Lecture 01 - 08/28/2006

Introduction to the course. Overview of stylistic principles of cartoon animation.

Screening of Extremes & Inbetweens: A Life in Animation, a documentary about the life and work of Chuck Jones.

Lecture 02 - 09/11/2006

Overview of specific stylistic elements such as anticipation, exaggeration, squash & stretch, follow-through, etc.

Screening of Celmates, Derek Mazur's "film within a film" about Brad Caslor, Richard Condie, and Cordell Barker.

Visit to the camera stand in 283F Soda Hall.

Flipbook exercise assigned.

Lecture 03 - 09/18/2006

More detail about the elements of cartoon animation.

Screening of various Pixar shorts: "Luxo Jr.", "Red's Dream", "Tin Toy", "Knick-knacks".

Falling line and bouncing ball exercises assigned.

Lecture 04 - 09/25/2006

How to create believable and entertaining character using elements such as squash & stretch, exaggeration, etc. Technical advice such as paths, rouch sketches, real-life models, etc.

Screening of the falling line exercises.

Lecture 05 - 10/02/2006

Discussion of character development and story planning. Documention of general feeling or intention behind a piece; biographical information for the characters -- doesn't show up explicitly in the finished piece, but it influences the development. Visual description, motions sketches, etc.

Screening of the bouncing ball exercise.

Moving square exercises assigned.

Lecture 06 - 10/09/2006

Professor Barsky out of town.

Screening of the rest of Extremes & Inbetweens.

Guest animator Steve Segal; evaluation of moving square exercises.

Lecture 07 - 10/16/2006

Guest animator Rob Russ from Pixar. Summary of Pixar character development process; details about directing, facial expressions, bodily movement, storyboarding.

Screening of various material including Pixar clips and Monty Python's "Ministry of Silly Walks".

Discussion of walk cycles -- extension, passing, bobbing, etc.

Geoffrey's presentation on comparisons between anime and American animation.

Walk cycle exercise assigned.

Lecture 08 - 10/23/2006

Discussion of Canada's National Film Board. Overview of the work of Jacques Drouin, pinscreen animation.

Screening of "Mindscape".

Jeremy's presentation on Norman MacLaren; screening of "Neighbours", "Blinkity Blank", "Horizontal Lines".

Guest animator Steve Segal; screening of "Pas de Deux".

Sack pantomime exercise assigned.

Lecture 09 - 10/30/2006

Screening of "Night Angel" (Jacques Drouin), "The Street" (Caroline Lief), and "Hunger" (Norman MacLaren).

Aaron's presentation on labor-saving techniques in Japanese animation.

Guest animator Rob Russ; evaluation of walk cycles.

Final project introduced and assigned.

Lecture 10 - 11/06/2006

Guest animator Michelle Meeker; screening of Charlie Chaplin clips and discussion of various techniques of posing, economy, composition, etc.

Bram's presentation on stop-motion animation.

Story pitches for final projects presented for evaluation.

Lecture 11 - 11/13/2006

Matthias's presentation on Matt Groening.

Sue's presentation on American children's television cartoons.

Final project storyboards presented for evaluation.

Lecture 12 - 11/20/2006

Guest animator Bobby Podesta; screening of clips from Cars, and discussion of character development.

Guest speaker Heather Crow from the drama department; exercises in physical improvisation for development of character (see the photos page).

Lecture 13 - 11/27/2006

Guest animator Doug MacMillan; workshop on using the right side of the brain. Various artistic exercises designed to encourage right-brain activity.

Guest speaker Gilles Poitras; presentation on anime. Emphasis on cinematic techniques and emotional content.

Lecture 14 - 12/04/2006

Guest animator Alex Seiden.

Presentation of final projects.