Intermediate 2D Animation

Catalog description

Prerequisite: Introduction to 2D Animation (FILM 3489) and permission of the instructor This course will further enhance the development of 2D animation concepts and techniques. Students are expected to have introductory knowledge of Toon Boom Animation’s Harmony software—the global standard for animation and storyboarding—and to be comfortable with basic animation skills. As an intermediate/advanced course, students will delve deeper into animation fundamentals and explore advanced techniques, including shift and trace, motion arcs, and secondary movements. Additionally, students will expand their proficiency in Harmony software by developing advanced camera techniques, utilizing traditional and auto lip-sync tools, leveraging nodes for lighting and effects, and exploring a variety of advanced tools. Students will enrich their drawing and animation skills by understanding body mechanics and motion flow, focusing on techniques such as animated cycles, rotating forms, transformations, timing and pacing, weight, and resistance. Through the creation of multiple animation projects, intermediate-level students will apply these new techniques, develop scene construction abilities, and ultimately produce a final animation project. The capstone project will be the creation of a short, multiple-scene animation. Harmony, serving as the primary software incorporated in this course, will be provided to each student through the Animation Lab. Information and skills acquired in this class can be applied to improve drawing and animation proficiency, establish fundamentals for digital animation production, and enhance an animation portfolio. Preproduction Storyboarding for Film and Animation