Course Materials
Animation
Animation Projects and Assignments
Creativity Exercises
These are a collection of various exercises to help encourage creative thinking.
Paper Assignment: History of Animation
Write a minimum 5 page essay (double spaced, no larger than 12 point type) about the history of animation, from the birth of animation to the present.
The Design Process: Thumbnails
Using pencil and paper, create at least three very different thumbnail sketches for each of the given concepts.
Vector Art: Creating Symbols
From the thumbnails that were created earlier, choose the best one of each concept. Using Adobe Illustrator, develop each one into a finished symbol that could be developed into an icon or logo. For this project, use only black and white. When finished, arrange all ten symbols on one page, print out one copy and hand it in.
The Principles of Design
Use the elements contained in the supplied Adobe Illustrator file to create an arrangement for each of the 5 principles of design (balance, movement, proportion, emphasis and unity). Print and hand in one copy of each.
Utilizing Color Harmonies
Choose one of the compositions that were created for the previous exercise. Apply each of the five color harmonies discussed in class (monochromatic, analogous, complementary, split complements and triad), to a copy of the ad. Hand in one copy of each color harmony.
Expressive Type
Using Adobe Illustrator, design the given words to express the given sound or emotion. Color may used, if desired. Try to conjure up the essence of the word for the viewer.
Drawing with Flash
Complete the provided tutorial utilizing the Flash drawing tools to create a scene.
Animated Greeting Card
Using Flash, create an animated greeting for the holiday or event of your choosing. Storyboards are required before beginning animation production.
2D Animated Short
Using Adobe Flash, you will create a short (1-3 minutes) animation, based on either an original story that you write or one you adapt from an existing short story.
Introduction to 3D Modeling
Use the image provided as a template to create a 3D model, complete with shading and textures.
3D Animated Logo
Create an animated 3D logo for your own production studio (you are to invent the name of your business), which will appear before all of your upcoming projects. Storyboards are required before beginning production on final logo.
3D Animated Short
Create a short (1-3 minutes) 3D animation, based on either an original story that you write or one you adapt from an existing short story.
Stop Motion Production
Using stop motion techniques, produce a short (1-3 minute) animation based on an original concept.
Rotoscoping
Shoot original footage or use found (non-copyrighted) footage to produce a 1-3 minute animation using rotoscoping techniques in Flash.
Animated Fairy Tale
Choose one of the Grimm's fairy tales and animate it, using any animation techniques of your choosing.
Music Video
Using non-copyrighted music (must have prior approval from instructor), create an animated music video with the
animation techniques of your choosing.
Portfolio/Demo Reel
Create an portfolio including a resumé and a demo reel with least 8 examples of work.
Blogging
Create and maintain a blog for the entire year, which is shared with the class. Required weekly posts include a journal entry and two or more course-related posts, along with periodic special post assignments. Blogs will be graded each week, based on completion of required post assignments.