CS 294-07: The Art of Animation

Calendar | Submit Assignment | Discussion Group
CS 294-07 Home | CS 39J Home | Brian Barsky Home | CS Division | Berkeley Home
Syllabus | Lecture Detail | Lecture Notes | Calendar
Required | Further Reading | Purchase
Required | Purchase | Lab Info | Techniques
Assignments | Submit Assignment
View Gallery | Submit Assignment | Administer
Animation Related | Old Course Websites | Student Contact Info

Lecture Detail

small logo

Find Assignment Detail Here

Find Lecture Notes Here

Lecture Detail

Class Date Lecture Screenings/Examples
1 January 24 General introduction - definition of animation. Presentation of the class: syllabus and assignments. Skills for an animator. What is animation? Basic principles of animation. 1) Salute to Chuck Jones
2) Feed the Kitty (by Chuck Jones)
2 January 31 Introduction to the Animation Process 1) Cel Mates (Derek Mazur's "flim within a film" about Brad Caslor, Richard Condie, and Cordell Barker" )
3 February 7

Posing - Special Guest: Warren Trezevant
We introduce a language of discussing posing the human body to communicate a character's emotional state. This will include silhouette, line of action, staright vs. curves, and basic anatomy, plus others. Using the language of posing, examples of single frame fine art and cartoon art, videos of animation and live action film, as well as in-class examples will be discussed. The goal of the talk is to atune the student's eye to values of posing and to describe how to bring the greatest value into their work. Language of Poses Review
----------------------------------
Here are some of the terms and ideas used when discussing the success of a pose:
Clarity - Is the idea simple and clear?
Storytelling - Does you pose tell a story?
Line of Action - Can a simple line be drawn through the pose?
Silhouette - Does the pose read if it was outlined and filled in black?
Staging - Are the important parts of the pose clear to the viewer?
Tension - Where is the tension in the pose?
Twinning - Is the pose the same on both sides (like twins)?
Directing the eye - Is the viewers eye drawn to the most important part of the pose?
Power - Who has the control of the power in the scene? How is this displayed?
Entertainment - Do you enjoy watching the character expressing themselves?
Appeal - Is the character fun to look at? Do you empathize with them?
Progression - Do sequential poses flow through each other?

Examples of Poses
------------------------
Static-
Preston Blair
Norman Rockwell
Illustration from Toot & Puddle
Sketches from Glen Keane
Sketches from Milt Kahl
Example from Walt Stanchfield Gesture Drawing Class
Comic art from Loisel

Motion:
Luxo Jr (animated by John Lasseter)
The Immigrant w/ Charlie Chaplin)
Rabbit Seasoning (directed by Chuck Jones)
City Lights w/ Charlie Chaplin
Before Sunset w/ Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy
Glengarry Glenross w/ Kevin Spacey & Jack Lemmon
The Office w/ Martin Freeman as "Tim"
The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Tigger animated by Milt Kahl)
Tarzan (Tarzan animated by Glen Keane)
Toy Story
4 February 14 Lecture: Storyboarding
Special Guest: Mark Andrews
Storyboarding is a means of telling story, visually. There is no one way to do it, no formula. In this class, we will learn about what tools storyboard artists have at their grasp and how these tools work (and we're not talking about pencils). We will analyze clips from a hand picked selection of great films, discuss the importance of staging, composition, rhythm, continuity. You will never ask these questions again: "What is screen direction?", "Can I break the one-eighty?", "What is the coincidence of tone?", "What is a jump cut?". This lecture will also explore character posing, linear motif, screen division, space, value, visual progression and how they can be used to affect the emotional state of the audience.
Indian Jones raiders of the lost ark

Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the rings

Shawshank Redemption

Star wars episode 4

5 February 28 Special Guest: Warren Trezevant Student Poses Screened.
6 March 7 Special Guest: Mark Andrews Student Storyboards Screened.
7 March 14
Lecture: Story Telling
Special Guest: Alex Seiden
We will discuss two vital areas that the filmmaker must understand the principles of story structure and the elements of shot selection.
Snapple Ad
Snapple Ad Shots
Apple 1984 Ad
Apple 1984 Shots
8 March 28

Lecture: Walk Cycle
We will discuss the fundamentals of the walk-cycle in animation.
Student Presentations:
Xylar Assay-Davis: 2d and 3d animations
Sean HJ Kim: Korean Animation History
Yangfan Wang: Flash and Amateur Animation

Xylar's Presentation
Sean's Presentation
Yangfan's Presentation
9 April 4 Lecture: Student Presentations
Final Project Check-In:
We will review Final Project proposals.

Student Presentations:
Steven Jian: 3D Computer Animation.
Steven's Presentation
10 April 11 Lecture: Animation History/Video Paint Research
Special Guest: John ? (PHd Bath, UK)
Final Project Check-In:
Final Project layout and animation progress will be reviewed.
Student Presentations:
Chris Alarcon: Disney WW2 propaganda shorts

Tony Sun: Anime Eye
Mark Thomas: Hertzfeldt, award-winning stick-figure artist.
Christian's Presentation
Tony's Presentation
Mark's Presentation
11 April 18 Lecture: Student Presentations
Final Project Check-In:
Final Project animation progress will be reviewed.
Student Presentations:

John Fogelin: An introduction to The Brother's Quay
Neil Chopra:

Robert Armstrong: Claymation of Wallace and Gromit.
Aaron Leung:
Todd Kosloff:
John's Presentation
Neil's Presentation
Robert's Presentation
Aaron's Presentation
Todd's Presentation
12 April 25 Lecture: Student Workshop day
Special Guests: Two Guest Animators

Final Project Check-In:
Final Project editing progress should be underway.
For the 25th April class, all of you should show the current version of your final animation project. Since that will be just one week before the final due, you should begun shooting your animation by then.
That is, this should be more than just showing a storyboard. It is important to be considering timing and motion. It would be good to do an Animatic, where some stills are shown but they are held for the precise time that is planned in the final animation. Also, at this stage, you should already have your sound track well underway.
Include music, sound effects, and any dialogue. The idea will be to show these roughed out versions that day. I am arranging for some animators to view this and offer constructive criticism.
 
13 May 2 Lecture: Final Project Screening
Special Guests: Two Guest Animators (the jury!)

Final Project Check-In:
Final Projects will be screened today!

Student Presentations:

Stan Sprogis

R Corey
Stan's Presentation
R Corey's Presentation
About Us | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | ©2005 Anava Designs