Digital Animation Made Easy!

Today you will begin to create a Digital Animation Video Clip. There are many resources for creating digital movies, as listed below. Before class is over, read all directions in this post and learn about different types of ANIMATION.  Then OPEN Google Slides/PowerPoint on Computer and begin to create a "stick-figure" background scene for your longer digital animation using the draw tools found in each of those programs/applications.

Resources & Examples

First Animations:

Fantasmagoria     Gertie the Dinosaur     How Original Animations Are Made

12 Principals of Animation     The Difference Between DISNEY & PIXAR     Animation Careers

First Mickey Mouse Cartoon     Post-It Note Animation (Wall)     Acorn's Story

FlipBook Goku vs Superman     The Origin of Lego Movie     How to Make a Lego Brickfilm

Pixar Examples

History of Pixar Logo     Top Ten Pixar Shorts     For The Birds     

Mr. Scribner's Examples

Snowman & Crowd Animation     Mountain Cabin Scene (Helicopter)     Basketball Court (Red/Blue Play)      

Two Monkeys Short Clip     Two Monkeys MS Movie Maker Video

Tomorrow you will be using your scene to create a 75-slide (minimum) animated scene. Eventually you will EXPORT your slides as Images (JPEG) and using MS Movie Maker to create a Digital Animation with Music, Titles, and Credits.

Digital Animation Using Google Slides & MS PowerPoint / Movie Maker

When you make animation you have to create each picture on the film.
There are normally 25-40 pictures per second. When animating we recreate the laws of nature as we are able to relate to the action. However, with animation we can do a lot more than just follow the laws of nature. We can do anything, we can tell the story just as it is in our dreams.

Animation is a tool of communication.
When we animate we must not forget to put idea and intention in the movements. A movement without idea and intention is boring. Another great communication tool is the contrast; fast/slow, backwards/forwards and so on. If we remember this it makes us animate better. So if you want to animate something going up, you think go down first. If you you want to stretch your character, you squash him first. The best thing is to do the movement yourself or make a friend do it so you can study the movement. This also helps you plan your animation. The better you know what to do, the better you can animate it.

See The Animation Section of ANIMWORK (Click Here) for more information about this project.

I Can't Wait, I Want To Make Something Right Now!  Try the ZIMMERTWINS website for a longer animations made easy. You could have them talk to each other, about different things, or create news-style reporting cartoons.

Learn More About It: http://www.awn.com/blog/teach-yourself-animation-art-timing How do I learn animation? For those with a school nearby and some time on their hands, it’s no problem. But for those with limited options, here are some resources to help teach yourself animation. And a step-by-step guide: http://www.awn.com/blog/teach-yourself-animation-2d-tools-part-1

You Could Also Check Out: A European partnership created this guide to help teachers learn more about using animation to teach. With some basics in place such as how to create a good story and what tools to use, ANIMWORK puts everything into perspective for any teacher who wants to create his or her own animation.

DIGITAL SCENE & BACKGROUND PICTURE CREATION PROJECT DIRECTIONS

IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT: CREATE A ZimmerTwins CARTOON AND SEND IT FOR CREDIT TODAY!

A. CREATE A BACKGROUND SCENE TO START WITH:
Step 1: Log into Google or Open Microsoft PowerPoint on your Computer

Step 2: Create NEW Slides Presentation or NEW Presentation in PowerPoint

Step 3: Use the Drawing Tools to make a stick figure scene. Make sure to place specific layers in order and use a variety of colors and styles to make it vibrant.

Step 4: Export you Presentation/Slide as an Image and Upload to Google Drive

Step 5: SHARE your Image with Mr. S (hscribner@ccs.us) for credit.

B. ANIMATE IT:

• Your project must include at least 50 slides.
• It must have at least 3 layers of depth: Foreground, Middle Ground, Background.
• It must have at least 3 things moving during the course of the animation. 
• Your motion must incorporate LAYERS of movement where items move in-front or behind each other.
• You must Upload and SHARE your project with instructor using Google Drive for credit.

C. MAKE IT INTO A MOVIE:
Step 1. Open your project in Google Slides/MS Powerpoint. (If you created it in Google Slides you must Download it in MS Powerpoint to Export the slides together.

Step 2. EXPORT your slides as JPEG Image Files to the Desktop.

Step 3. IMPORT your JPEG Image Files into MS MOVIE MAKER.

Step 4. Using MS MOVIE MAKER, you must create a Digital Animation "Short-Film" by making each image "flash" for around 1/2-second each. This will give the impression that the images are animated. You should add Titles, Credits, and a short burst of music to finish the film.

YOU MUST IMPORT AT LEAST ONE (1) SOUND EFFECT/MUSIC AND ADD IT TO THE ANIMATION PRIOR TO SAVING IT!  (You can use freesound.org and audacity to record sound effects or music for use in this project.)

Step 5. SAVE MOVIE as an MP4 file, Upload it to Google Drive, and SHARE it with Mr. S for credit.

Have Fun with this project. If you would like to know more, here is the original link to 50 more digital animation websites at TEACHTHOUGHT.COM (Click Here)! Good Luck!

ACADEMIC/LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Scholars will learn the basics of Digital Animation. Scholars will be able to create "mini" animations using an online application. Scholars will also start creating the basic drawing that will be used for a future "line-art" digital animation project. Scholars will be able to complete a Constructed Response about the "History of Animation" and discuss what they like, or do not like about the project.

STUDENTS WILL ENTER THE CLASS QUIETLY AND BEGIN WORKING! 

Scholars will sign into Google Drive as they enter the class. Scholars will read all directions on this post thoroughly.  Scholars will review the examples linked above to determine the type of movie they are interested in making.  They will need to create a short (3-9 second) video clip, with at least one sound effect, for credit.  When complete, they will UPLOAD both the RAW Project, and their FINAL Project to Google Drive and SHARE it with Mr. S for review.   The basis for their projects will be created using a single slide in Google Slides that they should create first.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE TODAY!

Standards Covered In This Class 

PA 3.7.7 & 11 Section C / ISTE 2011

CSTA Tied With Common Core ELA/Math rev. 2011

History of Digital Animation Lesson

Today you will learn about the History of Digital Animation.  Please enter class and sign into your Google Accounts (If you are in the Technology Lab).  Begin the class by viewing the following website about PIXAR ANIMATION (Click Here).  Please watch the video on the bottom of the main page ("25 Years of Pixar Animation").  

If you do not have access to technology, you may sit quietly and review the following video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfzy05M-nzY  Make sure you take some notes while you watch.

When you are done viewing the video you will discuss, as a class, some of the videos and movies you are familiar with, and how they were made.  Please be specific about the techniques and animation used in the video you just watched.  How has animation changed over the course of history, and where could it be going?  What are some of the technologies used that are new, and how are we using these technologies in class to create our own video clips.  Please review the PIXAR DIGITAL ANIMATION PRESENTATION here.  Show the following PIXAR Animation SHORT FIlm: "That Was So Cute Bird" (Click Here)

MAKE SURE YOU USE THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO COMPLETE YOUR WORKSHEETS:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_animation

When you have completed the discussion, you should open the following Google Document "History of Digital Animation Worksheet"  Make sure you click FILE and MAKE A COPY to put one in your Google Drive.  Make sure you SHARE your COPY with me as soon as you create it, to turn it in.  Then you may follow the directions and complete the research portion of the project.  If you do not have access to a computer or Ipad, please complete the printed copy on your own for homework.  You may turn it in tomorrow.

Finally,  Please spend some time working on your Digital Animation Project.  Make sure you re-read ALL DIRECTIONS, and make sure you are completing the project correctly.  SHARE the project you have created in your Google Drive for credit.

VOCABULARY

Animation A filmmaking technique where the illusion of motion is created frame-by-frame. The word comes from the Latin word, "anima," meaning "life" or "soul". 

Animator The person who draws the moving character in an animated film. 

Background A flat piece of artwork that is the setting for a moving character in an animated film. A background could be a picture of a forest, a sky, a room, or a castle. 

Cel A clear piece of plastic on which the animator's finished drawings are painted. The cel is clear so that when placed over the background, the animated characters appear to be in a setting. 

Frame An individual still picture on a strip of film. 24 frames equal one second of a motion picture. 

Frame-by-frame The filmmaking technique in animation where each frame is exposed one at a time and the object being photographed is slightly altered for each picture. 

Ink and Paint The step in cel animation where the animator's drawings are placed on cels to be photographed. A drawing is outlined on the front of the cel with black ink, while the back of the cel is painted. 

Kinestasis (Kin-e-sta'-sis) An animation technique using a series of still photographs or artwork to create the illusion of motion. 

Model Sheet A reference sheet for animators that shows a number of different poses of an animated character. The model sheet also shows how characters relate in size to other characters. 

Pixilation (Pik si la' shun) A stop-motion technique in which life-size props or live actors are photographed frame-by-frame. When viewed, they appear to be moving at a fast speed. 

Script The written story of a film that supplies dialogue, camera moves, background, staging and action. 

Squash and Stretch A drawing technique used by animators and originally developed at the Disney Studio to show exaggerated movements in characters. For example, if you wanted a character to jump, you would draw him close to the ground as if 'squashed' and then you would 'stretch' him out as he went into the air. 

Storyboard A "storyboard" is a visual representation of a story. Pictures can be sketched on pieces of paper and pinned to a large board, or they can be drawn on a large piece of paper, comic-book style, to represent scenes in a film. A story sketch should show character, attitude, feelings, entertainment, expressions, type of action, as well as telling the story of what's happening. When you look at a board, it should reflect the feeling of the sequence so the viewer starts to pick up some excitement and stimulation. A story sketch artist at an animation studio us usually an artist who has special interest in illustration, design, appearance, and character. 

Zoetrope (zo'-e-trop) An early animation device that spins drawings in a revolving drum to create the illusion of motion. Inbetweens Drawings that are in between the drawings that are at the beginning and end poses.

Extremes Drawings that are at the beginning and end of a particular pose.

RESOURCES

History of Digital Animation (TX - TEKS) Lesson Plan

Vocabulary

History of Animation Worksheet (Google Doc)

ACADEMIC/LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Scholars Students will learn about the History of Digital Animation through online research and classroom discussion. Scholars will be able to create "mini" animations using an online application.  Scholars will also continue creating the basic drawing that will be used for a future "line-art" digital animation project.  Scholars will send and email to Mr. S (hscribner@ccs.us) about the "History of Animation" and discuss what they like, or do not like about the project.  You must write at least 4-5 sentences in paragraph form.  State your position about the project, and provide facts and opinions to defend your position. RESTATE the Question, ANSWER the Question, CITE your Evidence, EXAMPLES of your Evidence in your conclusion.  Make sure you wrap up your thoughts with a SUMMARY sentence.

  STUDENTS WILL ENTER THE CLASS QUIETLY AND BEGIN WORKING! 

Scholars will sign into Google Drive as they enter the class.  Scholars will read all directions on this post thoroughly and review the YouTube video about the "History of Digital Animation".  Students will discuss various animation techniques presented in the video.  Students will then complete a History of Digital Animation Worksheet using online resources.  Students may use the balance of time left to work on their own digital animation projects that are previously listed on the Class Assignment Site.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE TODAY!

Standards Covered In This Class 

PA 3.7.7 & 11 Section C / ISTE 2011

CSTA Tied With Common Core ELA/Math rev. 2011