Degree in Animation and VFX

Become a professional in 3D computer generated imagery, including special effects and 3D artwork. The Degree in Animation at La Salle Campus Barcelona is the first official undergraduate degree program in Catalonia.

Animation I

Back to Syllabus

Description
The students know basic and essential concepts of the acting process: background of the character, intentions, corporality, psychology, etc. They learn to use the camera as a character within their scenes. Students begin to work on the mechanics of the body through animation, using video references to understand and comprehend how the human body behaves and moves when faced with an action. To do this they will carry out a series of practical exercises where they will learn to move an inanimate character within a camera frame. The function of these exercises is that the student comes to dominate and perfect the functions of the basic concepts of animation, as well as space/time, squash/stretch, overlaps...etc. Their characters must have their own personality, as well as character and soul.
Type Subject
Tercer - Obligatoria
Semester
First
Course
2
Credits
3.00

Titular Professors

Leonardo Enrique Pereira Vivas
Professor

Professors

Sergi Espada Garcia
Previous Knowledge
Objectives

RA.01 The student applies the principles of animation in animations of body mechanics in bipeds.
RA.02 The student knows the acting principles and the pantomime.
RA.03 The student applies the performance by pantomime in his body mechanics animations.

Contents

Lesson 1 Solid pose. Posing your character
Lesson 2 Physicality and Body mechanics
Lesson 3 Understanding weight and physicality
Lesson 4 Full body weight and Exaggeration
Lesson 5 The principles of the Arcs:
Lesson 6 The art of pantomime acting – Body Acting
Lesson 7 Walkthrough: Blocking to final shot
Lesson 8 Timing and Spacing
Lesson 9 Lesson 4 Secondary action in our animation
Lesson 10 Graph Editor: Tips – Gimbal lock
Lesson 11 Hands poses
Lesson 12 Intro to the Facial poses
Lesson 13 Week of refine works and finals reviews

Methodology

The course will work through various teaching methodologies. At the beginning of each class the concepts and
corresponding theory will be explained, where the teacher will introduce certain basic concepts of the subject and
contextualize the student in methods and strategies of how to apply it in their practical work. In another hour of class,
students will analyze videos and animations of their classmates through dynamic feedback and participatory strategies
in class. Then they will do daily practice. During the practice, the teacher and fellow will support the student.

MD 0: Master Class with the support of audiovisual material.
MD 1: Thought-based learning and criticism.
MD 4: Seminar
MD 7: Flipped Classroom

Evaluation

The evaluation is produced from the score obtained in 15 deliverables. It is not
expected to implement mid-terms and final exams. The works delivered during the extraordinary examinations will be
eligible for only 5 out of 10
- The final grade is calculated from the average of the grades obtained in each semester.
- The grades are calculated by weighting the two-semester grades: exercises, practical works for Animation

Evaluation Criteria
Basic Bibliography

The illusion of Life (Frank Thomas & Ollie Jhonston)
The Animator’s Survival Kit (Richard E. Williams)
Simplified Drawing for Planning Animation (Wayne Gilbert)
Timing for Animation (John Halas and Harold Whitaker)

Additional Material