Course Descriptions

This course is an introduction to the procedures used to create animated characters with life, weight and personality. Students will learn how to create movement frame-by-frame, using drawings and objects.

Students will be introduced to design as it applies to commercial animation production. This will include: basic perspective skills; character design; posing; layout design; colour design and storyboard design.

Students will learn how to improve their drawing skills through observation and practice. Gesture drawing from the model will be emphasized in this course with the focus on quick sketches that capture the form and weight of the model. Basic anatomy will be introduced and students will maintain a weekly sketchbook of drawings.

This course will introduce the student to computer-generated animation and the tools used to create 2-D character animation digitally. Students will learn to apply the traditional principles of animation to digital characters.

Students will be introduced to the importance of design in character animation. Line, shape, negative space, volume, and colour will be studied. The relationships of these elements (proximity, balance, rhythm/repetition, proportion, variety and size) will be emphasised. Three dimensional models will be created to understand structure. Through drawn exercises, students will learn to create strong character poses that communicate effectively with the audience. Students will study various artistic styles in animation and work individually and as part of a team to create effective, original character models.

In this course, students will learn how to visualize and draw what they actually see rather than what their minds tell them they see. Through the practice of drawing from the live model, students will learn to create drawings that are accurate and clear in their presentation of weight, proportion, structure, volume and balance. Students will learn to quickly capture the essence of a model’s pose through gesture drawing.

This course introduces students to the history and development of character animation as an entertainment medium from the early 1900s to the present. Students will learn about the artists, executives, studios and animated cartoon characters that entertained audiences and built a unique industry.

Students will be introduced to more complex character animation involving quadrupeds and effects animation. Animal anatomy and movement including walks, runs and jumps will be practiced with an emphasis on acting and composition in a three-dimensional space. An introduction to effects animation will study how the laws of physics pertain to the movement of smoke, fire, water and other natural phenomena.

In this course, students will increase their understanding of timing, animation principles, design and efficient production methods to create original animated performances. Acting and dialogue are the focus of this course. Students will be introduced to digital production methods used in the industry, create their own digital character rigs and will use this knowledge in the creation of their own believable animated sequences.

Students will continue to develop their abilities in the design and creation of hand drawn characters that emphasise appeal and personality. Students will study a wider range of artistic styles and incorporate these styles into their own designs. The role of the character/prop designer as part of a design team will be studied. Students will create an original concept package for an animated production that includes multiple characters in the same original style.

Students will develop their drawing and visualization skills and will increase their ability to accurately render the human form in movement. This course introduces students to the anatomical design of the human form and the relationships of bone and muscle of the human body in action and at rest. Gesture drawing for animation will continue to be developed.

Students will be introduced to the skills required to create effective background designs. Perspective drawing, composition of the stage, lighting, research and proper use of the animation camera will be emphasised in this course.

This course is an introduction to how animators create the illusion of life through the manipulation of single images. The five conditions of motion are studied as they pertain to movement and how that movement is interpreted by the viewer. Principles of animation are introduced and students will incorporate them as a means to create hand drawn animation that is believable and entertaining.

This course emphasises the movement of bipeds and the process of key animation. Students will learn to create hand drawn animation of human and anthropomorphic characters that evoke a sense of weight and believability. Students will be introduced to sound recording, sound breakdown and animating to pre-recorded dialogue in order to create animation performances. Acting for animation will be a continuous theme throughout this course.

Students will utilize their understanding of animation principles and timing to create strong, believable performances with more complex characters. Traditional methods of classical animation on paper will be taught. Students will produce fully animated sequences with an emphasis on acting and performance.

Students will be introduced to the role of the story artist in the animation industry and learn the industry-standard methods used to create storyboards for animation. Students will explore one or more software packages used by studios in the creation of storyboards and animatics. Students will use the theory and practices learned in this course to plan their animated projects in the following term.

This course continues to develop the observational drawing skills of the students as they learn the techniques required to use more design in their life drawing. Students will shift their focus from purely analytical and accurate drawing of the human form to a more aesthetic and creative drawing process.

Hand drawn animation has evolved to include complex digital software in the production of animated projects. Knowledge of these tools has become a requirement for graduates seeking careers in animation. This course focuses on procedures used to create and animate digital 2D characters using industry-standard software. The techniques that students learn in this course will prepare them for more complex digital projects in the final term.

In this course, students will learn to utilize design theory and practices in the creation of more complex and effective background designs. Advanced perspective techniques, research skills and lighting design will be used to create original hand drawn environments that become the stage for the animated actors.

This course focuses on the creation of feature quality character animation. Students will work with original and classic characters in the design and animation of scenes that are professional in their execution and believability. Emphasis will be on the animation of multiple characters, expressive dialogue and continuity in animated sequences that focus on storytelling.

In this course, students will apply the skills and techniques developed in previous studio classes to create work that exhibits mastery in the drawing of the human form, draped and undraped. Students will have their work critiqued and gain experience critiquing the work of others. Students will create their final portfolio pieces in this course and develop a sketchbook of drawings from life experienced on and off campus.

In this course, students will learn of the roles and skill requirements of the concept artist and the visual development artist in commercial animation production. Utilizing digital drawing and compositing tools, students will create finished artwork that will become a major part of their portfolios. Students will develop both a personal style of their own and the ability to produce work in established styles. Colour theory and the use of colour as a story device will be explored.

This course enables students to attain superior skills in one area of production. Students choose what they want to excel at and with the help of the instructor, plan the steps that will ensure post-graduate success. The instructor will work with students to develop projects that provide outstanding content for their portfolios and/or demo reels. Included in this course are studio tours, networking opportunities with successful alumni and guest speakers.

This course will explore the latest innovative technologies and applications that pertain to animation, from interactive input devices to film and game production in entertainment and education. The course will introduce students to new opportunities and career path alternatives. Students will study how animation and its applications have evolved, learn about the latest uses of animation and attempt to hypothesise where their own skills may be used in the future.

This course is designed to introduce students to entrepreneurship: owning and operating a business that makes use of the technical and creative skills of the artist/animator. The course focuses on the tasks required to succeed as a freelance artist as well as what is needed to create one’s own business, including a business plan, marketing research, financing, accounting, taxation, marketing, and human resource management.