Animated Cartoon Factory - Seneca Animation Arts Program

Course Outlines

1st Year
Semester I

ANIM 101 - Introduction to Animation I
Basic Principles
This subject will introduce the student to the basic principles of animation and movement through a series of practical assignments. The principles will include timing, anticipation, action, reaction, overlapping action, slo-in and slo-out, timing charts and exposure sheets.

LAYO 111 - Layout I
Perspective
This subject will introduce the student to the basic principles of perspective. Focus will be on the skills involved in the creation of solid, 3 dimensional forms. This will begin with a thorough overview of perspective and structural drawing. Throughout the semester the student will draw a wide variety of objects and forms to aid in the understanding of representing 3 dimensional forms on a two dimensional sheet of paper.

STOR 121 - Storyboarding I
Film Structure
This subject will focus on the theory and terminology involved in the production of storyboards for animation. This will involve a working knowledge of visual language of film structure, scenes, shots, camera angles, and continuity, as well as visualizing and drawing creative staging and posing of characters. The use of film reference will be extensive.

CHAR 131 - Character Design I
Basic Principles
This course will introduce the student to the basic principles involved in character design and construction. The use of spheres, cylinders, basic perspective, anatomy, volume and proportions are covered.

LIFE 141 - Life Drawing I
Structural Anatomy
This course will provide the student with a sound knowledge of observational drawing skills. Two areas of study will be undertaken simultaneously through studio exercises and homework. These areas are structural drawing and expressive drawing.

HIST 151 - History I
Animation
Through a series of lectures and films, we will trace the origins of today’s animated films. From the days of the "Magic Lantern" to the high tech world of computer animation, we will study the progression of the major studios as well as the works of important film animators. While studying the history of these films, you will also be exposed to the many different types and styles of animation that have been produced in the last century.

Semester II

ANIM 201 - Animation II
Character Locomotion
This course will build on the principles taught in Animation 1 and introduce the ideas of weight and gravity, successive breaking of joints and more advanced uses of overlapping action involving character movement.

LAYO 211 - Layout II
Composition
Layout 2 focuses on the skills involved in the creation of layouts from a given story passage. This will begin with a thorough review of perspective and structural drawing. Later in the semester the student will be supplied with character and location designs, prop sheets, and storyboards from which they are to create a series of layout packages.

STOR 221 - Storyboarding II
Script Writing
Storyboarding 2 continues to focus on the skills involved in the drawing of storyboards for animation. This will involve a working knowledge of visual language of film structure, scenes, shots, camera angles, and continuity, as well as visualizing and drawing creative staging and posing of characters.

CHAR 231 - Character Design II
Character Construction
This course will focus on head construction, hands, feet and character types. The student will develop a series of designs from given story scenarios. They will produce production model sheets for use in their projects in Animation 2.

LIFE 241 - Life Drawing II
Proportions & Volumes
The second semester will be spent studying the human skeleton. A portion of each class will be devoted to a short anatomical lecture on various areas of the skeleton. Joint articulation will be stressed. The muscles will also be studied throughout the duration of the second semester. A sound knowledge of how muscle moves bone, origin and insertion points, and muscle groupings will be emphasized.

HIST 251 - History II
Film
The second semester of this course will continue to introduce the student to the broad range of animation styles used around the world. Analysis of different directorial styles will also be studied.

2nd Year
Semester III

ANIM 301 - Animation III
Character Animation
This second year, first semester will deal with character animation. The assignments will be the practical application of the principles taught in the Acting course. Expressing an emotion and or an attitude towards an object, situation or another character.

ACTD 351 - Acting & Drama
Character Development
This course will deal with acting principles beginning with movement and attitude in body posture. How the body can express an emotion through posing. Through a series of exercises throughout the semester, the students will deal with other principles such as weight, effort, key and secondary movements.

LAYO 311 - Layout III
Location Design
This second year, first semester will deal with environmental attitude. A strong emphasis will be placed on camera placement and how it affects the viewer’s perception of the environment from an emotional point of view. Tonal rendering will be introduced.

STOR 321 - Storyboarding III
Storytelling
This second year, first semester will deal with the more practical application of storyboarding. Each student will produce a series of short storyboards that deal with a wide variety of different problems and situations. Students will also learn about timing a board and shooting leica reels.

CHAR 331 - Character Design III
Character Development
This second year, first semester will deal more with character types and style. An exploration of design styles through history will provide a foundation to their research. There will also be a basic introduction to clay sculpting.

LIFE 341 - Life Drawing III
Expressive Gestures
This second year, first semester will deal with expressive life drawing. The in class posing of the model will mirror many of the principles being taught in both the Animation 2 and Acting 2 courses. An emphasis will still be placed on structure, proportion and volumes.

Semester IV

ANIM 401 - Animation IV
Acting & Emotion
Character animation will be the focus of this semester. The student will develop a storyboard within their Storyboarding course, character designs, location designs and layouts in both their Character Design and Layout courses which will then be used with the animation created to produce a situation involving 2 characters with an emphasis on emotion and attitude.

ACTD 351 - Acting & Drama
Character Acting
In this semester, the students will move on to character acting using both body language and dialogue. Using method acting as a basis, students will explore a wide variety of character types through a series of in-class assignments. The knowledge gained in this course will be applied to their animation assignments.

LAYO 411 - Layout IV
Environmental Design
Each student will research and develop a series of location designs based on their story idea for their 2nd semester project. Using the storyboards produced in their storyboarding course they will then translate these into working layouts with animation posing

STOR 421 - Storyboarding IV
Sequential Composition
In this semester, the student will apply their knowledge of storyboarding theory by applying it to their work on their storyboards in relation to their animation assignments. This course will consist of in class workshops, group and individual critiques. Students will be required to create a working story reel from the storyboard panels created in this course

CHAR 431 - Character Design IV
Sculpture
3 dimensional clay sculpting will be the focal point of this semester. The student will produce a series of maquette models of their own character designs for use as reference in their animation course.

LIFE 441 - Life Drawing IV
Acting
This semester will continue along with the same premise as the first semester, the expression of emotion in the articulation and posing of the model. Each of the classes will have a direct bearing on the other classes in Animation 4, Character Design 4.

3rd Year

Semester V

ANIM 501 - Computer Animation V
This first semester of the third year course will introduce the student to the principles involved in animating a computer-generated character. Each student will be provided with a series of "Character models" that they will learn to animate. In the latter half of this course, each student will use their own characters they have created in Character Design 5 to complete a series of short acting assignments.

LAYO 511 - Layout V
Set Construction / Lighting / Rendering
This first semester of the third year course will introduce the student to the principles involved in creating a computer-generated environment. Each student will create an environment for his or her character to "live within". This location will be used in their final assignment of this semester.

STOR 521 - Storyboarding V
Project Development
In this first semester of the third year course each student will begin work on his or her final project. This class will focus on the production of their working storyboard and timing out the leica reel to their sound tracks.

CHAR 531 - Character Design V
3D Modeling
This first semester of the third year course will introduce the student to the principles involved in CGI modeling. The student will learn how to build a skeleton, apply modeling techniques, NURBS, joining surfaces; construction history and modeling for animation are all explored. The student will create a series of models culminating in the creation of their character(s) for their final production.

LIFE 541 - Life Drawing V
Portfolio Development
This first semester of the third year course will continue to build on the firm foundation established through the previous 4. A continued focus on structure, anatomy and proportion with a special emphasis on acting and emotions. The in class posing will continue to support the information required in the other courses of this year.

Semester VI

ANIM 601 - Animation VI
Computer Animation
This final semester will focus on the production of the student’s final project. Using the principles learned through the first 5 semesters, they will produce a 60 second animated project for their portfolio and year-end screening. This course will also include a series of workshops dealing with lighting, texturing and rendering.



		Animation Arts Program

		The Digital Media Centre Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology School of Communication Arts


		Course Outlines 1st Year Semester I ANIM 101 - Introduction to Animation I Basic Principles This subject will introduce the student to the basic principles of animation and movement through a series of practical assignments. The principles will include timing, anticipation, action, reaction, overlapping action, slo-in and slo-out, timing charts and exposure sheets. LAYO 111 - Layout I Perspective This subject will introduce the student to the basic principles of perspective. Focus will be on the skills involved in the creation of solid, 3 dimensional forms. This will begin with a thorough overview of perspective and structural drawing. Throughout the semester the student will draw a wide variety of objects and forms to aid in the understanding of representing 3 dimensional forms on a two dimensional sheet of paper. STOR 121 - Storyboarding I Film Structure This subject will focus on the theory and terminology involved in the production of storyboards for animation. This will involve a working knowledge of visual language of film structure, scenes, shots, camera angles, and continuity, as well as visualizing and drawing creative staging and posing of characters. The use of film reference will be extensive. CHAR 131 - Character Design I Basic Principles This course will introduce the student to the basic principles involved in character design and construction. The use of spheres, cylinders, basic perspective, anatomy, volume and proportions are covered. LIFE 141 - Life Drawing I Structural Anatomy This course will provide the student with a sound knowledge of observational drawing skills. Two areas of study will be undertaken simultaneously through studio exercises and homework. These areas are structural drawing and expressive drawing. HIST 151 - History I Animation Through a series of lectures and films, we will trace the origins of today’s animated films. From the days of the "Magic Lantern" to the high tech world of computer animation, we will study the progression of the major studios as well as the works of important film animators. While studying the history of these films, you will also be exposed to the many different types and styles of animation that have been produced in the last century. Semester II ANIM 201 - Animation II Character Locomotion This course will build on the principles taught in Animation 1 and introduce the ideas of weight and gravity, successive breaking of joints and more advanced uses of overlapping action involving character movement. LAYO 211 - Layout II Composition Layout 2 focuses on the skills involved in the creation of layouts from a given story passage. This will begin with a thorough review of perspective and structural drawing. Later in the semester the student will be supplied with character and location designs, prop sheets, and storyboards from which they are to create a series of layout packages. STOR 221 - Storyboarding II Script Writing Storyboarding 2 continues to focus on the skills involved in the drawing of storyboards for animation. This will involve a working knowledge of visual language of film structure, scenes, shots, camera angles, and continuity, as well as visualizing and drawing creative staging and posing of characters. CHAR 231 - Character Design II Character Construction This course will focus on head construction, hands, feet and character types. The student will develop a series of designs from given story scenarios. They will produce production model sheets for use in their projects in Animation 2. LIFE 241 - Life Drawing II Proportions & Volumes The second semester will be spent studying the human skeleton. A portion of each class will be devoted to a short anatomical lecture on various areas of the skeleton. Joint articulation will be stressed. The muscles will also be studied throughout the duration of the second semester. A sound knowledge of how muscle moves bone, origin and insertion points, and muscle groupings will be emphasized. HIST 251 - History II Film The second semester of this course will continue to introduce the student to the broad range of animation styles used around the world. Analysis of different directorial styles will also be studied. 2nd Year Semester III ANIM 301 - Animation III Character Animation This second year, first semester will deal with character animation. The assignments will be the practical application of the principles taught in the Acting course. Expressing an emotion and or an attitude towards an object, situation or another character. ACTD 351 - Acting & Drama Character Development This course will deal with acting principles beginning with movement and attitude in body posture. How the body can express an emotion through posing. Through a series of exercises throughout the semester, the students will deal with other principles such as weight, effort, key and secondary movements. LAYO 311 - Layout III Location Design This second year, first semester will deal with environmental attitude. A strong emphasis will be placed on camera placement and how it affects the viewer’s perception of the environment from an emotional point of view. Tonal rendering will be introduced. STOR 321 - Storyboarding III Storytelling This second year, first semester will deal with the more practical application of storyboarding. Each student will produce a series of short storyboards that deal with a wide variety of different problems and situations. Students will also learn about timing a board and shooting leica reels. CHAR 331 - Character Design III Character Development This second year, first semester will deal more with character types and style. An exploration of design styles through history will provide a foundation to their research. There will also be a basic introduction to clay sculpting. LIFE 341 - Life Drawing III Expressive Gestures This second year, first semester will deal with expressive life drawing. The in class posing of the model will mirror many of the principles being taught in both the Animation 2 and Acting 2 courses. An emphasis will still be placed on structure, proportion and volumes. Semester IV ANIM 401 - Animation IV Acting & Emotion Character animation will be the focus of this semester. The student will develop a storyboard within their Storyboarding course, character designs, location designs and layouts in both their Character Design and Layout courses which will then be used with the animation created to produce a situation involving 2 characters with an emphasis on emotion and attitude. ACTD 351 - Acting & Drama Character Acting In this semester, the students will move on to character acting using both body language and dialogue. Using method acting as a basis, students will explore a wide variety of character types through a series of in-class assignments. The knowledge gained in this course will be applied to their animation assignments. LAYO 411 - Layout IV Environmental Design Each student will research and develop a series of location designs based on their story idea for their 2nd semester project. Using the storyboards produced in their storyboarding course they will then translate these into working layouts with animation posing STOR 421 - Storyboarding IV Sequential Composition In this semester, the student will apply their knowledge of storyboarding theory by applying it to their work on their storyboards in relation to their animation assignments. This course will consist of in class workshops, group and individual critiques. Students will be required to create a working story reel from the storyboard panels created in this course CHAR 431 - Character Design IV Sculpture 3 dimensional clay sculpting will be the focal point of this semester. The student will produce a series of maquette models of their own character designs for use as reference in their animation course. LIFE 441 - Life Drawing IV Acting This semester will continue along with the same premise as the first semester, the expression of emotion in the articulation and posing of the model. Each of the classes will have a direct bearing on the other classes in Animation 4, Character Design 4. 3rd Year Semester V ANIM 501 - Computer Animation V This first semester of the third year course will introduce the student to the principles involved in animating a computer-generated character. Each student will be provided with a series of "Character models" that they will learn to animate. In the latter half of this course, each student will use their own characters they have created in Character Design 5 to complete a series of short acting assignments. LAYO 511 - Layout V Set Construction / Lighting / Rendering This first semester of the third year course will introduce the student to the principles involved in creating a computer-generated environment. Each student will create an environment for his or her character to "live within". This location will be used in their final assignment of this semester. STOR 521 - Storyboarding V Project Development In this first semester of the third year course each student will begin work on his or her final project. This class will focus on the production of their working storyboard and timing out the leica reel to their sound tracks. CHAR 531 - Character Design V 3D Modeling This first semester of the third year course will introduce the student to the principles involved in CGI modeling. The student will learn how to build a skeleton, apply modeling techniques, NURBS, joining surfaces; construction history and modeling for animation are all explored. The student will create a series of models culminating in the creation of their character(s) for their final production. LIFE 541 - Life Drawing V Portfolio Development This first semester of the third year course will continue to build on the firm foundation established through the previous 4. A continued focus on structure, anatomy and proportion with a special emphasis on acting and emotions. The in class posing will continue to support the information required in the other courses of this year. Semester VI ANIM 601 - Animation VI Computer Animation This final semester will focus on the production of the student’s final project. Using the principles learned through the first 5 semesters, they will produce a 60 second animated project for their portfolio and year-end screening. This course will also include a series of workshops dealing with lighting, texturing and rendering.
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