Course Syllabus
Learning Objectives
This is the third class in the FDMA Animation Master Class track and will build upon the foundations learned in the animation principles and body mechanics classes. Students will focus on creating believable and meaningful performances using single and multiple characters including facial animation and speech. This is the final step in our master class track and an important milestone for an aspiring animator because at the end of the day performance is everything.
Exercises will focus a bit on small animation and posing exercises and will culminate in the creation of full acting performances to pre-recorded dialog. We will continue our study the process, the pipeline, the tools, and the workflow of CG Character Animation while perfecting our attention to detail even further.
In Animation Class III students will:
- Refine and perfect their individual workflows
- Learn facial animation and posing to compliment work already done with the body
- Focus on the acting required to produce convincing emotional performances
Diversity
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 10 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.
Collaboration
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 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.
Open Lab
Class Open Lab
When: Thursday's from 4:00pm - 8:00pm
The lab located on the map notated by the red circle. ESCP 109 is the southern lab in this building and the classroom is in the lab and around to the back left once you enter.
I will NOT be holding lab on 9/26 due to personal event, 10/10 due to Fall Break nor on 11/28 due to Thanksgiving.
Module Breakdown (Subject to change)
Planned dates where we won't be having open lab:
| September 26 | Instructor Cancellation |
| October 10 | Fall Break |
| November 28 | Thanksgiving |
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Instruction
Introduce Professor
Introduce Course
Review 12 & Body Mechanics Principles -
Assignment
None
-
Instruction
Acting principles for animators
Importance of performance timing
Review of how to use the character rig
-
Assignment
Animated clip analysis
-
Instruction
Facial posing overview
Facial animation overview
-
Assignment
2 facial poses
-
Instruction
One-Person Dialog overview -
Assignment
One-Person Dialog 1
Week 1 - Planning
Week 2 - Blocking
Week 3 - Splining
Week 4 - Polishing
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Instruction
Emotional pitch in performance -
Assignment
3-Emotions Facial Pose Transitions
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Instruction
One-Person Dialog review -
Assignment
One-Person Dialog 2
Week 1 - Planning & Blocking
Week 2 - Splining & Polishing
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Instruction
Two-person dialog overview -
Assignments
Two-Person Dialog
Week 1 - Planning
Week 2 - Blocking
Week 3 - Splining
Week 4 - Polishing
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Instruction
Finalization Overview -
Assignments
Finalization
Attendance and Drop Policy
I will not be formally taking attendance in this class with one exception. I will be monitoring course activity on UNM canvas during the first 2 weeks of the semester to ensure you are connected and progressing. If you have not logged into Canvas and submitted the Syllabus Quiz by the due date of 11 days into the class you will receive an email as a last attempt to connect. If no connection is made then I will assume you will not be able to complete the course material and you will be dropped from the class by Friday evening of the second week of class. This will do the following:
- Ensure you are not charged for the class even though you are dropped
- Will not leave a withdraw (W) or failing (F) grade on your transcript
- Will provide you with one more day on Friday of the second week to replace the class with another before the registration deadline if you choose.
If you have any questions please email me to discuss your concerns by clicking the contact button in the header of this website.
Late Work
Each of our assignments build on one another and we are going to be moving fairly quickly through the material so it is in your absolute best interest to stay on top of things. I will accept late work all the way up to the end of the semester, but there will be a letter grade reduction applied to any assignments that are submitted more than 1 week after the posted due date.
All of your assignments are due at 11:59pm on the Thursday they are due. Here are some examples for you.
- An assignment turned in 1,2,3,4,5,6, or 7 days late will not be considered late.
- An assignment turned in 8 or more days late will be considered late and will incur the 10% penalty.
- An assignment turned in 60 days late will be accepted, but will incur the 10% penalty, but that is it.
Grading
Breakdown
- Syllabus Quiz
- 50 points each (50 points total or 3.4% of Final Grade)
- 14 Assignments
- 100 points each (1400 points total or 96.6% of Final Grade)
Scale
- A+ = (97-100+)
- A = (93-96)
- A- = (90-92)
- B+ = (87-89+)
- B = (83-86)
- B- = (80-82)
- C+ = (77-79+)
- C = (73-76)
- C- = (70-72)
- D+ = (67-69+)
- D = (63-68)
- D- = (60-62)
- F = (< 59)