Course Name (short): Digital Char Methodology 1
School: All Sheridan Schools
Program(s): Comp Animation-Dig Char An
Program Coordinator(s): Mark Simon
Course Leader or Contact: Mark Simon
Originator: Paulette Geffros
Designate: Paulette Geffros
Version: 3.0
Status: Approved (APPR)

Calendar Description
This course is designed for computer animators with experience who wish to up grade their animation skills and portfolios. With an emphasis on performance, this course concentrates on character and personality animation applied to a CG figure while applying full animation principles and procedures.

Typical Instructional Format

Courses may be offered in other formats.

Section I Notes: N/A

Detailed Description
This course is designed for computer animators with experience who wish to up grade their animation skills and portfolios by breaking bad habits and applying proper full animation principles to their new work. With an over riding emphasis on performance, this course not only concentrate on the physics of motion but character and personality applied to CG figures. Students apply core animation principles and techniques to a series of specially designed computer animated assignments. An understanding of onscreen timing as well as principles of animation to CG animation is essential for convincing object and character performances. Each assignment builds on the previous principles learned. The animator's vocabulary of motion continues to develop through interactive lecture, discussion, demonstration and studio exercises in motion and performance principles.

Program Context

 Critical Performance

By the end of this course, students will have demonstrated the 
ability to apply primary principles of animation and convincing 
character performance used in industry to their computer animated 
projects.
Learning Outcomes

To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated 
the ability to:
            
1. Utilize CG animation terminology and methodologies. 
2. Distinguish between "cartoon" and "real world" timing.
3. Implement full animation principles for each assignment.
4. Demonstrate the ability to thumbnail, block out and animate a CG 
   character¿s performances 
5. Animate completed syncopated dialogue performance.
6. Complete all assignments within a given time frame.
7. Exhibit professional attitudes and behavior including:
   - acceptance of differing viewpoints
   - willingness to work collaboratively
   - willingness to be self directed and pro-active in learning

4 performance action analysis exercises          4 X 25%  
Total                                                                 
    100%

NOTE:  A late penalty of 10% per day will be applied to all overdue
assignments.  Special considerations may be given, at the discretion 
of the faculty, to late assignments with legitimate medical or
compassionate grounds.  In such cases, students must obtain prior
approval from the course instructor.  In case of emergencies, students
must contact the instructor in writing immediately.  The instructor 
will make the final decision on whether a late assignment will be 
accepted.

All students will be expected to take notes in class.  It will be 
suggested that students purchase a copy of the following books:

- The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston
- How to Animate Film Cartoons by Preston Blair  
- The Animator¿s Survival Book by Richard Williams

Several examples of classical and computer animated and live action 
films will be shown in class to illustrate the principles being 
presented.

WEEK 1-3
Module 1: Animation Action Analysis 
- exercise 1 - Flour Sack

Target learning outcomes: 1-4/6-7

Topics:	
-  action analysis using a supplied model (flour sack) 
-  produce a CG animated short (figure enters screen, high jumps and 
   exits) while applying full animation principles to a character 
   that evokes a sense of awareness to its surroundings and current 
   situation.
- gestural posing and performance specific to this (bringing 
  inanimate object without facial features or recognizable appendages 
  to life) assignment and similar animated situations
- timing (both performance and screen time)
- compound moves/overlapping action/inertia/and all other animation
  principles reinforcement

WEEK 4-6 
Module 2: Animation Action Analysis 
- exercise 2 - Weight Lift

Target learning outcomes: 1-4/6-7

Topics:	
- action analysis using a supplied model (figure model - Dave/Dot) 
- produce a CG animated short (weight lift and walk) applying 
  fundamental animation principles to a character that evoke a sense
  of awareness to his/her surroundings and current situation.
- gestural posing and performance specific to this (figure suggests a
  sense of weight by lifting extremely heavy object and placing it in
  a new location) assignment and similar animated situations
- when to use FK and/or IK techniques
- timing (both performance and screen time)
- compound moves/overlapping action/inertia/and other animation 
  principles reinforcement

WEEK 7-9
Module 3: Animation Action Analysis 
- exercise 3 ¿ Sound Sync

Target learning outcomes: 1-4/6-7

Topics:
- action analysis using a supplied model (figure model ¿ Dave) 
- produce a CG animated short (sound sync/animate to a pre-recorded
  sound track) applying fundamental animation principles to a 
  character that evoke a sense of awareness to his/her surroundings 
  and current situation.
- gestural posing and performance specific to this assignment and 
  similar animated situations
- timing (both performance and screen time)
- compound moves/overlapping action/inertia/and other animation 
  principles reinforcement

WEEK 10-13
Module 4: Animation Action Analysis 
- exercise 4 - 2 Character  3 Line Lip Sync

Target learning outcomes: 1-7

Topics:	
- action analysis using a supplied model (figure models - Dave + 
  Dot) 
- produce a CG animated short (2 character/three line lip sync) 
  applying fundamental animation principles to a character that evoke
  a sense of awareness to his/her surroundings, other characters and 
  current situation.
- gestural posing and performance specific to this ( two figures 
  interact through dialogue and physical contact) assignment and 
  similar animated situations
- timing (both performance and screen time)
- compound moves/overlapping action/inertia/and other animation 
  principles reinforcement