The 7 Principles of Animation

Daniel BoulosInstructor Leeward Community CollegeBoulos@hawaii.edu

Digital Media Department Introductory Level College Course

The Learners and the Learning Environment

Introductory Level Digital Media StudentsDemographic: 18-50

year oldsSome Knowledge of

Adobe After Effects Software

Macintosh Computer Lab 20 workstations Software: Adobe After

Effects Lab opened outside of

class hours LCD Projector Sony PD 150 Cameras

Content: Curricular Relevance

DMED 140 is a foundation class for Animation students at LCCThis Unit “ The 7 Principles of Animation” is the core of DMED 140

Content Standards: This course provides students with a foundation in animation consistent with animation Programs on the Mainland

Content: Learning Objectives

How do animation principles relate to physics and the study of motion?

How do I identify these principles at work in the natural world?

How do I apply these principles to enhance my animation?

7 Animation Principles Arcs

Timing

Squash and Stretch

Reversal of Curves

Successive Breaking of Joints

Secondary Motion

Overlapping Action

Content: ResourcesBooks Websites Action

AnalysisMisc.

The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation

www.animationmeat.com

Live action footage

Stories: Personal Accounts

The Animators Survival Kit

www.awn.com Animation Clips

Transcripts of historical Disney training workshops

Timing for Animation

Handouts

Pedagogy: Methods Flash Game to Illustrate Arcs, Timing & Squash

and Stretch QuickTime Movies to illustrate Reversal of Curves, Successive Breaking of

Joints, Secondary Motion & Overlapping Action

Action Analysis: shooting video footage

Group Presentations Assignment Critiques Quiz

Pedagogy: OutcomesStudent Learning

Group ProjectProject Critique

Individual AssignmentsComputer Based

Paper Based

Final Film Projectat end of Semester

Information presented through:Lectures

Action Analysis / Flash GameGroup Learning Activities

Principles learned through Lecture, Demonstration, Flash Game and Action Analysis will be applied in individual and group assignments and ultimately in Final Film Project.

Pedagogy: Assessment

Cooperative Learning

Critique of Presentations

Individual Assignments

In-class Critique

Final Project Written Evaluation / Rubric

Technology Hardware21 Apple Desktop Computers

4 Sony PD 150 DV Camcorders

4 Tripods

LCD Projector

DVD Player

Mini DV Deck

Marker Board

Projection Screen

SoftwareAdobe Photoshop

Adobe After Effects

Final Cut Pro (Instructor Only)

7 Key Lectures available as Video I-Pod files on Web CT

Latest Versions

ImplementationWeek No. Mon.(Lecture) Wed.(Lab)

1 Arcs Flash Game

2 Timing Exposure sheet Assignment

3 Squash and Stretch

Bouncing Ball Assignment

4 Reversal of Curves

Bouncing Can Assignment

5 Successive Breaking of Joints

Groups Begin(shoot video)

6 Secondary Motion Groups Continue(analyze video)

7 Overlapping Action

Group Presentations

Evaluation

Student Evaluations

Student Reflections

Evaluation of Final Projects

Monitoring student progress in other animation classes

Peer Evaluations

Cumulative personal experience

Conclusion

QuickTime™ and aAnimation decompressor

are needed to see this picture.Animation Principles At Work

Courtesy of WikiWiki Cartoons

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