This first class in the Film and Digital Arts Animation Master Class track will be entirely focused on laying the foundation of animation around the 12 principals of animation as defined by Disney master animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. Each week we will practice and illustrate these principles in action through simple animation tests and assignments. We will study the process, the pipeline, the tools and the workflow of CG Character Animation. We will also look at the history of animation and explore how the industry got to where it is today including what has worked, what hasn't and where the future of animation as an art form and career may go.

In Animation Class I students will:

• Acquire an in-depth working knowledge of the 12 principles of animation
• Be introduced to the workflows used in major feature-film animation studios and Game Companies
• Learn to approach their work in a manner reflecting an actual production environment

UNM is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for students with documented disabilities. As your instructor, it is my objective to facilitate an inclusive classroom setting, in which students have full access and opportunity to participate. To engage in a confidential conversation about the process for requesting reasonable accommodations for this class and/or program, please contact Accessibility Resource Center at arcsrvs@unm.edu or 505-277-3506.

UAP 2720 and 2740. Our classroom and university should foster mutual respect, kindness, and support. If you have concerns about discrimination, harassment, or violence, please seek support and report incidents. Find confidential services at LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center, the Women's Resource Center, and the LGBTQ Resource Center. UNM prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex (including gender, sex stereotyping, gender expression, and gender identity). All instructors are “responsible employees” who must communicate reports of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and sexual violence to Compliance, Ethics and Equal Opportunity. For more information, please see UAP 2720 and UAP 2740.

Disruptive Behavior

Disruptive behavior will result in a student being asked to leave a class meeting, which will be recorded as an unexcused absence; and Per the absence policy for this class, the student will be dropped after 3 unexcused absences.

As we complete the first week and have had a chance to introduce ourselves you will find that this industry attracts a very diverse group of students. I have been teaching courses like this for 8 years now and it is always the case. Honestly, the diversity is what makes this course so much fun to teach. Some of you may be artists and some of you may be computer scientists. Some of you may be taking this class because you think it might be fun and some of you may not even know why you are taking it. No matter what reason you have for being here, you are here and I am happy to have you in this class.

What does diversity have to do with computer graphics let alone that it is a benefit?

I’m glad you asked!

Since we all come from different backgrounds and are here for different interests, we will be able to provide a unique perspective to the problem solving process that would otherwise be missed sans diversity. The art of computer animation involves using tools to solve a given problem or set of problems that is not only visually appealing, but scalable and efficient. Since our main goal is to solve problems with an infinite number of ways to go about that process, the more perspectives we have, the better results we will have.

Ultimately we are working with tools, rules, processes and workflows that are technical in nature. However, these tools are simply a means to an end. The end result is and always should be artistic. Yes, I did just say that we are problem solving using technical tools for art. It may seem a bit contradictory, but really this is no different then any other art form. A pencil illustrator follows the same process. The problem they are solving is producing an image on a blank page using only pencils. They must use certain techniques and processes to lay the graphite onto the paper in a way that achieves the desired result. We approach our problem to produce a work of art on the computer in the end just like any other skilled artisan utilizes their medium to create a work of art. Creativity is treated as an equal with technicality.

As I mentioned earlier, our diversity within this course will ultimately shape the outcomes of this class, it would not be fair for me to limit the needed exchange of ideas in order to utilize that diversity. Even though we do not have any “group work” in this class, we are however working through the same material, the same problems and the same assignments all at the same time. It is because of this that I encourage you to collaborate together (through whatever safe means you can muster in COVID land) to solve these problems. Please do not take this as an opportunity to simply glean off of others hard work. You have registered for this class voluntarily. You have paid for this class voluntarily; therefore, I assume that each of you are here to learn the material. So let’s learn together.

Cheating and plagiarism (academic dishonesty) are often driven by lack of time, desperation, or lack of knowledge about how to identify a source. Communicate with me and ask for help, even at the last minute, rather than risking your academic career by committing academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty involves claiming that work created by another source is your own original work. It is a Student Code of Conduct violation that can lead to a disciplinary procedure. When you use a resource in work submitted for this class, document how you used it and distinguish clearly between your original work and the material taken from the resource.

With regard to AI use. This course is designed to not only teach skills in animation, but also artistry and thoughtful and deliberate approaches in decision making. Animation, Visual Effects and Gaming are fields of artists and engineers to dream, craft, and create. Anyone can throw out a Chat GPT (Or other specialty AI) prompt to get some kind of output, even really well done outputs. AI is impressive, and helpful, and has it's place. In the hands of an expert, AI is an amazing tool. In the hands of a learner, AI is an amazing enabler of dependence and meager possibilities. Our coursework will be very easy to see if you have used AI (or any other forms of turning in work you didn't actually do for that matter).

• Honor your past self with the determination to make every hard fought and difficult past learning opportunity worth it through continued investment in yourself.
• Love your current self with the commitment to make every moment matter; to cherish all challenges and triumphs because they are what will always shape you.
• Invest in your future self through the commitment to constantly learn and grow through whatever challenges you face knowing that strength and resilience is only built through hard work.

These books are NOT required but HIGHLY recommended:

• The Illusion of Life (Disney Animation) by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston
• The Animators Survival Kit by Richard Williams