Computer Animation - FNAR 267/567 or Film 261
Professor:
Co-Instructor:
Website:
Joshua Mosley – jmosley@design.upenn.edu
Erinn Hagerty – erinn@alumni.upenn.edu
joshuamosley.com/help
Required Books (may be found at amazon.com)
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, Trish Meyer and Chris Meyer (Buy 5th Edition)
Recommended Books for Advanced Topics (may be found at amazon.com)
Learning Autodesk Maya 2010: Foundation, Autodesk Maya Press
Josh has many other advance books in his office that you may look before ordering.
Lynda.com membership if you would watch step-by-step tutorials
Grading and Absences:
3 unexcused absences will result in an F. After 7:30 PM you will be marked absent.
All projects must be complete for a Passing Grade
A-Excellent, B-Very Good, C-Average, D- Below Average, F-Fail
Advice:
Backup your files on DVD-R and your H drive and save sequential versions of your projects and scenes!
Files stored on lab computers may become corrupt or deleted at any time.
This is an advanced course; animation work is difficult and takes time.
Required:
5 DVD-R (for Backups and Class Compilation)
Optional:
1 Wacom Intous 3 Pen (available at Computer Connection for $79.95)
At this price it is worth considering if you want a tablet – and looking at ebay or new.
1 Firewire Drive – Don’t buy Lacie. These suggested drives have been reliable and good for video.
B&H #GTGDM4500X – G-Technology 500GB Mini (smaller to carry) G-Drive External Hard Drive, $133
B&H #GTGDM4750G – G-Technology 750GB Mini (smaller to carry) G-Drive External Hard Drive, $152
(the following are faster drives if you plan to use with a workstation with esata connection or need more space)
B&H #GTGD41000 – G-Technology 1TB G-Drive External Hard Drive $161 (out of stock – wait)
B&H #GTGD42000 – G-Technology 2TB G-Drive External Hard Drive $219 (out of stock – wait)
Syllabus:
Wed, Sept. 7
Principles of Motion – Animation
Screening: Len Lye, Oskar Fischenger Radio Dynamics (1935), Disney Selections
Demo: Key framing, Effects, and Advanced key framing, using the course folder.
Reading: Creating Motion Graphics chapter 1-3 and The Twelve Principles
Assignment 1A: Create a 12-second animation using solids and masks. Give special attention to movement and
color (Hue/Sat). We will assign an artist; you will research their work and determine the approach of the
artist into animation. Your translation should not be as direct as animating their work. Your goal is to emulate
their approach and thinking in making a new piece. Use the Laban efforts menu of motion (Float, Thrust,
Glide, Slash, Dab, Ring, Flick, Press) to consider the qualities (direct/indirect, strong/light,
sustained/sudden) of movement. On Monday Sept 12th, you will deliver a 1-min verbal summary of the
artist’s approach and qualities of innovation with a maximum of 3 still images saved to the course folder.
Mon, Sept. 12
Principles of Motion – Parenting, Masking, Nesting
Screening: Lotte Reiniger, The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926), John Whitney films from 1968
Verbal Presentation of Artists
Demo: Parenting, Masking, Nesting Compositions, Rendering Movies, Importing Layered files. Replacing
layers, loop sequences, and Track Mattes.
Tip: For layered Illustrator files, you must select the AICB option in the Files & Clipboard section of the Illustrator
Preferences dialog box for the paste path method.
Wed, Sept. 14
Principles of Motion – Editing Animation
Demo: Based on Needs of Class – detailed editing of Animation.
Mon, Sept. 19
Principles of Motion – Critique and Discussion
Demo: Time Remapping, demo’s based on questions.
Assignment 1B: Make final edits of project 1, render movie with the proper settings and transfer the final
movies to the course server before class on Mon, Sept 26th. The name movies like “SmithWill_1.mov”.
Wed, Sept. 21
Ottawa Trip – No Class
Assignment 2: (For all students – Ottawa travelers should complete these assignments in Ottawa)
Prepare three questions and interview an animation professional or professional artist working in the field of
animation. Submit an email correspondence, or .mp3 recording of the interview. We will evaluate the quality
of your interview approach, so please include your questions.
Mon, Sept. 26
Moving and Moved in 3D – 3D Space
Cartesian coordinate system and geometry of basic forms
Using Maya, Primary Forms, Orthographic & Perspective Views and Windows.
Methods of representing form – Polygons, NURBS, sub-divisional surfaces, Naming Objects - Using the
Hypergraph to create object relationships, Translating, Scaling and Rotating objects.
Assignment 3A: Build a simple model from basic primitives that will be capable of both primary and secondary
motion. Animate, Light and Render a 12-second action/reaction animation. We will discuss the possibilities of
these inanimately based characters in class. Josh will meet independently with grads to discuss this assignment.
Wed, Sept. 28
Moving and Moved in 3D – 3D Animation I
Demo: Database, Keyframing attributes, Setting Preferences, Editing animation, Approaches to Movement
Assignment 4A: Write a 2-paragraph proposal for the final project. In paragraph-one outline the story you will
tell or your approach in the project towards finding the content. The second paragraph will suggest the
method, software, and techniques that you might use. Your project may involve 3D or 2D, or a combination
of the two. I suggest experimentation, create something that takes us to a place that we have not been. Create
your own techniques and processes. The project must be complete by the end of the course. Email this to Erin
and Josh by Oct. 9th.
Mon, Oct. 3
Moving and Moved in 3D – 3D Rigging I and Camera and Shading I
Demo: Organizing Hypergraph, Drawing Joints, Naming Joints and Parenting Objects,
adding IK, Camera Attributes.
Wed, Oct. 5
(JOSH AWAY) Moving and Moved in 3D – 3D Animation II and Rendering
Demo: Shape Animation, IK Animation, Hypergraph & DopeSheet for animation cycles, Hardware Preview.
Mon, Oct. 10
No Class – Fall Break
Wed, Oct. 12
(josh is away)
Mon, Oct. 17
Moving and Moved in 3D – Lighting and Shading II
Demo: Adding Key Light and Shading
Assignment 3B: Light & shade, final motion adjustments. Render frames and upload QT for review.
Moving and Moved in 3D – Review
Review of 3D animations. Overview of Pitch process.
Assignment 4B: Prepare a presentation or storyboard. Your 15-30 drawings (11 x 8.5”) will each represent
one shot of your animation. Each drawing should have a notation of duration, audio (if any), and movement.
Wed, Oct. 19
Mon, Oct. 24
Pitch for final projects
You will pitch your proposal to the class for initial feedback.
Discussion of the storyboards will follow your pitch.
Assignment 4C: Create animatic in After Effects. Specific instructions will be emailed.
Wed, Oct. 26
Final Project – Lab Work Session Work in Class on Final Project
Production Begins - Review of Animatics
Mon, Oct. 31
Cancel class? Halloween/Final Project – Lab Work Session Work in Class on Final Project
Production Begins - Review of Animatics
Wed, Nov. 2
Final Project – Methods of Modeling
Polygonal Modeling Tutorial: Using Points, Faces, edges. Using a Lattice & Non-Linear Deformers
Using drawings, real models, or photos as guides
Demo: Modeling technique for a mammal. How to determine the density of the mesh.
Mon, Nov. 7
Final Project – Texture and Presence
Building rich surfaces through opacity, reflection, stencil/alpha, and bump maps.
Wed, Nov. 9
Final Project – Lab Work Session Work in Class on Final Project
Demo on 2D compositing.
Mon, Nov. 14
Final Project – Lighting, Rendering, Camera
Demo: Adv. Topics on Lighting, Rendering, Camera based on needs of projects.
Wed, Nov. 16
Final Project – Lab Work Session Work in Class on Final Project
Adv. Demo: Review and Questions and Non-linear Deformers, Driven Key, and Expressions.
Mon, Nov. 21
Final Project – Lab Work Session Work in Class on Final Project
We will look at your animatic with shots plugged in.
Wed, Nov. 23
Class Canceled for Thanksgiving Travel
Mon, Nov. 28
Final Project – Lab Work Session Work in Class on Final Project
Lectures will be based on your needs.
Wed, Nov. 30
Final Project – Sound Synchronization and Sound Recording
Animation should begin - Sound Recording Session will be scheduled.
Mon, Dec. 5
Final Project – Lab Work Session Work in Class on Final Project
We will look at your animatic with shots plugged in.
Wed, Dec. 7
Final Project – Lab Work Session Work in Class on Final Project
Lectures will be based on your needs.
Wed, Dec. 14
7-10 pm
Final Critique – Official Time Scheduled - Attendance Required
All work must be completed. The final assignment should be completely finished.
Lab time can be competitive during this part of the semester so plan ahead!
List of Artists for Assignment 1
Ann Hamilton
Anne Chu
Bruce Nauman
Dana Schutz
Diana Cooper
Gerhard Richter
Matthew Day Jackson
Isa Genzken
Jacob Lawrence
James Welling
Jenny Holzer
Joseph Kosuth
Leon Golub
Kota Ezawa
Marlene Dumas
Ryan McGinnis
Rachel Whiteread
Leslie Hewitt
Richard Prince
Roni Horn
Kiki Smith
Sarah Lucas
Sol LeWitt
Takashi Murakami
Tara Donavan
Tim Hawkinson
Uta Barth