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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
F/TV D066A
Course Title (CB02)
Basic Techniques of Animation: Stop Motion
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2021
Course Description
Techniques of three-dimensional stop-motion and non-cel animation, as applied to a variety of art media (puppet, clay, pixillation, shadow puppets and other under-camera art media). Principles of movement and timing, lighting and cinematography, and multiplane dimensionality, with application to both computer and traditional drawn animation.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course teaches basic stop-motion animation techniques. This is a CSU transferable course and belongs on the Film/TV: Animation degree.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
3.0
Maximum Credit Units
3.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours2.55.0
Laboratory Hours1.50.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
30.0
Laboratory
18.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
60.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
60.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Critique of student production work

Collaborative projects

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Field observation and field trips

Guest speakers

Assignments

  1. Weekly production exercises with three-dimensional miniatures
  2. Experiments with non-cel, under-the-camera art media, individual or group
  3. Development of initial stages of a personal non-cel animation project

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Evaluate the student’s application of timing and movement principles in animating objects based on class lecture and demonstration.
  2. Evaluate the student’s application of non-cel, under-the-camera techniques based on class lecture and demonstration.
  3. Evaluate the student’s final project and its non-cell animation production techniques based on class lecture and demonstration.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • Materials for drawing, puppet and armature construction, sets and props, cutouts, shadow puppets and/or photo-motion as required by student's choice of projects
Essential College Facilities:
  • Classroom with projection booth and 16mm film projector; VHS, DVD and laserdisc decks with video projector; drawing tables with animation discs and underlights; video pencil test camera and recorder; 16mm, 35mm or digital animation stand with moveable artwork compound; facilities for action analysis through single-frame projection of 16mm film, videotape or DVD
  • Computers with pencil test, soundtrack reading and animatic construction software

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Gasek, Tom. "Frame-by-Frame Stop Motion: The Guide to Non-Traditional Animation Techniques." Boston: Focal Press, 2011.
Shaw, Susannah. "Stop Motion: Craft Skills for Model Animation." 2nd ed. Burlington: Focal Press, 2008.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Blair, Preston. "How to Animate Film Cartoons (How to Draw and Paint Series)." Lake Forest: Walter Foster Publishing, 1989.
Gasek, Tom. "Frame-By-Frame Stop Motion: The Guide to Non-Puppet Photographic Animation Techniques." 3rd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2017.
Holman, L. Bruce. "Puppet Animation in the Cinema: History and Technique." A.S. Barnes, 1975.
Laybourne, Kit. "The Animation Book: A Complete Guide to Animated Filmmaking--From Flip-Books to Sound Cartoons to 3-D Animation." Rev Sub ed. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1998.
Lord, Peter and David Sibley. "Creating 3D Animation: The Aardman Book of Filmmaking." Rev. ed. Harry N. Abrams, 2005.
Priebe, Ken A. "The Advanced Art of Stop-Motion Animation." Boston: Cengage Learning, 2010.
Reiniger, Lotte. "Shadow Puppets, Shadow Theatres, and Shadow Films." Reprint ed. Plays, Inc., 1975.
Taylor, Richard. "The Encyclopedia of Animation Techniques: A Comprehensive Step-By-Step Directory of Techniques, with an Inspirational Gallery of Finished Works." London: Book Sales, 2004.
Ternan, Melvyn. "Stop Motion Animation: How to Make & Share Creative Videos." Barron's Educational Series, 2013.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Apply the basic principles of timing and spacing necessary to create basic animated movement.
  • Apply the basic principles of lighting and cinematography for creating believable illusory spaces.
  • Produce animation with at least one under-the-camera technique.
  • Examine the vocational opportunities in the field of non-cel animation.

CSLOs

  • Design the movement and timing for sequences of character animation using stop-motion production techniques and/or a wide variety of other "under camera" animation methodologies.

Outline

  1. Apply the basic principles of timing and spacing necessary to create basic animated movement.
    1. Story sequence
    2. Pencil test
    3. Character or object movement
    4. Mechanics of quadruped jumps, landings, gait and tail movement
  2. Apply the basic principles of lighting and cinematography for creating believable illusory spaces.
    1. Camera positioning
    2. Camera movement
    3. Lighting setups for setting, mood or time
    4. Problems of scale
    5. Equipment
    6. Explore the mechanisms for representation of depth in each animation art medium.
  3. Produce animation with at least one under-the-camera technique.
    1. Pinscreen
    2. Smeared plasticine
    3. Sand
    4. Paint-on-glass
    5. Carbon dust
    6. Cutouts
    7. Shadow puppets
    8. Photo-motion
    9. Participate in multiple production projects involving three-dimensional miniatures.
    10. Development of initial stages of a personal non-cel animation project
  4. Examine the vocational opportunities in the field of non-cel animation.
    1. Apply class exercises toward construction of a demo reel usable in a job application for a non-cel animation position.
    2. Interviews with studio recruitment coordinators
    3. Evaluations of portfolios and demo reels
    4. Discussion of festival and marketing strategies

Lab Topics

  1. Camera operation and procedures
  2. Animation lighting set ups
  3. Practice under-the-camera techniques
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