Course Description

Character Design and Animation (ANIM 401) is an advanced course that immerses students in the art of character design and animation. In this course, students will delve into the principles of character design, exploring various styles and concepts. They will learn advanced character animation techniques, enabling them to breathe life into their creations.

Outline of Major Content Areas

1. Character Design Fundamentals: Understanding the basics of character design, including anatomy, proportions, and visual storytelling.
2. Character Development: Creating unique characters with distinct personalities, backgrounds, and visual traits.
3. Storyboarding for Character Animation: Learning the art of storyboarding to plan character-driven narratives.
4. Advanced Character Animation Techniques: Exploring advanced animation principles for characters, including walk cycles, expressions, and lip syncing.
5. Character Animation in 3D: Applying character animation techniques in 3D software.
6. Character Rigging: Understanding character rigging for smoother and more realistic character movement.
7. Character Animation Projects: Working on character animation projects, including short character-driven animations.
8. Critiques and Feedback: Engaging in critiques and feedback sessions to refine character designs and animations.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completing Character Design and Animation (ANIM 401), students will:

1. Character Design Proficiency: Demonstrate proficiency in character design, including anatomy, proportions, and visual storytelling.
2. Unique Character Creation: Develop unique and well-defined characters with distinct personalities and backgrounds.
3. Storyboarding Skills: Apply storyboarding techniques to plan character-driven narratives effectively.
4. Advanced Animation Techniques: Master advanced character animation techniques, including walk cycles, expressions, and lip syncing.
5. 3D Character Animation: Apply character animation principles in 3D software.
6. Character Rigging Knowledge: Understand character rigging principles for smoother character movement.
7. Character Animation Projects: Successfully complete character animation projects, showcasing creativity and technical skills.
8. Critique and Revision: Engage in critiques and apply feedback to refine character designs and animations.

Methods for Assessing Student Learning

Assessment in Character Design and Animation (ANIM 401) combines practical assignments, character animation projects, critiques, and feedback sessions to evaluate students’ comprehension and application of character design and animation principles. Assessment methods include:

1. Character Design Projects: Evaluation of character design projects, including character sketches and visual storytelling.
2. Storyboarding Assignments: Assessment of storyboarding assignments that demonstrate effective narrative planning.
3. Character Animation Projects: Review of character animation projects, including walk cycles, expressions, and lip syncing.
4. 3D Character Animation Tasks: Evaluation of 3D character animation projects, focusing on realism and character movement.
5. Character Rigging Demonstrations: Assessment of character rigging exercises for smooth character animation.
6. Critique and Feedback: Participation in critique sessions and the application of feedback to improve character designs and animations.

Character Design and Animation (ANIM 401) equips students with the advanced skills required to create compelling characters and bring them to life through animation. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to tackle character design and animation challenges in various creative industries, including animation studios, film, and game development.