:

1. Demonstrate effective scenes using basic acting techniques such as 
   motivation and attraction.

2. Interpret voice through physical performance.

3. Illustrate the principles of acting and performance in various 
   current styles of animation. 

4. Invent convincing and evocative physical interpretations of voice 
   acting.

5. Safely perform physically complex scenes utilizing a full range of
   acting techniques 

6. Evaluate a physically complex character sequence using the 
   principles of good acting technique.

Evaluation Plan
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

Active participation*  - 10%
Assignment #1  Acting Performance - 20%
Assignment #2   Movement Analysis - 30%
Assignment #3    Physical Acting Piece -  30%
Final exam - 10%
Total - 100%

*as a workshop based course, students will be assessed on in-class exercises throughout 
the course. This portion of the mark will be assigned as an aggregate of all work in all 
classes.


Late Policy for all courses in the program:
 
All assignments are due within the first 15 minutes after the start 
of class on the due date. Late projects, submitted after the first 15 
minutes of the start of class will receive a 20% grade reduction. 
Late projects submitted the following week will receive a 30% grade 
reduction. There will be no submission of work after the last day of 
semester unless arrangements have been made and documented by the 
professor.

Work that is more than one week late will not be graded unless a 
prior arrangement has been made with the professor; the arrangement 
must be documented on email or a memo, with the new due date 
identified. There will be no resubmission of work unless, under 
exceptional circumstances, this has been agreed to or suggested by 
the professor.  Again, a hard copy of the agreement is necessary.

If there is a valid reason for the late project, the student must 
email the professor at least 3 days before the due date.  If the 
reason is deemed to be valid, there will be no late penalty.  A new 
due date with be set by the instructor.

The basic late policy as laid out above will be followed, except in 
the instance that an instructor requires a variation in policy. That 
variation will be provided to the student in writing as part of the 
actual assignment, which will be handed out by the instructor.

Provincial Context
The course meets the following Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities requirements:

Essential Employability Skills
Essential Employability Skills emphasized in the course:

	Communication		Critical Thinking & Problem Solving		Interpersonal
	Numeracy		Information Management		Personal

Notes: N/A

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
PLAR Contact (if course is PLAR-eligible) : Office of the Registrar
Students may apply to receive credit by demonstrating achievement of the course learning outcomes through previous relevant work/life experience, service, self-study and training on the job. This course is eligible for challenge through the following method(s):

Challenge Exam	Portfolio	Interview	Other	Not Eligible for PLAR
		X

Notes: N/A

Section III: Topical Outline

Some details of this outline may change as a result of circumstances such as weather cancellations, College and student activities, and class timetabling.
Effective term: Winter 2013
Professor: Robert Corbett
Textbook(s):

Shurtleff., Michael. Audition. Walker and Company, 1978.

Recommended Reading:

Thomas, Frank & Johnston, Ollie. The Illusion of Life.  Disney 
Animation, 1984. Disney Edition New York.

Applicable student group(s): Bachelor of Animation
Course Details:

Description:

Week 1:
Introduction:
- Course overview
- Why acting is important to animation Status:
- Cultural and character hierarchy 

Concept:
- Animator as the principal actor in animation 
- Emotional input through visual perception
- Every scene or interaction between characters is also a conflict for 
hierarchy 

Week 2:
Motivation:
- Nothing moves without a reason
Concept:
- Conscious and unconscious intent.  
- Good acting requires that the reasons behind the movement be clear,
  not just the movement itself

Week 3:
Character history and character arc:
- Creating or discovering a character¿s background
Concept:
- Context - everything happens within a context.  Our characters are
  the products of the lives they have lived.

Assignment #1 - Acting Performance will be handed out.

Week 4
Conflict and Attraction:
- Look at the three basic types of conflict.
- What pushes characters apart and what pulls them together
Concept:
- Without conflict in our art there will be no interest.

Week 5
Style 
- Animators are often called upon to work in extreme styles of acting 
  and the range is increasing.
Concept:
- The presentational demands of different styles vary, but a core 
  commitment to good acting skills will serve all of them.

Weeks 6 & 7 
First acting pieces are presented.
Assignment #2 - Movement Analysis 

READING WEEK

Weeks 8 & 9

Stage and Dramatic conflict - fight choreography
- A basic introduction to stage and dramatic conflict - fight 
  choreography.
Concept:
- Fight choreography can only become great when it takes place in the 
  context of character and story.
 
Week 10 
Student presentation - Students will present their movement analysis
Assignment #3 - Physical Acting Piece will be handed out.

Weeks 11 &12 Broad humor
Broad humor 
- Broad physical comedy will be examined.
Concept: 
- Even in vastly heightened and broad comedic styles, firm acting
  principles must be applied. 

Weeks 13 & 14 - final student presentations and assessments
Student's final physical acting pieces are presented and assessed.

FINAL EXAM covering all content taught during the term will be 
administered during class 14.

Sheridan Policies

All Sheridan policies can be viewed on the Sheridan policy website.

Academic Integrity: The principle of academic integrity requires that all work submitted for evaluation and course credit be the original, unassisted work of the student. Cheating or plagiarism including borrowing, copying, purchasing or collaborating on work, except for group projects arranged and approved by the professor, or otherwise submitting work that is not the student's own, violates this principle and will not be tolerated. Students who have any questions regarding whether or not specific circumstances involve a breach of academic integrity are advised to review the Academic Integrity Policy and procedure and/or discuss them with the professor.

Copyright: A majority of the course lectures and materials provided in class and posted in SLATE are protected by copyright. Use of these materials must comply with the Acceptable Use Policy, Use of Copyright Protected Work Policy and Student Code of Conduct. Students may use, copy and share these materials for learning and/or research purposes provided that the use complies with fair dealing or an exception in the Copyright Act. Permission from the rights holder would be necessary otherwise. Please note that it is prohibited to reproduce and/or post a work that is not your own on third-party commercial websites including but not limited to Course Hero or OneNote. It is also prohibited to reproduce and/or post a work that is not your own or your own work with the intent to assist others in cheating on third-party commercial websites including but not limited to Course Hero or OneNote.

Intellectual Property: Sheridan's Intellectual Property Policy generally applies such that students own their own work. Please be advised that students working with external research and/or industry collaborators may be asked to sign agreements that waive or modify their IP rights. Please refer to Sheridan's IP Policy and Procedure.

Respectful Behaviour: Sheridan is committed to provide a learning environment that supports academic achievement by respecting the dignity, self-esteem and fair treatment of every person engaged in the learning process. Behaviour which is inconsistent with this principle will not be tolerated. Details of Sheridan's policy on Harassment and Discrimination, Academic Integrity and other academic policies are available on the Sheridan policy website.

Accessible Learning: Accessible Learning coordinates academic accommodations for students with disabilities. For more information or to register, please see the Accessible Learning website (Statement added September 2016)

Course Outline Changes: The information contained in this Course Outline including but not limited to faculty and program information and course description is subject to change without notice. Any changes to course curriculum and/or assessment shall adhere to approved Sheridan protocol. Nothing in this Course Outline should be viewed as a representation, offer and/or warranty. Students are responsible for reading the Important Notice and Disclaimer which applies to Programs and Courses.

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