Methods of Motion
H79.2448.1 | Wednesday 9:30pm to 12:00pm | Marianne Petit
This class explores methods of storytelling through animation. We examine a range of techniques including pixillation, stop motion, collage, abstract and character animation. We apply a variety of tools such as iStopMotion, After Effects, and Flash.
There are three animation assignments. There is no final project, however in the final week of class students will return to one of the previous assignments and incorporate previous feedback bringing the work to completion.
Students are encouraged to experiment. Your work need not be single channel linear animations. Addtionally, if you wish to incorporate the work you are doing in this course with work in other courses, that is possible so long as it is discussed in advance and the requirements for this course are met.
We will watch, analyze, and discuss a great deal of animation during the course of the semester. Additionally, works available online will be added to this syllabus for your own out-of-class review.
Drawing skills are not necessary for this class, however, you will keep a sketchbook that you will draw in for 10 minutes per day. Make sure to date your entries. Don't worry about "what" you are drawing or the quality of your drawings. This sketchbook should be carried with you and is designed to just get you into the practice of drawing. You will present it in class.
Grading is based on successful completion of all assignments, maintenance of sketchbook, class participation and attendance. Each assignment's storyboard and script should be posted online. You will present an uncompressed version in class.
My office hours are Mondays 1:00-2:00 and Wednesdays 1:30-3:00. You can sign up here: https://itp.nyu.edu/inwiki/Signup/Marianne If these times don't work we can also set up another time through email. I can be reached at marianne DOT petit AT nyu DOT edu
Class 01: Wednesday, January 26th
Introduction to course
A Brief History of Sequential Art and Animation - 15,000 BC to 2006 AD
View: Early Animation at the Library of Congress
Class Exercise: Persistence of Vision, Flipbooks and optical toys: Let's Make a Thaumatrope!
Works of Interest: Richard Balzer Collection | Flipbooks and Optical Art
Discussion / Demonstration: Introduction to Puppet Stop Motion
Assignment: Read Lotte Reininger text; develop a storyboard for your stop motion animation; make design sketches for backgrounds and characters
Class 02: Wednesday, February 2nd
Critique / Review: Stop Motion storyboards and design sketches
Discussion / Demonstration: Character Design | Twelve Principles of Physical Animation
Discussion: Creating sets and armatures
Works of Interest: Stop Motion, Pixilation, and Claymation
Assignment: Read: Build characters and sets. Be prepared to present in class. If you cannot transport them to class, please provide full photographic or video documentation.
Class 03: Wednesday, February 9th
Critique / Review: Characters and sets
Discussion / Demonstration: Twelve Principles of Physical Animation | Intro to iStopMotion
Discussion: More Puppet Stop Motion: the camera
Works of Interest: Stop Motion, Pixilation, and Claymation
Assignment: Shoot your stop motion animation. Bring clips to review in class.
Class 04: Wednesday, February 16th
Critique / Review: rough footage
Discussion: Sound and music - Guest lecture Annette Kudrak
Works of Interest: Stop Motion, Pixilation, and Claymation
Assignment: Edit stop motion works - be prepared to show in class
Class 05: Wednesday, February 23rd
Critique / Review: Final stop motion animations
Discussion: Character animation in Flash
More works of Interest: Character animation and Flash works
Assignment: Develop a storyboard and script. Be prepared to present in class.
Class 06: Wednesday, March 2nd
Critique / Review: Storyboards and scripts
Demonstration: Introduction to Flash: the Flash environment, drawing tools, tweening (classic and shape tween), motion guides, onion skin
More works of Interest: Character animation and Flash works
Assignment: Begin work on character animation in flash. Be prepared to show work in progress in next class.
Class 07: Wednesday, March 9th
Critique / Review: Flash works in progres
Discussion: Animatics
Demonstration: More Flash: Working with masks, bones, 3D, the Motion Editor - Sample Files
More works of Interest: Character animation and Flash works
Assignment: Continue working on animation. Be prepared to present in class.
Spring Break
Class 08: Wednesday, March 23rd
Critique / Review: Final Flash animations
Discussion/Demonstration: Intro to AfterFX
Works of Interest: Collage, abstract, and other AfterFX-based works
Assignment: Develop storyboard for AfterFX animation project. Watch: Sita Sings the Blues.
Class 09: Wednesday, March 30th
Discussion/Demonstration: Animating through Flash Actionscript - guest presenter Matthew Belanger and more AfterFX
Assignment: Begin developing assets for AfterFX animation. Additionally, bring your sketchbook into class.
Class 10: Wednesday, April 6th
Critique / Review: Review sketchbooks, Review storyboard and assets.
Demonstration: More AfterFx ( 3D / Lighting / Camera / Null Objects / Expressions / Synching / rotoscoping, motiontracking, effects)
Assignment: Begin working on animation. Assemble assets. Be prepared to present in class.
Class 11: Wednesday, April 13th
Demonstration: More AfterFx ( 3D / Lighting / Camera / Null Objects / Expressions / Synching / rotoscoping, motiontracking, effects)
More works of Interest: Collage, abstract, and other AfterFX-based works
Assignment: Continue working on animation. Be prepared to present in class.
Class 12: Wednesday, April 20th
Critique / Review: Final AfterFx animations
Assignment: Select one of the previous three animation assignments. Incorporate previous feedback bringing the work to completion.
Class 13: Wednesday, April 27th
Critique / Review: Discuss final animations and works in progress
Assignment: continue working
Class 14: Wednesday, May 4th
Review animations