Course Name (short): Action Analysis: Anim & Design
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: Paulette Geffros
Version: 11.0
Status: Approved (APPR)

Calendar Description
This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to build on and synthesize the fundamental principles of animation acquired in previous semesters. These principles are integrated through a series of exercises that focus on the analysis of action in the human form.

Typical Instructional Format

Courses may be offered in other formats.

Section I Notes: Course Contributors: James Caswell; Vivien Ludlow; Mark Mayerson; David Quesnelle

Detailed Description
This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to build on and synthesize the fundamental principles of animation acquired in previous semesters. These principles are integrated through a series of exercises that focus on the analysis of action in the human form. Students add to their knowledge of, and refine the skills needed in, the processes involved in the art of performance using 2D animation. Students design and animate characters engaging in tasks that are affected by anatomy, gravity and momentum. Through a series of interactive lectures, workshops and animation exercises, students learn about animated motion and characterization.

Program Context

 Course Critical Performance
By the end of the course, students will have demonstrated the ability
to integrate action analysis in character performance through the
application of animation principles. 

Course Learning Outcomes
1. Explain the way in which principles and theories involving motion,
   weight and mass impact on the development of believable animation.

2. Animate the transfer of momentum from one object to another.

3. Design an original character to be used in an animated sequence.

4. Communicate a character's motivation through performance at an
   introductory level.

5. Develop an animated sequence that displays believable performance. 

6. Develop an animated sequence in which the emotion displayed by the
   character is consistent with the performance.

7. Animate two characters that interact believably in terms of
   movement and emotion at a basic level.

8. Design original characters whose personality and appearance are a
   study in contrast.

9. Produce a convincing illusion of weight when a character interacts
   with an object.

10. Create the illusion of thought when a character encounters
    something and changes facial expression as a result.

11. Complete the required assignments within the prescribed timelines.

Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

ANIMATION EVALUATION
Wave Boat Sack Assignment                20%
Weight Lift & Toss Assignment            25%
Walk-run Assignment                      30%
Facial Expressions Change Assignment     25%
Total                                   100%

DESIGN EVALUATION
Weight Lift and Toss Design Assignment   20%
2 Contrasting Characters Assignment      40%
Facial Expression Design Assignment      20%
Sketchbook Review                        20%
Total                                   100%

NOTE:  Final grade is the average of the ANIMATION and DESIGN portions
       of the class.  Students must achieve 50% or better in each
       area in order to pass the 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.

Textbook(s): Hand-outs

Animation - Mark Mayerson
Design - Peter Emslie

Week 1
ANIMATION
Expectations and Procedures
Review of cycles
Introduction of metronome as a timing tool
WAVE BOAT SACK ASSIGNMENT

DESIGN
Introduction to course
Give students an overview of assignments and list of 
required materials.

Week 2
ANIMATION
Review of follow through
Review of path of action

DESIGN
Distorted organic forms and review of "Flour Sack" as a simple 
example of an anthropomorphic form. Accent on "Squash and Stretch"

Week 3
ANIMATION
Water effects animation

DESIGN
Basic construction and posing of human figure. Looking at simple body 
mechanics, showing how the body is designed to move.
Assignment - "Weight Lift & Toss" character model sheet.

Week 4
ANIMATION
WAVE BOAT SACK ASSIGNMENT DUE
WEIGHT LIFT AND TOSS ASSIGNMENT
Review of anticipation
Visual indications of weight
Body mechanics of lifting
Hierarchy of Drawings

DESIGN
Gesture drawing. Combining gesture with solid construction to ensure 
a feeling of inner life and unity of pose design.

Week 5
ANIMATION
Importance of balance to the convincing portrayal of weight
Body mechanics of throwing
Group critique of Wave Boat Sack assignments

DESIGN
Discussion of "Character Types" - part 1.
Deadline for "Weight Lift & Toss" character model sheet.

Week 6
ANIMATION
Group critique of Wave Boat Sack assignments

DESIGN
Discussion of "Character Types" - part 2.
Assignment - "Two Contrasting Characters" 
model sheet. (Ties into "Walk & Run" animation assignment.)

Week 7
ANIMATION
WEIGHT LIFT AND TOSS ASSIGNMENT DUE
WALK RUN ASSIGNMENT
Mechanics of walks
Emotional components of walks

DESIGN
Line Quality. Stressing "sculptural" outlining, as opposed to "bent-
wire" type.

Week 8
ANIMATION
Staging two character scenes

DESIGN
Hands - function and design. Show simple mechanics of hands as well 
as how they can be used to show expression and communication.
Deadline for "Two Contrasting Characters" model sheet.

Week 9
ANIMATION
Mechanics of Runs
Emotional components of runs

DESIGN
Winter Fair Field Trip. I will be joining students to sketch at fair. 
It is requested that they do several caricatured drawings of animals.
(Tentative: subject to change)

Week 10
ANIMATION
Shift and Trace inbetween system

DESIGN
Facial expressions. Show relationship between eyes, cheeks and mouth 
in creating strong expressions.
Assignment - "Facial Expressions"

Week 11
ANIMATION
WALK RUN ASSIGNMENT DUE
EXPRESSION CHANGE ASSIGNMENT
Communicating thought through facial expressions

DESIGN
Working from Video to draw face and body types, stressing distinction 
in the shape, size and relative placement of the features.

Week 12
ANIMATION
Facial acting
Group critique of Walk Run assignment

DESIGN
Drawing from model while using provided handout sheet of several 
distinct cartoon body types.
Deadline for "Facial Expressions".

Week 13
ANIMATION
EXPRESSION ASSIGNMENT DUE
Group critique of Walk Run assignment

DESIGN
Deadline for Sketchbook - will be reviewed and graded.

Week 14
ANIMATION
Summary, review
Group critique of Facial Expression assignment

DESIGN
Continuation of Sketchbook Review.