Syllabus




Course Title:                  2D Animation           
Course Number:            MAA321
Session/Year:                Winter 2013
Day/Time:                      2 PM - 4:45 PM
Instructor:                     Sam Ellis
Contact Info:                 smellis@aii.edu
Office Hours:                 9:30 AM – 11AM

Course Description:  In this course students will apply basic animation principles to produce a sequence. Emphasis will be placed on timing and performance. Use of capture device, pencil tests, inking, and other 2D animation skill will be explored

Core Course Competencies:  Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate effective use of timing and weight
2. Apply industry-standard storyboard techniques to animation
3. Critique and discuss animation projects
4. Create a fully developed concept
5. Apply color to animation utilizing tools and techniques
6. Complete all necessary components for a final project

Course Length: 10 weeks

Contact Hours:  60

Credit Value:    4.0                       

Definition of a Credit Hour:  A quarter credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than
1.     One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for 10 to 12 weeks, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
2.     At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Estimated Homework Hours: You should spend the same amount of time working on your projects out of class as you do in class. So roughly 5 hours a week.

Students with Disabilities:  The Art Institute of Washington provides accommodations to qualified students with disabilities.  The Disability Services Office assists qualified students with disabilities in acquiring reasonable and appropriate accommodations and in supporting equal access to services, programs and activities at The Art Institute of Washington. Students who seek reasonable accommodations should notify the Disabilities Services Coordinator at (Arber Winn, 703-247-2685) of their specific limitations and, if known their specific requested accommodations. Students will be asked to supply medical documentation of the need for accommodation.  Classroom accommodations are not retroactive, but are effective only upon the student sharing approved accommodations with the instructor.  Therefore, students are encouraged to request accommodations as early as feasible with the Disability Services Coordinator to allow for time to gather necessary documentation.  If you have a concern or complaint in this regard, please contact the Dean of Student Affairs in Room 1107, telephone 703-247-6841.  Complaints will be handled in accordance with the school’s Internal Grievance Procedure for Complaints of Discrimination and Harassment.



Satisfactory Academic Progress

The Art Institute of Washington encourages students to excel in their classes and to earn the highest grades possible.  The minimum acceptable academic standard to become a graduate is to earn a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and pass at least 2/3 of the courses attempted (ICR).  Receiving a failing grade in any course requires a student to retake the class at the first opportunity.  The second, passing grade mathematically raises the CGPA.  Earning a D in a class is a passing grade; however, a D is worth only 1grade point and can lower the CGPA to below the minimum level to graduate (2.0).  Therefore, it is in the best interest of students to complete their courses with a grade of C or higher.  If students encounter difficulty with class material, they are encouraged to utilize the Academic Support Center (703-247-6818) on the 12th floor.  Should extenuating circumstances take place that require a student to stop attending classes, students are responsible for contacting their instructor, department chair, or the registrar’s office on the 10th floor.
Academic Support Services:  Students are expected to utilize resources such as the campus library for research assignments and academic support center for tutoring needs.  Information on these services can be found on the student portal at myaicampus.com.

Student Conduct Policy:  The Art Institute of Washington recognizes its students as responsible and dedicated men and women who are preparing for career employment.  An integral part of their career and professional development is the expectation that they conduct themselves during the education process in the same manner as will be expected in all employment situations.  As members of The Art Institute of Washington community, students have responsibilities and duties commensurate with their rights and privileges.  In this policy, The Art Institute of Washington provides guidance to students regarding those standards of student conduct and behavior that it considers essential to its educational mission.  This policy also provides guidance regarding the types of conduct that infringe upon the fulfillment of the Institute’s mission.  Please see pages 31 to 38 in the Student Handbook for complete details.

Academic Dishonesty: The Art Institute of Washington does not tolerate academic dishonesty.  Disciplinary offenses against the student code of conduct concerning academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating on assignments or examinations; engaging in unauthorized collaboration on academic work; taking, acquiring or using test materials without faculty permission; submitting false or incomplete records of academic achievement; altering, forging or misusing a college academic record; fabricating or falsifying data, research procedures, or data analysis; and deceiving the college and/or its officials.   If you are suspected of academic dishonesty of any kind, your instructor reserves the right to fail you for the assignment or the course.  Students may appeal in writing to the Dean of Academic Affairs.  Please refer to the student code of conduct in the Student Handbook for further explanation.

Attendance Policy: The Art Institute’s attendance policy is designed to meet the requirements of state and regional accreditation, to support to the mission and goals of the organization, and to improve the academic performance of students through adherence to industry and educational standards of personal and professional development. Faculty members are required to record attendance accurately. Attendance is directly tied to academic performance. Excessive absenteeism can result in severe academic penalties, including a failing grade for a course or removal from the course. Should absence be necessary, students are responsible for course material covered during the time of absence. Students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled classes, including the first class of the quarter. They are expected to arrive on time and to stay for the full duration of the class. Students may drop or add classes during the first week of the quarter. Students who fail to drop a class during drop/add period will be financially responsible for the cost of the class. Students who do not attend any of their classes during the drop/add period will be with­drawn from the college. Students who miss seven total consecutive days of all scheduled classes, or 20 total calendar days from the date of last attendance in all scheduled courses (whichever is less), will be terminated from the college.

The following is the attendance policy for the Department of:
Game Art/Animation/VFX/VGP

It is the goal of this policy to improve the academic performance of students in the classroom by stressing the importance of course attendance and reinforcing the work-ready expectations of employers for employee attendance. All students are expected to adhere to these industry standards. Students are encouraged to refer to page 39 of The Student Handbook 2010 -2011 for the AiW Attendance Policy.

In the Media Arts & Animation Program, the Game Art & Design Program, the Visual Effects & Motion Graphics Program and the Visual & Game Programming Program, students are required to attend all class meetings. Students must arrive on time, come prepared and ready to work, and stay for the duration of the class.

There are no excused absences.



Any one of the following qualifies a student to receive a demerit from class (earning one demerit):

1.     Arriving late to class (after official class start time)
2.     Leaving before the end of class
3.     Failure to attend class
4.     Failure to come to class prepared with all assignments and required materials, as determined by the instructor (art supplies, textbooks, etc.)
5.     Cell phones ringing in class without prior authorization by the instructor
6.     Inappropriate behavior and/or lack of participation in class activities (to be determined by the instructor)


Once a student has accumulated a total of three (3) demerits, she/he will be notified by their instructor, that she/he is on probation and in danger of receiving an “F” in the course. Students who accumulate a total of four (4) demerits in a course will receive a grade of “F” at the end of the quarter. Furthermore, it is the student’s responsibility to make up any missed coursework due to absences.



Grading Scale:
A            100 - 92
A-            91.9 - 90
B+            89.9 - 88
B            87.9 - 82
B-            81.9 - 80
C+            79.9 - 78
C            77.9 - 73
C-            72.9 - 70
D            69.9 – 69.8           
F            69.7 and below

Grading:  The grades for this class will be determined based on the following:

Class Policies:  Attending all classes and submitting all assignments on time do not guarantee you passing. You need to demonstrate a base competence in animation to pass the class.

The Art Institute of Washington expects its students and employees to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. In addition, the Art Institute has a strict policy that disallows sexual harassment of either students or employees.
All students or employees are encouraged to report any professional or sexual misconduct to the Dean of Student Affairs.

The Art Institute of Washington defines an act of academic dishonesty as any attempt to take the work of someone else and submit it as one’s own. If you are suspected of plagiarism of any kind your instructor reserves the right to fail you for the assignment or the course.
Students may appeal in writing to the Dean of Academic Affairs.

Late Submission of Work: Work will be required to be uploaded to the class blog before the start of class. No late work will be accepted.

Make up Work:  If you have an excused absence your work will still need to be uploaded to the blog before class starts

Class Participation and In Class PerformanceIn preparation for portfolio review, and ultimately a profession, it is of primary importance that your work be as good as possible. That being said, any project that has been submitted on time COMPLETED may be redone for a better grade. It may be improved or solved in an entirely different manner as long as it still fulfills the assignment and is documented in writing with evidence and intent of the new direction. If revisions are done poorly, the grade received previously will count. Projects should be reworked based on the critique comments until they are as strong as possible. Doing this is a very important way to improve your skills, focus your creativity, and resolve visual problems. It is also the reality of the creative industry. Revisions and Resubmissions will be Class 20.

Electronic Devices:  Cell phones are to set to silent or off during class and only answered out of the room; do not disturb the class, as you would not want to be disturbed. Surfing the web during lectures and wasting class time will not be tolerated.

Field Trips:  GIGA CON – end of Week 1 dates and times TBA

Guest Speakers:  GIGA CON – end of Week 1 dates and times TBA

Homework:  You have a lot to do to put out high quality work, your homework will be to make you assignments the best they can be, whether it is sketching out your scene solutions in your sketchbook or collecting images for reference do all you can to make the best possible work.

Handouts: Will be digital and available on the class blog or the MAA.

Textbook/eBook: The Animator’s Survival Kit, Richard Williams

Materials and SuppliesPencil, Pen, Paper, 3-Ring Binder, Lightfoot LTD 1/4” Round Hole Peg Bar, Tabbed Dividers, Flash drive or external hard drive for saving homework, a sketchbook for ideas and to work out scenes, The Art Institute has computer labs, PC Computer with Cintiq.

Course Calendar

Week 1                            Intro to Flash / Art in Flash / Layers / Brushes / Fills / Strokes / Hotkeys / Workflow
                                       Timeline / Keyframes / Symbols / HOMEWORK Bouncing Ball Animation

Week 2                           Critique Homework / Symbols / Storyboards  (Batman - Adventure Time or B.W.)
                                      Use Symbols or traditional methods to animate the scene from the boards.
           

Week 3                           Lab

                                       Critique Homework

 

Week 4                        Takes- draw poses create a character and break it up for rigged animation / KEY&BKDN

                                   HOMEWORK Take Animation

 

Week 5                      Critique Homework / Working with PHONEMES / Fundamentals of Dialogue

                                Create Mouths based on industry phonemes and synch to audio

 

Week 6                     Critique Homework

                                 Final Project “11 Sec Club”

 

Week 7                    Lab

                               Lab

Week 8                   Progress Critique

                             Lab

 

Week 9                   Lab

                              Lab

 

Week 10                                    Final Critique

                                                Resubmissions and Wrap Up Review

                       


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