IS: Animation Outline

Summary:

As a lover of Disney, understanding animation is a must. When my family traveled to Walt Disney World some time back, we took a tour of the offices of animators. I clearly remember the one office which had a character drawing on the desk, that same character molded in clay, and a 3-D grid like image of that character on the computer screen. As a traditional artist, that scared the hell out of me! There was so much to do and understand that I couldn’t even consider going to college for animation, at that time. Now that time has passed and I can see the big picture more clearly, and I run to the challenge. I feel incomplete for not jumping on board to learn animation earlier.

Goals:

1)      I have an understanding that there are a few paths a person in the field could go; traditional- digital-subcategories- etc. I would like to touch base on what categories are out there and what I would need to know to get to a desired role. I am a traditional type of art person, but need to establish a digital connection.

2)      I need to learn the basics. This includes understanding the basic principles, the terminology, the techniques, learn the lingo, the programs, brainstorming, trial and error, failing, and how to begin a project. 

3)      I hope to learn/ understand character design.

4)      Understand how a sequence of drawings can become a moving picture

5)       And how to pull it all together.

Outline:

       I: Animation and Animation types

       II: Traditional Animation- Disney

       III: Computer Role in Animation

       IV: Computer Animation Techniques

-     2D vs 3D

-     Object modules

-     Motion modules

Timeline:

Week 1 &2: Learn Fundamental Vocabulary. Put research into a Word document to make a folder to reference back to in the future.  

Week 3&4: Discover types of animation. Put research into a Word document.

Week 5&6: Learn basics of traditional animation and character design. Put research into a Word document. Create an original character.

Week 7&8: Learn about computer animation. Put research into a Word document.

Week 9&10: Research and play around in one animation program

Week 11-13: Attempt a basic and simple animation with character created in week 5/6.

Week 14&15: Create a final folder with all of the information I gathered throughout the semester.