To see the students' completed assignments, visit the gallery.

Weekly exercises:

Exercise 01 - Flipbook

Flipbook Image

Assigned 1/27/2009

Due 2/10/2009

This is a group project. Each of you will draw a simple image on a 5"x8" index card. Then you will animate some sort of transition to the image of another student; that student will animate to another student's image, and so forth; the last student will animate a transition to the image of the first student. Each transition should be approximately five seconds long. Those are the only constraints; feel free to experiment and be creative!

Exercise 02 - Bouncing Balls

Bouncing Ball Image

Assigned 2/10/2009

Due 2/24/2009

Depict a tennis ball, beach ball, and bowling ball bouncing across the screen. Utilize spacing, timing, and squash & stretch to create a believable sense of motionand weight.

(Williams: pp. 35-40, 260-1)

Extra Exercise A - Simple Shape Storyboards

Simple Shape Image

Assigned 2/12/2009

Due 2/26/2009

Using the style of simple shapes that was demonstrated in class, draw three pictures that illustrate a character being affected by an object or other character. The three pictures should depict different moments in the same situation. The situation should affect the character's emotion in a visible way. You may have more than one character, and more than three frames -- but one character and three frames are the minimum.

Exercise 03 - Falling Lines

Lines Image

Assigned 2/17/2009

Due 3/3/2009

You should make three separate animations depicting 'falling lines'. The first line should fall like a feather, the second like a string, and the third like a tree trunk. Draw only a simple line, not the actual object. The idea is to portray motion, not do complex drawing. Use paths to figure the animation. Show what happens when each line hits the ground. Use momentum to express weight, speed and texture.

(Williams: pp. 35-40, 260-1)

Exercise 04 - Two Squares

Squares Image

Assigned 2/24/2009

Due 3/10/2009

Animate two squares crossing the screen. One square should be heavy; the other should be light. Preferably show only one square on screen at a time. The squares should exhibit personality and feel like characters; show anticipation, action, reaction, what happens when they stop, and why they stop. Exaggerate the action and make it amusing. Before animating, draw some thumbnail sketches for your extremes.

(Whitaker pp. 26-37, Williams pp. 256-284)

Exercise 05 - Walk Cycle

Walk Cycle Image

Assigned 3/3/2009

Due 3/17/2009

Animate a walk cycle. Your character should walk sideways across the screen, taking at least four strides. Each stride should be a minimum of 4 frames, as detailed in the online tutorial below. Pay attention to the bobbing of the head & body, and the arcing of the feet. If you wish, you may also make a treadmill version, as well as add more in-betweens between the required frames.

Online walk cycle tutorial (highly recommended)

(Williams pp. 102 onward)

Exercise 06 - Character Design

Character Design Image

Assigned 3/10/2009

Due 3/19/2009

Design a cartoon character. If you have a story for your final project, then draw up a character that might appear in that project; otherwise, just make up something that appeals to you. Try to draw the character in a clear pose that communicates some aspect of his/her/its personality or role. You should make at least one drawing; feel free to do multiple drawings and come up with a backstory.

(Blair 9-89)