Animation Courses

An introductory survey of the history of animation. Topics of study include the seminal points of animation history - a focus on short films, feature films, cartoon films, experimental films, computer/digital animation productions, and interactive media titles. Other areas of study, such as commercial enterprise, industrial production, educational media, title production, special effects, and internet-based production, are also included. Additionally, different approaches are taught and discussed in both a practical and aesthetic context - studio systems, auteurs, genres, and future directions of the medium.

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

An integration of various creative arts used in animation, including analysis of visual language, to complete a survey course of this selected topic.

Requirement: SFTV majors and minors only; University Core fulfilled: Explorations: Creative Experience

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

This course constitutes an overview of visual story development and the art of pitching storyboards. Students will learn the rudiments of visual thinking and storytelling by creating five original animation story-boards that express their ideas in a visual form. Both narrative and non-narrative approaches will be considered. Also, taught and discussed, in both a practical and aesthetic context, will be the history, ethics, current practices, purposes, styles, genres and future directions in visual storytelling and animation production. 

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

Creating convincing worlds and expressive characters are fundamental to animation. We create worlds and stories for the audience to connect and share our characters’ experiences. This introductory course will discuss 3D computer animation best practices and teach you the fundamentals of computer graphics using industry standard tools and workflows.

Prerequisite: None, open to all Animation Majors and Minors

Requirement: Majors/Minors only

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

The integration of animation and interactivity is explored to show how user-controlled animation for games is different than for film and linear narratives. There is also an emphasis on design issues and scripting for interactivity.

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times  

Introduction to principles and practices of digital imaging as applicable to film and video, with an emphasis on software instruction for animated filmmaking. This course is co-requisite and must be taken at the same time as Intermediate Animation Workshop.

Prerequisite: ANIM 101; Corequisite: ANIM 220

Requirement: Majors only

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

Animated Perspectives aims to provide students the opportunity to think deeply about the role their art will play after graduation. As creators, we are responsible for the impact our work has, and so it’s important that we understand the “big picture” conversations that are happening in entertainment, such as: lack of racial diversity, breaking gender stereotypes, and more. By having an open discussion about relevant topics, students will create more socially conscious work. A diverse set of guest speakers from the animation industry will also provide honest advice on what it’s really like to work in entertainment, including topics like dealing with unemployment and labor issues.

Requirement: SFTV majors and minors only

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

Development of industry-standard storyboards for animation. Students will apply visual directing to draw storyboards as digital animatics, basing these on written scripts, existing sources, and their own creative work.

Prerequisites: ANIM 210 and ANIM 220

Requirements: Majors only.

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

 Character design is a storytelling art in which every visual element used by an artist is a storytelling devise. As a result, a thorough knowledge of the narrative arts is imperative to succeed in the highly competitive field of character design. The goal of this class is two-fold: on one hand you will be learning how to deliver high quality character designs for the stories originated by your future employers, while at the same time, you will be learning what you need to master in order to develop and design your own stories.

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

Animated TV shows used to be fairly straight-forward and predictable. However, in today’s world of streaming services and edgier cable channels, animation can be much more layered and adventurous. Whether it be a nihilist scientist traveling the multiverse to a depressed, former TV star horse searching to find happiness, animated show creators center their visions around a wide variety of nuanced characters. This is one of many reasons why animation is so exciting right now and showcases more diverse and unique voices than any other genre on television. In this class, you’ll develop your own original animated TV series concept and write the script for a pilot based on this idea. In addition to that, you’ll also learn many different aspects of writing for animated television, not only on the creative side, but from a business standpoint as well. Most importantly, you will learn about writing more visually and expressing your voice in this exciting and limitless genre. Side note: you do not have to be able to draw in this class. If you can draw, that’s great, but our focus will be writing and creating your show (also I don’t know how to draw so I can’t teach that). 

Matt Price is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer whose animation credits include “Regular Show” (Cartoon Network), “Final Space” (Adult Swim) and the upcoming “Bat Family” (Amazon). 

The technical capabilities of design with color are explored through various digital techniques. Offers instruction on how color in animation can be used as a tool for storytelling and finding conceptual boundaries of color theory to discover new avenues of expression.

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

Advanced production and design of animated interactive content using industry-standard real-time video game engines. This course places an emphasis on interactive scripting and students develop interactive projects and game prototypes individually or in small groups.

Prerequisite: ANIM 250

Requirement: Major or minors only

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

Pre-production design and development of an approved animated thesis, demonstrating the proficiencies of student’s emphasis within the major. This is the first semester of a full-year production leading to the completion of the senior thesis.

Requirement: Instructor Approval

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

Telling stories is part of the human experience. In animation we create those characters, worlds and stories from the ground up for the audience to connect to. This course will discuss series development best practices and teach you the fundamentals of pitching a television series using industry standard practices and format.

Requirement: Majors and minors only 

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

A continuing study of the technical practices and creative possibilities of animating characters with Maya software, culminating in a final animated project. It is ideal to already have proficiency with Maya or to have taken ANIM 230. 

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times 

DESCRIPTION: This course focuses on advanced CG modelling and sculpting of characters using Blender, Maya and Substance painter. Topics will include CG sculpting, UV unwrapping, 3d painting, rendering, fur and hair systems, CG cloth simulation, and 3D printing.

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting times/dates.

Realtime animation production explores narrative animation production tools in the Unreal game engine. The class focuses on learning a comprehensive set of skills necessary to create high quality animated films and sequences rendered with the latest real-time technology. 

Meetings: See PROWL for meeting days/times