Exercise 01 - Flipbook
Assigned 9/2/2009
Due 9/16/2009
This is a group project. Each of you will draw a simple image on a 5"x8" index card. Then you will animate some sort of transition to the image of another student; that student will animate to another student's image, and so forth; the last student will animate a transition to the image of the first student. Each transition should be approximately 6 seconds long. Those are the only constraints; feel free to experiment and be creative!
Exercise 02 - Bouncing Balls
Assigned 9/16/2009
Due 9/30/2009
In this classic animation exercise, you will depict a ball bouncing along a flat surface. The intent is to utilize spacing, timing, and squash and stretch to create a believable sense of motion and weight.
(Williams pp. 36-9, 92-5)
(Whitaker et al, 34-39)
Exercise 03 - Falling Lines
Assigned 9/23/2009
Due 10/7/2009
You should make three separate animations depicting 'falling lines'. The first line should fall like a feather, the second like a string, and the third like a tree trunk. Draw only a simple line, not the actual object. The idea is to portray motion, not do complex drawing. Use paths to figure the animation. Show what happens when each line hits the ground. Use momentum to express weight, speed and texture.
(Williams: pp. 35-40, 84-99, 259-261)
Exercise 04 - Moving Squares
Assigned 9/30/2009
Due 10/14/2009
Animate two squares crossing the screen. One square should be heavy; the other should be light. Preferably show only one square on screen at a time. The squares should exhibit personality and feel like characters; show anticipation, action, reaction, what happens when they stop, and why they stop. Exaggerate the action and make it amusing. Before animating, draw some thumbnail sketches for your extremes.
(Williams: pp. 256-284)
(Whitaker et al: pp. 26-31, 66-79)
Exercise 05 - Character Design
Assigned 10/7/2009
Due 10/21/2009
Design a cartoon character. Draw the character from a few different angles, in a characteristic pose. If possible, come up with a backstory for your character. Pay close attention to staging and exaggeration.
(Blair, ch. 1)
Exercise 06 - Storyboard
Assigned 10/14/2009
Due 10/28/2009 BEFORE CLASS
Come up with a brief story and draw up a storyboard for it. Try to have enough content to fill at least 3 panels. Depict each story beat, and remember to include exposition, conflict, and resolution.
(Beiman, Prepare To Board!)
Exercise 07 - Walk Cycle
Assigned 10/21/2009
Due 11/4/2009
Animate a walk cycle. Your character should walk sideways across the screen, taking at least four strides. Each stride should be a minimum of 8 frames. Pay attention to the bobbing of the head & body, and the arcing of the feet. If you wish, you may also make a treadmill version.
(Williams pp. 102-215)