2D Animation

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Effectively design and implement artistically interesting and technically competent 2D animation, compositing, and special effects work for cinematic, online, and broadcast contexts.
• Push skills to new levels through assignments with generous working time and in-class reviews, resulting in multiple portfolio and reel-ready examples of animation.
• Produce “complete thoughts” on the screen, finished segments of animation that are intentionally designed and completely executed.
• Understand that completely realized animated pictures can range in style of movement from the eccentric to the limited to the fully animated, focusing on control of vision and coherent communication of mood, action, humor, or anything at all to the audience.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Pendulum Exercise	10 points / 2%
Flower Sack Exercise	10 points / 2%
Dance Party (Part 1): Character Turnaround	5 points / 1%
Dance Party (Part 2): Keyframes	5 points / 1%
Dance Party Final	100 points / 22%
Walk Cycle (Part 1): Character Turnaround	5 points / 1%
Walk Cycle (Part 2): Keyframes	5 points / 1%
Walk Cycle Final	100 points / 22%
Multiplane (Part 1): Create Assets	5 points / 1%
Multiplane Final	100 points / 22%
Character (Part 1): Keyframes	5 points / 1%
Character Final	100 points / 22%
Extra Credit (Sketchbok)	5 points / 1%

Being a professional in any creative industry means meeting deadlines. Late projects submitted without prior notice will be penalized a full letter grade. However, I accept late submissions until the end of the semester. If you're struggling, communicate with me ahead of the due date, and I’ll do my best to work with you. Whether or not your work is finished, your presence and feedback are required at critiques. There will be no extra credit or make-up assignments.

For 100-point projects, you may resubmit any project until the end of the semester without a grading penalty. To do so, simply resubmit the project and notify me using the resubmission form available on Canvas. I will grade all resubmissions during the last week of classes. To qualify as a resubmission (instead of a late submission), the project must have been turned in on time and be at least mostly complete by the original due date.

For the smaller quiz-sized check-ins, late submissions will not be accepted, unless there are extenuating circumstances like sicknesses and family emergencies.

Regarding your overall grade, please note that there are important policies outlined in the attendance section of this syllabus.

Midterm Grades will be provided on the seventh week of classes. Midterm grades will not appear in your student transcripts, are not included in GPA calculations, and do not affect academic standing at all. This grade will simply exist to give you an idea of your standing.

Grading Scale

Percentage	Letter Grade
94 - 100%	A
90 - 93.99%	A-
87 - 89.99%	B+
84 - 86.99%	B
80 - 83.99%	B-
77 - 79.99%	C+
74 - 76.99%	C
70 - 73.99%	C-
67 - 69.99%	D+
64 - 66.99%	D
61 - 63.99%	D-
0 - 60.99%	F

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance will be taken at the start of every class. Three unexcused absences will result in the loss of a letter grade off of your final grade. Additionally, 6 unexcused absences will result in a failing grade.

If you are sick, then in the interest of everyone’s health do not come to class. Instead, please notify me ahead of class via email. You may also visit student health services (https://shs.uncg.edu/) or your doctor.

If you have a religious holiday, message me beforehand, and we can discuss accommodations.

Absences will be considered excused if accompanied by a note from a doctor or health service, or a note on school letterhead from a coach, professor or administrator.

Three unexcused late arrivals or early departures will equal one absence.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

Animator’s Survival Kit by Richard Williams (Faber & Faber). This book is the definitive guide and reference to animators worldwide. I have had the same copy for twenty years, and often use it as a resource.