ANIM19599GD
Animation History
 
  I: Administrative Information   II: Course Details   III: Topical Outline(s)  Printable Version   Public
 
Section I: Administrative Information
  Credit Value: 3.0
Credit Value Notes: N/A
Effective: Winter 2012
Prerequisites: N/A
Corequisites: N/A
Equivalents:
N/A
Pre/Co/Equiv Notes: N/A

Course Name (short): Animation History
School:
Animation Arts and Design
Program(s): Bachelor of Animation
Program Coordinator(s): Mark Mayerson
Course Leader or Contact: Christopher Walsh
Originator: Paulette Geffros
Designate: Paulette Geffros
Version:
5.0
Status: Approved (APPR)

Calendar Description
This course is designed to provide students with an overview survey of animation history from pre-cinema to the present day. Students examine the evolution of the medium and how technology, economics, artistic trends, individual artists and national cultures have affected its development.

Typical Instructional Format

Lecture
42.0
Total hours: 42.0

Courses may be offered in other formats.

Section I Notes: Course Contributors: Kaj Pindal; Mark Mayerson, Elizabeth Littlejohn

 
 
Section II: Course Details

Detailed Description
This course is designed to provide students with an overview survey of animation history from pre-cinema to the present day. Students examine the evolution of the medium and how technology, economics, artistic trends, individual artists and national cultures have affected its development. Through interactive lecture, screening of films and research, students analyze works created for movie theatres, television and the web, all of which utilize drawings, stop motion, software and other techniques.

Program Context

 
Bachelor of Animation Program Coordinator: Mark Mayerson
This course is a single Animation History breadth course required in the first year of the BAA (Animation) Program. It provides an important overview of the development of animation as an art, a craft and an industry. The course broadens students' frame of reference and stimulates them to use a wider variety of design, animation and film making approaches in their core classes.


Course Critical Performance and Learning Outcomes

 
 Critical Performance
By the end of this course, students will have demonstrated the ability
to analyze the evolution of animation as a medium of communication and
the development of various techniques employed to create animated 
works.

Learning Outcomes
To achieve the Critical Performance, students will have demonstrated
the ability to:

1. Analyze the role of technology in the evolution of the medium.

2. Explain how economics has shaped the creation of animated films.

3. Explain how artistic trends in other media have influenced the
   development and growth of animation.

4. Compare and contrast the impact of various national cultures on the
   design and development of animated films throughout the world.

5. Describe how the contributions of individual artists have shaped
   the medium.

6. Analyze the wide range of techniques used in the creation of
   animated films.

7. Discuss the nature and development of various studio organizations
   and environments from an historical perspective.
Evaluation Plan
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

 
Course Evaluation Dates:

Mid-Term Exam (Week 7)            40%
Research Paper (Week 11)          20%
Final Exam (Week 13)    	  40%
Total				 100%

Assignments:
Assignments are to be handed in at the beginning of class, to Chris. 
Assignments handed in more than 15 minutes after class begins are 
penalized 20%. Late assignments must also be handed in directly to 
Chris, via hard copy. You cannot hand in via the server for this 
course.

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:

X Communication X Critical Thinking & Problem Solving   Interpersonal
  Numeracy X Information Management   Personal

Notes: N/A

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
PLAR Contact: Angela Stukator

Students may apply to receive credit by demonstrating achievement of the course learning outcomes through previous life and work experiences. This course is eligible for challenge through the following method(s):

Challenge Exam Portfolio Interview Other Not Eligible for PLAR
  X 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 2012
Professor: Multiple Professors
Textbook(s):
Required Textbooks / Learning Materials: 
Required Textbook (available at Sheridan Bookstore, Amazon.ca, 
various used book stores):

Leonard Maltin, 1987: Of Mice And Magic- A History of American 
Animated Cartoons (revised). The Penguin Group, ISBN 0-452-25993-2 
(Paperback)

Suggested: 
Paul Wells, 1998. Understanding Animation. Routledge; ISBN 0 415 
11597 3 (Paperback)

Karen Mazurkewich, 1999: Cartoon Capers: The History of Canadian 
Animators. McArthur & Company Publishing, Ltd; ISBN 1552780937 
(Paperback)

John Grant, 2001. Masters of Animation. Watson-Guptill; ISBN 0 8230 
3041 5 (Paperback)

Jerry Beck, editor, 2004. Animation Art. Flame Tree Publishing; ISBN 
0-06-073713-1 (Paperback)

Giannalberto Bendazzi, 1995.  Cartoons: One Hundred Years of Cinema 
Animation. Indiana University Press; ISBN 0253209374 (Paperback

Applicable student group(s): Bachelor of Applied Arts (Animation)
Course Details:
Lecture - Chris Walsh
Lecture/Screening - Kaj Pindal

	Details of Screenings Are Subject To Change.

Week 1 	Lecture: 3 hours
Topic: Course Introduction, Pre-Cinema Visual Entertainment-puppets, 
magic lantern, comics, "The Persistence of Vision," flipbooks, the 
thaumatrope, the phenakistoscope, the zoetrope, Emile Reynaud and his 
Praxinoscope, the significance of the shutter to motion pictures

Hand Out: "Precursors and Experiments," from The History of Animation 
(p3-11) by Charles Solomon

Week 2	Lecture: 3 hours
Topic:  Part 1: The Mechanics of Motion Pictures and The First Films- 
Daguerre, Muybridge, Edison, Lumière Part 2: Animation Begins- 
Blackton, Cohl, McCay, Barré, Bray, Sullivan

To Be Read For This Week: "Precursors and Experiments," from The 
History of Animation (p3-11) by Charles Solomon

Screenings: 
Selection of Edison Kinetoscope Films (1894-1896)
Selection of Lumière Films (1895-1897)
Humourous Phases of Funny Faces (1906)
Fantasmagorie (1908)
Little Nemo (1911)
Gertie The Dinosaur (1914)
Selected Films from Barré Studios (Animated Grouch Chasers, Phables, 
Joys and Glooms)
Selected Films from Bray Studios (Heeza Liar, Krazy Kat, Bobby Bumps)
Felix In Hollywood (1923)
Felix Finds Out (1924)

Week 3  Lecture: 1 hour
Topic: Walt Disney's Beginnings- The Silent Era

To Be Read For This Week: Maltin, p. 1-34, "The Silent Era" and first 
part of "Walt Disney"

Screenings:
Alice¿s Wonderland (1923)
Alice¿s Wild West Show (1924)

-------------------------------

Kaj¿s Lecture/Screening: 2 hours
Steamboat Willie (1928)
Plane Crazy (1928)
Building A Building (1928)
Touchdown Mickey (1932)
The Steeplechase (1933)

Week 4 	Lecture: 1 hour
Topic: Fleischer Studios Part 1: The Silent Era

To Be Read For This Week: Maltin, p. 34-52 (to end of paragraph
"photography are minimized.")

Screenings:
The Tantalzing Fly (1919)
Fishing (1921)

-----------------------------
Kaj's Lecture/Screening: 2 hours
Skeleton Dance (1929)
Ugly Duckling (1939)
Father Noah¿s Ark (1933)
Three Little Pigs (1933)
Grasshopper and Ants (1934)
Wise Little Hen (1934)
Tortoise and Hare (1934)

Week 5 	Lecture: 1 hour
Topic: Fleischer Studios Part 2: Betty Boop

To Be Read For This Week: Maltin, p.83-114 (to end of paragraph
"implement and exploit them.")

Hand Out: Lotte Reiniger essay in Experimental Animation- An 
Illustrated Anthology by Robert Russett and Cecile Starr

Screenings:
Snow White (Fleischer¿s, NOT Disney's) (1933)
Not Now (1936)

----------------------------------

Kaj's Lecture/Screening: 2 hours
 Band Concert (1935)
Who Killed Cock Robin (1936)
Pluto¿s Judgment Day (1934)
Music Land (1935)
Through the Mirror (1936)
Moving Day (1936)
Country Cousin (1936)

Week 6  Lecture:  1 hour
Topic: Legendary Women In Animation
Review For Midterm

To Be Read For This Week: Lotte Reiniger essay in Experimental 
Animation- An Illustrated Anthology by Robert Russett and Cecile Starr

Screenings:
Excerpt from Prince Achmed (1926)

-----------------------------------

Kaj's Lecture/Screening: 2 hours
Art Babbitt Special
Old Mill (1937)
Wynken, Blinken and Nod (1936)
Brave Little Tailor (1938)
Elmer the Elephant (1936)
Woodland Café (1937)

Week 7  MIDTERM EXAM- Worth 40% of Final Mark 

To Be Read For This Week: TBA

-------------------------------

Kaj's Lecture/Screening: 2 hours
Popeye (3 films)
The Reluctant Dragon (1941)

Week 8  Lecture: 1 hour
Topic: Walter Lantz Studios

To Be Read For This Week: Maltin, p. 159- 187 "Walter Lantz", and 
Maltin p.323-342 "UPA"

Hand Out: Research Paper Assignment 

Screenings:
The Barber of Seville (1944)
Ski For Two (1944)

Return MidTerm
-----------------------------------

Kaj¿s Lecture/Screening: 2 hours 
Hellbent For Election (1944)
Gerald McBoing Boing (1951)
Rooty Toot Toot (1951)
Madeline (1952)
Unicorn In The Garden (1953)
The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)

Week 9  Lecture: 1 hour
Topic: MGM
To Be Read For This Week: Maltin p. 281- 310, "MGM"

Screenings:
Yankee Doodle Mouse (1943)
The Shooting of Dan McGoo (1945)

---------------------------------
Kaj's Lecture/Screening: 2 hours

Hen Hop (1942)
Fiddle Dee Dee (1947)
Begone Dull Care (1949)
Neighbours (1952)
Blinkety Blank (1955)
Chairy Tale (1957)
Le Merle (1958)
Pas De Deux (1968)

Hand Out: "Norman McLaren and the National Film Board of Canada," 
from Experimental Animation- An Illustrated Anthology by Robert 
Russett and Cecile Starr

Week 10  Lecture: 1 hour
Topic: Warner Brothers

To Be Read For This Week: Maltin, p. 223- 280, "Warner Bros," AND 
ALSO:
"Norman McLaren and the National Film Board of Canada," from 
Experimental Animation- An Illustrated Anthology by Robert Russett 
and Cecile Starr

Screenings:
Porky's Romance (1937)
Rabbit Seasoning (1952)
----------------------------------------

Kaj's Lecture/Screeing: 2 hours
Romance of Transportation (1952)
Potpourri/ Hors d¿oeuvre (1962)
Very Nice, Very Nice (1961)
I Knew An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly (1963)
Great Toy Robbery (1963)
What on Earth! (1966)

Week 11  Lecture: 1 hour
Topic: Early Stop Motion Animation

RESEARCH PAPER DUE- Worth 20% of Final Mark

To Be Read For This Week: TBA

Screenings:
Excerpt from The Mascot (1934)
Excerpt from King Kong (1933)

----------------------------------------
Kaj's Screening/Lecture 2 hours 
The Owl Who Married A Goose (1974)
Hot Stuff (1971)
Log Driver's Waltz (1979)
The Street (1976)
The Sweater (1980)
Why Me? (1978)
Every Child (1979)
The Cat Came Back (1988)

Week 12	Lecture: 1 hour
Topic: The History of Computer Animation

Review For Final Exam

To Be Read For This Week:
TBA

Screenings: Excerpt from Ryan (2004)
-------------------------------------
Kaj's Screening/Lecture: 2 hours
Anna and Bella (1984)
Borge Ring Special
The Karate Kid Trilogy
The Charge of The Light Brigade

Week 13	

FINAL EXAM- Worth 40% of Final Mark 

Lecture: 2 hours
Topic: Russian Animation and Japanese Animation: Historical Overviews

To Be Read For This Week: TBA

Screenings:
Ball of Wool (1968)
Man In The Frame (1966)
Fox And Rabbit (1973)
Hedgehog In The Fog (1975)
Crane Feathers (1977)
Birth of Astro (??)
Robio and Robiette (??)
Excerpt from Akira (1988)
Mt. Head (atama yama) (2002)
Excerpt from Paprika (2006)

Week 14	Lecture: 2.5 hours
Topic: Recent International Animation: Major Figures and Films

To Be Read For This Week: Maltin, p. 343-355, 'The Rest Of The Story"

Screenings:
Body Beautiful (1991)
An Old Box (1975)
The Cathedral (2002)
Are We Still Married? (1991)
Dimensions of Dialogue (1982)
Billy's Balloon (1998)
Laugh Lines (1979)
The Big Snit (1985)
Guard Dog (2004)
My Financial Career (1962)
Walking (1968) 

Return Final Exam

Contact Information:
For any questions or concerns, please talk to Chris after class, or 
email him at christopher.walsh@sheridanc.on.ca, or call him at 
extension 2211 to arrange a meeting time. 

Please speak with Kaj before or after class to discuss meeting times.

Important Remarks:

If it is impossible to avoid missing a test, the responsibility is 
YOURS to contact Chris as soon as you become aware of the conflict, 
in order to arrange another time. If you miss a test and have not 
given Chris advanced notice (for example, you get sick on the day of 
the test), a signed Doctor¿s Note or other official documentation 
must be provided by you to qualify you to take the test at a later 
date. 

The Research Paper will have a 20% per day penalty applied for 
lateness, no excuses, after 9:15am, the day it is due. If you can't 
hand it in on the due day, have a classmate hand it in for you in 
class, or hand it in early at Chris¿s desk.

Due to the historical aspect of the course, some content may contain 
racially, sexually, and/or politically insensitive material. Some 
content may also simply be rude/gross/disturbing. All screening 
material is chosen on the merits of historical/artistic significance.

Please read the Sheridan Student Handbook carefully for information 
regarding the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters, plagiarism and 
student conduct as this information will be applied to this course.


ANIM19599 History of Animation
Supplementary Online Reading and Website Links:

Historian Jerry Beck¿s site:
www.cartoonbrew.com

Sheridan's own Mark Mayerson's blog:
mayersononanimation.blogspot.com

Aardman Animations Ltd


Winter 2012: Syllabus: ANIM19599: History of Animation  
Professor Christopher Walsh, Professor Kaj Pindal
SAAD: Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning


Academic Honesty
The principle of academic honesty 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 faculty member, or otherwise submitting work that is not the student's own violates this principle and will not be tolerated. Instances of academic dishonesty, including assisting another student to cheat, will be penalized as detailed in the Student Handbook.

Students who have any questions regarding whether or not specific circumstances involve a breach of academic honesty are advised to discuss them with the faculty member prior to submitting the assignment in question.

Discrimination and Harassment
Sheridan is committed to provide a learning environment that respects 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 are available in the Student Handbook.
 
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