ATEC 3238 Principles of Animation Term: Fall Semester, 2011 Meeting Time: Monday 9:30 to 12:15 Location: ATEC

1.202

Instructor: Bruce Barnes: Phone: (972) 883-2860 Office: ATEC 1.906 Email: bruce.barnes@utdallas.edu Office Hours: Monday 12:30 to 2:00

Course Description: Lectures, chalk talk, and film viewings centering on animation principles. Weekly animation projects are due at the start of class time for class critiques. Learning Outcomes: To learn and utilize essential principles of animation. The principles we will focus on are used in all forms of animation (hand-drawn, digital, 3D, stop-motion, cut-outs). We will have weekly projects on principles of motion and timing. A final project will be due at the end of the semester, which incorporates the animation and timing principles that are appropriate to your individual piece. Course Requirements: Attend all classes and specified lectures on time. Complete all assignments on time and in a professional manner. Participation in class critiques and discussions. Course Methodology: Class sessions will consist of lectures, chalk talk, DVD/video/web viewings and discussions focusing on the class assignments. The class format will take on a variety of styles, as the subject covered dictates. Students are encouraged to complete all work at the ATEC computer labs in order to benefit from collaborative learning with your peers. Students choosing off-site hard and soft ware must have their current work files on the system and available for review at the beginning of each and every class. Problems with of-site systems and /or incompatibility will not be an acceptable excuse and the work will be considered as missing assignments.

All work must be saved into the class folder.

To access the class folder: Check on the lower left purple Windows icon and open the search prompt. Type: run Type: \\atec01 (zero,one) Go to the faculty folder: Bruce Barnes Open Prepro Wed Inside is a series of folders numbered One to Fourteen. There is also an additional folder titled Final Inside each of these folders create a personal folder to save each weeks work into. Self title each of the folders, using only your name as it appears on the class roster.

This is the ONLY place I will look for your projects. If it isnt here when
I am evaluating the projects I will consider it a missing project=zero=F

No late work will be accepted.

Assigned Text

Animation Production Techniques from Barrons Publishing Character Animation Crash Course by Eric Goldberg

They are available at the Off-Campus Bookstore Materials: Animation paper and peg bars are provided. You will also be provided with a light box for your use during the semester. Light boxes will be signed out on the first day and class. You are responsible for the care of the light box. It is UTDallas property and must be return on completion of your final project at the end of the semester. All light boxes must be returned to the grad-lab. Take care that the labs monitor on duty signs you off when you return the light box. At the end of the semester a list of any remaining light boxes not returned will be turned over to school officials. Late returnees will have their university privileges revolved and be barred for registering for further classes.

There are presently two dedicated shooting stations: One is in the break room. The second one is in the Game Lab. The school has floating licenses of Flipbook Pro, the 2D software the class will be working with, to shoot and time out our animation assignments. As a courtesy to others in the classes, after shooting your work, move to another computer in the game lab to edit or tweak your project. We have a classroom of seats for Flipbook. Pencils are a personal preference. A good choice is an artist grade pencil, preferably a B grade (B, B-2, B-6) pencils. Blue and red pencils are standard pencils for hand-drawn animation. Technical pencils or pencils that produce faint marks are poor choices. Art supplies can be found at office supply stores or art and craft shops. The Azel Art Store on the expressway near Beltline offers a 10% discount to all UTD fulltime students, with school ID.

The Projects Week One The Two Bounce Ball Plus the Up and Down Ball Week Two Bowling ball and golf ball bouncing Week Three Morphing Week Four Anticipation/Action/Follow Through Week Five Secondary/Overlapping Actions Week Six Balance Week Seven Weight Week Eight Walk Cycle

Week Nine Lip Sync Week Ten Leaf fall Week Eleven Flag Waves Week Twelve The Partner Project Week Thirteen Animatic of Final Project due Week Fourteen Rough animation on Final project due Week Fifteen Final Projects Due The Final Project can be based on any idea you have but must be, at least, 30 seconds long and have a sound track. Polished rough animation is fine. Color and clean up are optional.

Grading Policies: Students must satisfactorily demonstrate achievement of course objectives through fulfillment of course assignments and by contributing to class discussions and critiques. Course assignments will require students to use software and equipment available at the ATEC computer labs. Course evaluations will be based on the following: Points required for Grade: A 100-90% B 89-80% C 79-70% D 69-60% F

59 or below.

Each weekly project counts for 5% . Total, 65% of your class grade. Three quizzes over the semester based on readings, lectures and assigned videos will count for 10% The Final Project counts for 25% The final grade is broken up into 3 parts: First presentation: Animatic 25% Second Presentation : Rough Animation 25% Third and Final Presentation In class display 50%.

All work is due and ready for review at the start of class time. Late work will not be accepted. Attendance also is a critical factor in your grade. Everyone is permitted one unexcused absence. A second unexcused absence will result in a one-letter drop in your final grade (the end of the semester grade of A goes to B, B to C) Three unexcused absences will result in failing the class.