course syllabus : Special Topics eMAD : Introduction to Computer Animation
http://www.du.edu/~tweaver2/intro_animation
Timothy Weaver, tweaver2@du.edu, 303.871.3279
Shwayder Art Building, 227

: : w o r k s h o p   o v e r v i e w : :
This course will introduce the basic principles of computer animation and it's potential use as a functional classroom tool for expanding the creativity, talents and vision of students in the arts, sciences and humanities. We will be surveying the historical background and technical evolution of animation and reviewing the available software used for producing animated multimedia stories on the personal computer. The studio emphasis of the course will be on collaboratively producing a short animated narrative that can be viewed on the desktop computer, on video or on the Internet using inexpensive animation authoring software and basic digital imaging tools. Laboratory demos and exercises will utilize Macromedia Flash MX 2004 as the software tool for reduction to practice.

: : objectives : :
1>present foundational and background concepts for an understanding of the basic principles and processes of computer-based animation and motion graphics;

2>identify resources and references for further study and authoring of animation-based narrative media; and

3>exchange pre-production sources for the visualization of a motion graphics storyline.

:: schedule ::

1> History, background & terminology - 9AM to 10:15AM

>>break 10:15AM to 10:30 AM

2> Animation techniques, applications and creative process- 10:30AM to noon

3> Working Lunch - project presentation by instructor - noon to 1PM

4> Intro to Flash tools and techniques - 1PM to 2:45PM

>>break 2:45PM to 3:00PM

5>Flash animation build - vector or raster image - 3PM to 5:30PM

6>Summary | Assignments - 5:30PM to 5:40PM