Clay, Puppet and Object Animation

Catalog description

King Kong, Anomalisa, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Wallace and Gromit are familiar commercial examples of this style of animation, which involves sculptural characters acting frame by frame in miniature sets. This course focuses on these traditional stop-motion approaches to 3D animation, including Claymation and related approaches of Object and Puppet animation. A focus on character development and storyboard design prepares students for successful animations. A variety of sculptural materials and construction techniques are introduced, including using movable armatures and working with polymer clays. Instruction is provided in set design and construction, including lighting design for animation. Students learn to use professional capture and editing software and produce both collaborative and individual animations. Historical and contemporary examples are studied in preparation for all assignments. We produce three animations in the course of this class, learning a different approach with each assignment. Narrative structure is discussed and developed through storyboards. Scripting, lighting, and set design are studied, as are legal concerns such as permits, release forms, and copyright laws. Students will learn to use two types of capture software, and how to edit and add audio and titles in Final Cut Pro or Premiere. Cameras, iPads, computers, and editing software are available for your use through the Art Department, as are basic sculpture tools. A limited number of tripods and photographic lighting kits are also available for checkout. Most art supplies and materials need to be purchased by individual students: for most collaborative projects, students split the cost of supplies so that the cost per student is reasonable.