CS 294-7, Fall 2007: The Art of Animation CS 294-7, Fall 2007: The Art of Animation

To see the students' completed assignments, visit the gallery.

Weekly exercises:

Exercise 01 - Flipbook

Flipbook Image

Assigned 9/10/2007

Due 9/18/2007

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 six seconds long. Those are the only constraints; feel free to experiment and be creative!

Exercise 02 - Bouncing Ball

Bouncing Ball Image

Assigned 09/17/2007

Due 10/28/2007

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. 35-40, 93-5)

Exercise 03 - Falling Lines

Falling Lines Image

Assigned 09/24/2007

Due 10/05/2007

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, 260-1)

Exercise 04 - Two Squares

Two Squares Image

Assigned 10/01/2007

Due 10/12/2007

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.

(Whitaker pp. 26-37, Williams pp. 256-284)

Exercise 05 - Character Design

Character

Assigned 10/08/2007

Due 10/19/2007

This assignment has two parts:

(a) Choose an existing cartoon character that you like, and figure out why you like it. Find a video clip of this character and be prepared to discuss it in class. Your discussion should have to do with visual design elements and what those elements express about the character; it's not enough just to say "this character is cool". (If you can't find a video clip of your character, then at least grab some still images.)

(b) Now, draw three characters of your own that are in some way visually appealing or interesting. Preferably draw them as if they were in the middle of some action or storyline. If possible, come up with a backstory, and be prepared to explain why you made your design choices and how they relate to the action or backstory.

(Blair pp. 9-89)