Syllabus

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Course Title:                        2D Animation           
Course Number:            MAA321
Session/Year:                        Winter 2014
Day/Time:                        M 6 PM – 8:45 PM, W 6 PM – 8:45 PM
Instructor:                        Sam Ellis
Contact Info:                        smellis@aii.edu
Office Hours;                        M/W 9 AM – 10:30 AM Room 901
Class Website:                        http://aiwmaa321winter2014.blogspot.com

Course Description:  In this course students will apply basic animation principles to produce a sequence. Emphasis will be placed on timing and performance. Use of capture device, pencil tests, inking, and other 2D animation skill will be explored.

Core Course Competencies:  Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate effective use of timing and weight
2. Apply industry-standard storyboard techniques to animation
3. Critique and discuss animation projects
4. Create a fully developed concept
5. Apply color to animation utilizing tools and techniques
6. Complete all necessary components for a final project

Course Length:            10 weeks           

Contact Hours:                        60

Credit Value:                        4.0

Definition of a Credit Hour:  A quarter credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than
1.     One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for 10 to 12 weeks, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
2.     At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Estimated Homework Hours:            5+hours

Disability Services

The Art Institute of Washington provides accommodations to qualified students with disabilities.  The Disability Services office assists qualified students with disabilities in acquiring reasonable and appropriate accommodations and in supporting equal access to services, programs and activities at The Art Institute of Washington.

Students who seek reasonable accommodations should notify the Disability Services Coordinator, Kristen Ames, at 703.247.2685 of their specific limitations and, if known, their specific requested accommodations. Students will be asked to supply medical documentation of the need for accommodation.  Classroom accommodations are not retroactive, but are effective only upon the student sharing approved accommodations with the instructor.   Therefore, students are encouraged to request accommodations as early as feasible with the Disability Services Coordinator  to  allow  for  time  to  gather  necessary  documentation.   If you have a concern or complaint in this regard, please contact Kristen Ames in Student Affairs, Suite #1107, 703.247.2685. Complaints will be handled in accordance with the school’s Internal Grievance Procedure for Complaints of Discrimination and Harassment.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

The Art Institute of Washington encourages students to excel in their classes and to earn the highest grades possible.  The minimum acceptable academic standard to become a graduate is to earn a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and pass at least 2/3 of the courses attempted (ICR).  Receiving a failing grade in any course requires a student to retake the class at the first opportunity.  The second, passing grade mathematically raises the CGPA.  Earning a D in a class is a passing grade; however, a D is worth only 1grade point and can lower the CGPA to below the minimum level to graduate (2.0).  Therefore, it is in the best interest of students to complete their courses with a grade of C or higher.  If students encounter difficulty with class material, they are encouraged to utilize the Academic Support Center (703-247-6818) on the 12th floor.  Should extenuating circumstances take place that require a student to stop attending classes, students are responsible for contacting their instructor, department chair, or the registrar’s office on the 10th floor.

Academic Support Services:  Students are expected to utilize resources such as the campus library for research assignments and academic support center for tutoring needs.  Information on these services can be found on the student portal at myaicampus.com.

Student Conduct Policy:  The Art Institute of Washington recognizes its students as responsible and dedicated men and women who are preparing for career employment.  An integral part of their career and professional development is the expectation that they conduct themselves during the education process in the same manner as will be expected in all employment situations.  As members of The Art Institute of Washington community, students have responsibilities and duties commensurate with their rights and privileges.  In this policy, The Art Institute of Washington provides guidance to students regarding those standards of student conduct and behavior that it considers essential to its educational mission.  This policy also provides guidance regarding the types of conduct that infringe upon the fulfillment of the Institute’s mission.  Please see pages 31 to 38 in the Student Handbook for complete details.

Academic Dishonesty: The Art Institute of Washington does not tolerate academic dishonesty.  Disciplinary offenses against the student code of conduct concerning academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating on assignments or examinations; engaging in unauthorized collaboration on academic work; taking, acquiring or using test materials without faculty permission; submitting false or incomplete records of academic achievement; altering, forging or misusing a college academic record; fabricating or falsifying data, research procedures, or data analysis; and deceiving the college and/or its officials.   If you are suspected of academic dishonesty of any kind, your instructor reserves the right to fail you for the assignment or the course.  Students may appeal in writing to the Dean of Academic Affairs.  Please refer to the student code of conduct in the Student Handbook for further explanation.

Attendance Policy: The Art Institute’s attendance policy is designed to meet the requirements of state and regional accreditation, to support to the mission and goals of the organization, and to improve the academic performance of students through adherence to industry and educational standards of personal and professional development. Faculty members are required to record attendance accurately. Attendance is directly tied to academic performance. Excessive absenteeism can result in severe academic penalties, including a failing grade for a course or removal from the course. Should absence be necessary, students are responsible for course material covered during the time of absence. Students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled classes, including the first class of the quarter. They are expected to arrive on time and to stay for the full duration of the class. Students may drop or add classes during the first week of the quarter. Students who fail to drop a class during drop/add period will be financially responsible for the cost of the class. Students who do not attend any of their classes during the drop/add period will be with­drawn from the college. Students who miss seven total consecutive days of all scheduled classes, or 20 total calendar days from the date of last attendance in all scheduled courses (whichever is less), will be terminated from the college.

The following is the attendance policy for the Department of: MAA/ VGP/ VFX/ GA
It is the goal of this policy to improve the academic performance of students in the classroom by stressing the importance of course attendance and reinforcing the work-ready expectations of employers for employee attendance. All students are expected to adhere to these industry standards. Students are encouraged to refer to The Student Handbook for the AiW Attendance Policy.

In the Media Arts & Animation Program, the Game Art & Design Program, the Visual Effects & Motion Graphics Program and the Visual & Game Programming Program, students are required to attend all class meetings. Students must arrive on time, come prepared and ready to work, and stay for the duration of the class.

There are no excused absences.


Grading Scale:
A            92 - 100
A-            90 - 91.9
B+            88 - 89.9
B            82 - 87.9
B-            88 - 81.9
C+            82 - 87.9
C            80 - 81.9
C-            72 - 77.9
D+            67.2 - 71.9
D            67 - 67.1
F            66.9 and below

Grading:  The grades for this class will be determined based on the following:
FRR: Final Review Rubric

Class Policies:
This class requires a lot of drawing and redrawing—your first drawings will be just that the first of many drafts, storyboarding is a preproduction art that deals with an exploration of what is best for the story. This means that your first attempt will not be enough. You will be expected to have at least three passes for every assignment, thumbnails, roughs, and finals at the minimum. You will be required to act, class participation is connected to your grade as is working in class. You may not just sit and not work in the class you must be working while in the class. In preparation for portfolio review, and ultimately a profession, it is of primary importance that your work be as good as possible. That being said, any project that has been submitted on time COMPLETED may be redone for a better grade. It may be improved or solved in an entirely different manner as long as it still fulfills the assignment and is documented in writing with evidence and intent of the new direction. If revisions are done poorly, the grade received previously will count. Projects should be reworked based on the critique comments until they are as strong as possible. Doing this is a very important way to improve your skills, focus your creativity, and resolve visual problems. It is also the reality of the creative industry. Revisions and Resubmissions will be Class 20.

Sketchbooks: You are required to keep a sketchbook in this class and it is part of your 10% grade

Assignments: You will have 4 assignments in this class, they are due online at the start of class, late work will not be accepted.

Grading opportunities
Assignment 1A is worth             10%
Assignment 1B is worth             10%
Assignment 2 is worth             10%
Assignment 3 is worth             10%
Assignment 4 is worth             25%
Daily Participation             10% (.5 each day)
Sketchbook with notes             10%
Field Trip is worth             15%
Total                                     100%

Late Submission of Work: NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Make up Work:  Students who miss a class must meet with the instructor to find out how to make up missed work.

Class Participation and In Class Performance:  All students are expected to participate in class discussions, critiques and project assignments.  Failure to do so may result in a lower grade (both on a daily basis and for the final average).  There will be class critiques every other week and we will cover on average one chapter of the text each week.  Students will be expected to use key design terms during their discussion during critiques. Quizzes will be given…

Electronic Devices:  Phones and pagers must be turned off or to vibrate during class.  Any emergency calls that come in during class should be taken outside the classroom.  Headphones must be used in class except during lectures.

Field Trips: You may be required to go on a field trip at some point during the course—you might not want to go, an alternative 10page term paper in MLA format may be done in place of.

Guest Speakers: We may have guest speakers come in—be professional and treat them with the upmost respect.

Homework:  Student should be prepared to work on assignments, readings, preparing for quizzes and sketching during non-class room time. Your hard work and dedication both in class and outside of class are most important in succeeding.  Students should expect to spend 5+ hours per week on homework assignments.

Handouts: Will be digital and available on the class blog or the MAA.

Textbook/eBook: The Animator’s Survival Kit, Richard Williams
Materials and Supplies: 
USB storage device (at least 2GB)
Various Drawing Supplies (Pencils, Inking Tools, etc.)
Sketchbook (8.5 x 11) –at least-


Course Calendar

Week 01            Intro to Flash / Art in Flash / Layers / Brushes / Fills / Strokes / Hotkeys / Workflow
                          Timeline / Keyframes / Symbols /
Assignment 1 Bouncing Ball Animation and Flash Quiz

Week 02              Critique Homework Assignment 1
Symbols / Storyboards  (Batman - Adventure Time or B.W.)
                          Assignment 2 Working from provided boards and animatics.
Use Symbols or traditional methods to animate the scene from the boards.
           
Week 03            Lab
                          Progress Critique 1

 Week 04           Takes- draw poses create a character and break it up for rigged animation / KEY&BKDN

                          Class work Take Animation

 Week 05            Critique Homework Assignment 2

Working with PHONEMES / Fundamentals of Dialogue
                          Assignment 3 Working with Sound Create Mouths based on industry phonemes and synch to audio    
                                   
Week 06            Lab
Critique Homework Assignment 3 Working with Sound

Week 07            Assignment 4 Final Project “11 Sec Club”
                          Lab

Week 08 Progress Critique 1
Lab

 Week 09 Progress Critique 2

Lab

Week 10            Final Critique

                          Resubmissions and Wrap Up Review

 

*Please note that all information listed above is subject to change
Late Projects:
NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.NO INCOMPLETE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.

           

                       


I, ____________________________, affirm that I have received the syllabus for MAA321 for Winter Quarter 2014.  Furthermore, I have read the content of this document and understand that I will be held accountable for the assignments and other required work for this class.

I understand that the times, dates and details of some assignments will are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion and that it remains my responsibility to deliver my work on time and under the requirements assigned.


I confirm that I have received the following documents:
                MAA321 syllabus
                Class attendance policy
                Overview of assignments
                Grading criteria
                Purchase requirements
                Gigacon Attendance



Signature:



Date:
































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