Revised 08/2020

ART 203 - Animation I (3 CR.)

Course Description

Introduces the student to the basic techniques of animation, combining traditional and computer-generated skills. Teaches theoretical elements of the aesthetics of sequential imagery. Provides practical experience in two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional animation. Exposes the student to a variety of animation techniques. Lecture 2 hours. Studio instruction 2 hours. Total hours per week.

General Course Purpose

Teaches the concepts and techniques of basic, two-dimensional animation, both traditional and computer generated. Through hands-on experience the student will develop awareness and appreciation of well-designed animated productions, and give the student historical and current perspectives.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisites: ART 121 and ART 140.

Course Objectives

• Build basic 3-D models using the Modeler program, part of LightWave
• Create surfaces (colors, surface characteristics, textures, envelopes) and apply them to 3-D objects.
• Effectively light a scene using 3-point lighting and various types of digital lights.
• Animate a scene by creating keyframes at points along a timeline, using a variety of animation techniques.
• Create bones inside a 3-D object and use them to bend and move the object.
• Combine sound, voice and music with an animation into a QuickTime movie.
• Name, save, and organize the component files for an animation.
• Create a demo reel of the student's semester's work using video-editing software.

Major Topics to Be Included

• Basic concepts of computer-generated animation which are common to most animation software: 3-D models and model-building, keyframing, x-, y-, and z-coordinates, lighting, surfacing, bones, rendering.
• Develop the ability to use the basic animation and model-building tools in the current version of LightWave 3-D animation software to create soft animations.