Course Name (short): Acting for Animation
School: Animation Arts and Design
Program(s): Bachelor of Animation
Program Coordinator(s): Mark Mayerson
Course Leader or Contact: Mark Mayerson
Originator: Paulette Geffros
Designate: Barbara Mathieu
Version: 1.02
Status: Approved (APPR)

Calendar Description
Students are introduced to acting for animation. Students analyze human movement as a framework for rendering physical movement in animation.

Typical Instructional Format

Courses may be offered in other formats.

Section I Notes: N/A

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

 
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.

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.

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

Recommended Reading:

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

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.