Syllabus    DAGD 101  2D Visualization

Course and Subject Concepts

 

Course title:

2D Visualization

 

Course number:

DAGD 101

 

Course discipline:

Digital Animation and Game Design

 

Course description:

This course is designed to develop technical and design skills used in creating storyboards, style sheets and other visualization tools

 

Course date:

AGA Mon, August 28, 2006 through Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2006

AGB Wed,  August 30, 2006 through Thursday , Dec. 13, 2006

AGC Thurs August 31, 2006 through Thursday , Dec. 14, 2006

 

Location:

FSU/GRCC  Advanced Technology Center    /   Room 139

 

Meeting day(s):

DAGD 102 – 83116 AGA Mon

DAGD 102 – 83117 AGB Wed

DAGD 102 – 83118 AGC Thurs

 

Meeting time(s):

DAGD 102 – 83116 AGA  1:30 – 4:20 

DAGD 102 – 83117 AGB  1:30 – 4:20

DAGD 102 – 83118 AGC  9:30 – 12:20

 

 

Overview:

This course will focus on the methods and steps to visualizing creative ideas and developing storyboards for production. 

 

We will also examine good work habits and workflow patterns that will establish and ensure technical and compositional success.

 

Textbooks

Required reading:

The Advanced Layout and Design Workbook by Brian Lemay The Animated Cartoon Factory  ISBN 0-9699419-2-7

Regrettably, you will need to send Brian a Check for this book as the bookstore was not able to stock it.  Please make checks out to:

The Animated Cartoon Factory

Suite 1422

1011 Upper Middle Rd.

Oakville, Ontario

Canada, L6H 5Z9

 

Go to http://www.brianlemay.com/Books/books.html

 

Brian Lemay is faculty at Seneca College in Ontario.  He was instrumental in creating the curricula at Sheridan College, the “Harvard of Animation” which much of this book comes from.  His storyboards for ‘Ryan’ propelled the film to win an Oscar for best animated short in 2005.  He spent over 10 years working for Nelvana Productions in Toronto storyboarding shows including Inspector Gadget.  He is our silent partner in this class.  Here are links to his bio.  http://imdb.com/name/nm0501140/bio

http://www.rebelscum.com/lemay.asp

 

 

Recommended reading:

The Illusion of Life Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson

ISBN 0-89659-232-4   The Gospel of Animation by two of the Disney Nine Old Men

 

Film Directing, Shot by Shot: Visualization from Concept to Screen Michael Weis Productions.  An OK book that help cover all bases of storyboarding.  This is more of a live action book, but a good primer on the art.

 

The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video, Tom Schroeppel (ISBN 0-9603718-1-8).

 

Animation by Preston Blair   This is a Walter Foster Art book and I would be remiss not mentioning it.  Most animators have cut their teeth on this series.

 

 

Materials

Media:

Here is your shopping List:

 

A sketch journal that you will carry around with you. ( less than $10.00)

Large Newsprint pad for gesture drawing ( available at Kendall)

A straightedge ( for example, a one foot plastic ruler)

Drawing Media (charcoal, conte, etc.) for Newsprint Pad.  I like china markers myself.

3x5 note cards ( about 250 should do) for quick storyboard sketching

500 sheets (1 ream) 8 ½ x 11 copy/computer paper

A variety of pencils and other drawing markers/pens.  I like HB’s and Black Pentel’s or felt tip BIC’s myself.  Standard 2b pencils will work too. 

Blue prismacolor pencils for rough drawing.

Oh yes, Stadler white erasers are always a good thing for your toolkit.

I like carrying this stuff in a cheap toolbox or tacklebox. I have been using mine from boyscouts for years.

 

This is a drawing course and you will be doing lots of it.

Access to a digital camera would be very helpful.  

A basic spiral bound notebook for taking notes, etc. etc.

 

 

Attendance

Course goals:

Attendance will be taken and has an affect upon your grade.   Your success on assignments will relate to being an active participant each day that we have class.   Just like in a work environment, your presence in the class is expected.  However, things do happen.  You are allowed two absences, excused or unexcused during the course of the semester so budget your time well.  After two absences your grade will be discounted 5 points for each occurrence ( i.e. a B could become a C+)

 

Admission to the day of class will be your sketchbook with 6 pages of new drawings and thoughts.  I will be at the door checking them in.

 

Assignments

Assignments and projects will be due on their due date at the beginning of class without penalty.   Late assignments are not accepted.   While this may sound harsh, we are training for the real world which has little tolerance for late work from suppliers.  You will find that if you budget your time effectively, you will be successful.  Set aside a certain time and day to get your work done and guard that time against intruders.

 

Assignment will be made available on WEB CT so you will always have timely access to information.  If you are not in class that week, and have questions about the assignment, I am available by email to answer your questions and in my office during office hours.  Don’t forget to consult with classmates and teammates for clarification of assignments. ‘Not understanding the assignment’ is not an excuse for being late.  We will always go over assignments in class.

 

Quizzes

 

There are no quizzes scheduled for this class. 

 

Extra Credit

If you find that you missed an assignment or need points for other reasons, can earn extra credit by submitting an extra credit project at the end of the semester.   You will find them in the assignments area of WEB CT by mid semester.   Please be aware that they are somewhat arduous and will take more work than a missed assignment.  However, you may also find that they could be a fantastic portfolio piece.

 

Critique:

 

Your work will be subject to weekly critiques and reviews.  This is a good thing.  You will find that they will help raise your work to greater levels.  Not having work available for critique will be a ‘missed’ assignment and credited as such ( as in ‘0’).  If you are going to be absent from class and its accompanying critique, you may submit your work to me before hand for no loss in points.  Every day a project is late, you will loose 50% of the point value per day.

 

 

 

Assignments

Course structure:

You will be assessed on the following criteria:  Attendance, class participation, assignments and a final project.   Your grade will be based on a gradual accumulation of successful and timely assets.

 

Assignments are due at the beginning of the class as we will be critiquing weekly.

 

Each day in class we will draw.  Afterward, short films and lectures will illustrated principles of visualization and storyboarding. The lesson will be collected on WEB CT at the end of the class.  You will also be given assignments over the course of the semester.  An assignment sheet outlining the creative and technical specifications will be issued.  You will find some assignments will be on a ‘pass/improve’ basis.  My goal is for you to have some fun with these assignments and so as long as the technical requirements are fulfilled, your creative juices can flow and imagination explore without the pressure of a grade. We will have class critiques on assignments where you will be expected to discuss design considerations about your efforts.

 

“But I Can’t Draw!”

 

Oh sure you can.  You probably haven’t been trained to draw.  But don’t worry, for most of the class, I am not overly concerned about your drawing ability.  It is assumed that everyone will be starting from a different skill level. While quality draftsmanship is always a good goal, what I am really concerned about is your ability to think like a film maker.   Your grades will be based more on completion of the assignments and the critical thinking that goes into them.  On your self directed and the final assignment, I will have a significant amount of points on your presentation and ‘drawing’ quality to give you a goal to set for yourself.

 

However, be warned that if I feel you haven’t put effort into your drawing and you are just trying to get by, I reserve the right to ‘bounce’ your work.  Just ask around.  I do that.

 

 

Course Evaluation Weights and Specifics

Course goals:

The accumulative points earned on assignments, lessons and portfolio presentation will determine the final grade in this course. You will be provided with all the necessary information either through lecture, demonstrations, or the required textbooks:

70% - Assignments

10% - Sketchbook

20% - Final project

= Final Grade

The final grade is determined by the following percentages:

A 93-100% A- 90-92.9% B+ 87-89.9% B 83-86.9% B- 80-82.9% C+ 77-79.9%
C 73-76.9% C- 70-72.9% D+ 67-69.9% D 63-66.9% F 00-62.9%

 

I reserve the right to adjust the Course Assignment Schedule to improve the instructional objectives outcome.

 

 

 

Course Schedule and Due Dates

 

Please refer to the Course Assignment Schedule

 

Outcomes

Course goals:

1. Students will become more knowledgeable about storyboarding

2. Students will gain confidence in their ability to gesture draw.
3. Students will be able to apply visualization techniques to their animated sequences

4. Students will be able to apply design principles and strategies to storyboard panels.

5. Students will gain appreciation for short animated film productions and techniques.

 

 

Instructor Information

Name:

David Baker

 

Email:

davidbaker@ferris.edu

 

Office location:

FSU/GRCC 177

 

Office hours:

During class or posted times / other times by appointment.

 

Phone:

231-233-6498

 

 

 

 

Academic Honesty

Do not cheat. If you do and are caught, you will fail the course or receive a substantially lower grade. Refer to the following link or ask me for clarification of Ferris State University policies toward academic integrity: https://wwws.ferris.edu/webforstudents/faq/faq.html#ah