WS3 Syllabus - Spring 2012

*** all entries subject to change per students progress and needs.

Helpful Materials:

• Art supplies for drawing: sketchbook, pencils, eraser, etc.
• The Illusion of Life by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas
• Animator’s Survival Kit by Richard Williams
• Timing in Animation By Harold Whitaker
• Thinking Animation By Moi

Week	Topics	Assignment
1	Class Introduction Questionnaire Character Analysis Character Archetypes Show some example pacing shots	Start thinking about what storyline you are going to give your first assignment.Expectations: Choose a rig, do char analysis, create some video reference, storyboard your ideas for the test. Q & A: get to know each other Crits: review video references and key poses.
2	Bio/Background Character Analysis Character Archetypes Blocking Break downs Anticipations Stepped/Linear/Breakdowns and Spline.	ou should have made some reference for your first exercise and have your key poses blocked into your maya file by class. Expectations: Blocked animation, working out changes and notes to your scene per class review. Q & A: Fielding questions on work flow and more on creating a bio for your characters to create depth in your motion. Crits: review blocking of the action and give notes on staging, mechanics of movement and acting choices.
3	Don Graham Forces VS. Form How do you get inside the head of your character?  What moves first?	“Inbetween” your animation and move into linear and splined. Expectations:By this class you should be moving into linear and splined animation.  The scenes may not look that great because this is the messiest part of the process, but I need to see progress from blocking at this time. Q & A: Intro to force vs. form, more on character bio and analyses and maybe Power Centers. Crits: review your spacing and breakdowns.
4	Moving Holds Timing and Contrasts Laban Lecture Power Center lecture if there is time?	Splined animation and polish should be addressed by the 4th week.Expectations: Overlap, Follow Through, secondary actions and nuance should be addressed by this class on the body.  Layering in the acting bits. Q & A: Talk on Laban and Power Centers to create a lead for your actions Crits: review the first exercise and prep for the next.
5	Overlap Overshoot and secondary Reversals S & S = Matter Lecture Empathy	Moving onto the sneak exercise. Choose a rig, create some video reference, storyboard your ideas and choose some basic key poses for the test. Q & A: Cover overlap, overshoot and secondary actions to keep your character alive. More on reversals and how to use S & S to show force. Empathy lecture. Crits: review video references and key poses.
6	More on Anticipation Staging Follow-Through Using FK to Progressively Break Joints	The sneak should be splined by now and more clean-up on your breakdowns are needed here. Expectations: The spine should be moving fluidly now and all overlap should be clear. Q & A: Very important talk, do not miss this one. Antics, Staging, Follow-Through and Progressively Breaking Joints… these are the foundation for solid mechanics of motion. Crits: review your sneak assignments.
7	Sculpting Timing with Curves Mapping Arcs Primary and Secondary Action Adding the seasoning to the stew Mechanics Lecture The Thinking Character Lecture	Last chance to work on your sneak. You should be polishing and adjusting timing to show acting choices. Q & A: Talk about timing and how to create intent and force behind the action by sculpting different timing for the movement. Crits: Final notes on assignment #2 and talk about assignment #3
8	Animating from the inside out Weight Lift Screener Examples	Start thinking about the storyline behind the heavy lift exercise.Expectations: Choose a rig, create some video reference, storyboard your ideas and choose some basic key poses for the test. Q & A: Field questions about the past 7 weeks. I want to have this Q & A be a little more open to what ails you all. Crits: Review new video references for third assignment.
9	Counter Actions Exaggeration Realism and Entertainment 10 Things to Think About from my book	Your lift should be splined now and I should really feel shifts in weight. Q & A: More on how the body shows weight shifts, and my 10 things to think about lecture. Crits: review your blocking and give notes on staging and acting choices.
10	Bio Mechanics lecture Describing Weight More Notes on Movement Acting: Do not get ahead of yourself	Refine you critiqued scene with suggested notes. Expectations: By this class you should be moving into linear and splined animation. Overlap, Follow Through, secondary actions and nuance should be addressed by this class.  I want to see an emotional arc while trying to lift the heavy object. Q & A: Using words to help describe the motion and acting through laban, power centers, acting. Advanced lecture on Bio mechanics. Crits: review your spacing and breakdowns.
11	Tracking your arcs Fielding more Q's from class Workflow lecture	Last week to finish the weight lift exercise. Expectations: You should be polishing and adding the last bit of subtlety through fingers, digits, facial etc. Q & A: More on Arcs, Workflow, etc. Crits: review your weight exercises.
12	Cameras Clarity Workflow	Start thinking about the storyline behind the final assignment.Expectations: Choose a rig, create some video reference, storyboard your ideas and choose some basic key poses for the test. Q & A: Camera work will be important to this exercise, so I will cover that and finding clarity in your poses and finally go over some workflow. Crits: review your splined animation.
13	Adding Texture More on showing weight Tension and Effort Purpose and Emotion Review progress Reels	Cleanup.  You should be working out revisions for the final assignment per notes discussed in class. Expectations:This assignment should be splined on both body and facial and ready for review. Q & A: I will talk on texture, weight, tension and effort to push you into heightening the level of entertainment in your pieces. Crits: 2nd to last class! We will review your final piece and give notes
14	Workflow Open Q & A for you to ask anything	Review of the past 14 weeks.  Apply any CBB's to the scenes. Q & A: Open to questions on work flow, process or any general inquiries as to the process or your scenes thus far.  Leaving the topics open for this Q & A. Crits: Final notes on assignment #1, #2, #3 and #4.  Demo reel reviews if you guys want them.  Yay!  You finished!