Course Name (short): Animation 4 - Classical
School: All Sheridan Schools
Program(s): Animation
Program Coordinator(s): Andrew Bodor
Course Leader or Contact: David Quesnelle
Originator: Paulette Geffros
Designate: Paulette Geffros
Version: 1.0
Status: Approved (APPR)

Calendar Description
Lectures on action analysis, visual rhythm, and tempo are followed by in-depth animation exercises. Students practise editing, sound recording, and track reading to synchronize the spoken word with the action and characterization of a drawn character. Lectures on the character design and walks, facial animation and lip sync are supported by practical exercises in picture continuity arrangement and creating storyboards for the animation film projects.

Typical Instructional Format

Courses may be offered in other formats.

Section I Notes: N/A

Detailed Description
Lectures on action analysis, visual rhythm, and tempo are followed by in-depth animation exercises. Students practise editing, sound recording, and track reading to synchronize the spoken word with the action and characterization of a drawn character. Lectures on the character design and walks, facial animation and lip sync are supported by practical exercises in picture continuity arrangement and creating storyboards for the animation film projects.

Program Context

 
            Knowledge
			
Successful students will have demonstrated knowledge of:
-  basis animation principles.
-  structural drawing and its application to animation.
-  the production process of an animated film from initial idea to 
   final projected image.
-  an increased understanding and proper use of 3D design in their 
   animated characters.
-  a solid ability to shorthand sketch for animation posing.
-  success in their ability to visually tell a story through animated 
   film.
-  an increased understanding and sensitivity to the use of body 
   posture to communicate thought and attitude and the successful 
   application of the basic principles to character posing.
-  a growing ability to assess, analyse and critique strengths and 
   weaknesses in their own work and in that of others.

 
            Skills
			
Successful students will have demonstrated further development in 
their abilities to:
-  a consistent application of all the outcomes acquired in Animation 
   2.
-  a will-developed and consistent level of application of basic 
   animation principles to the analysis of animated motion and 
   characterization.  
The following principles will be demonstrated with the given 
exercises:
-  timing - internal to motion, i.e. slow in and slow out
-  arcs and path of action
-  center of gravity - balance and weight
-  squash and stretch
-  primary forces and secondary action
-  wave action
-  torque
-  the understanding and application of these principles in cumulative 
   and the succesful use of each principle should be demonstrated in  
   each subsequent exercises.

 
            Attitudes
			
Successful students will have demonstrated attitudes of:
-  responsible awareness of the amount of work and degree of skill 
   required to produce successful animation by the given deadline 
  date.
-  proficiency in time management and the application of work 
   processes and sequencing techniques to complete satisfactory work  
   in the scheduled time
-  professional attitudes, resourcefulness and independence through 
   prompt completion of all assigned homework, studio exercises, 
   preparation for classes and regular attendance and participation.

Main Focus - Action Analysis and relation to animation acting.

Assignments                     Percentage    Deadlines

Assignment 1  Character Walk      25%           January 28
Assignment 2  Character Run       35%           February 11
Assignment 3  Lip Sync x4         25%           March 11
Assignment 4  Lip Sync w/David    25%           April 19
                                 100%

N/A

Instructors: David Quesnelle and Vivien Ludlow

Topical Outline

Week 1  -  Handout assignment - Character Walk
        -  Lecture - Character Design and Walks

Week 2  -  Continue Character Walk    
        -  Lecture - More on  Walks
        -  Study different types of walks and character types

Week 3  -  Handout Character Run   
        -  Lecture - Viewing and critique of Character Walks
        -  Brief intro to runs: Different types of runs and character 
           types

Week 4  -  Continue Character Run   
        -  Lecture - Character motivation and how it will affect the 
           run. Also how to resolve the run.

Week 5  -  Handout Acting/Lip Sync   
        -  Viewing and critique of Character Runs
        -  Brief intro: Acting/Lip Sync. Introduce body acting and how 
           it relates to the lip sync. How does emotion and character 
           type affect lip sync

Week 6  -  Continue Acting/Lip Sync  
        -  Lecture - Continue body acting and how it relates to Lip   
           Sync
        -  Introduce sound breakdown and how it translates to 
           different mouth shapes
        -  Dope Sheet Breakdown.

Week 7  -  Continue Acting/Lip Sync
        -  Lecture - Continue Dope Sheet
        -  Breakdown
        -  More on mouth shapes
        -  Introduce Eye Direction and gesture

        BREAK WEEK

Week 8  -  Continue Acting/Lip Sync    
        -  Lecture - Character facial animation
        -  Characters thought process and how it can create 
           overlapping action

Week 9  -  Continue Acting/Lip Sync   
        -  Finessing the acting of the character

Week 10 -  Start D. Howe"s Lip Sync/Reel  
        -  Viewing and critique of first lip sync exercise
        -  Brief intro to Lip sync/Reel

Week 11 -  Continue Lip Sync/Reel  
        -  Assesment of model sheets
        -  Viewing and critique of rough keyed reels.  Students should 
           have all keyed and indicate which section will be developed 
           into animation.

Week 12 -  Continue Lip Sync/Reel   
        -  Explore character rythm and dialogue accent
        -  Reinforce the use of silhouette in the acting

Week 13 -  Continue Lip Sync/Reel    
        -  Look for mouth shapes that will work with the character and 
           convey the emotions required by the scene.
  
Week 14 -  Evaluations