Winter 2025
email: stlarson@nmu.edu
phone: x1488 (227-1488)
Office: 84 ART -- Office Hours
"Development of concepts and practices of computer art with an emphasis on keyframe and procedural animation methods."
The course is all about motion - the technical aspects of creating motion with software, the design aspects of manipulating motion in an effective manner, and the conceptual aspects of motion that involve emotion, interpretation, and communication. Recurring topics will emphasize the design of 2D and 3D animation. The course includes technique, design, and concepts of the medium with a focus on student production. All assignments and the evaluation of projects will place emphasis on quality over quantity, with the goal of creating short, thoughtful, tightly edited pieces.
This is a studio course. Class time will be utilized for screenings, critiques, discussions, demonstrations, and production. Some projects have a required revision component. The process of re-working a piece numerous times is a standard practice of broadcast media (and is required when creating work for a client). The goal is to create, improve, and refine work to create better portfolio pieces, create behavior patterns of revision, and embrace critique as an active part of improvement.
Adobe After Effects and Maxon Cinema4D will be the primary tools for the duration of the semester, but Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator will be used for smaller components of the semester in addition to numerous optional applications for image generation, video editing, and audio manipulation.
This course is all about motion. Moving stuff. Moving stuff with control. Moving stuff deliberately. Moving stuff realistically. Moving stuff in an exaggerated fashion. Moving stuff to direct the viewer's attention. Moving stuff to tell a story. Moving stuff to convey emotion. The tools are Adobe After Effects (for the 2D components) and Cinema 4D (for the 3D components). Approximately half of the semester will be spent in each application, but there is some use of After Effects throughout the entire semester.
Primary techniques include keyframes and motion curves. Those are fundamental to controlling motion. Secondary techniques include iteration/repetition, shape/form design, production pipelines, and lighting/postproduction.
Course Outcomes
* Use keyframes and motion curves to create and effectively control animation in both 2D and 3D software. [technique]
* Create animation that demonstrates knowledge of animation principles (acceleration/deceleration, squash/stretch, etc.). [design]
* Analyze animation for effective design and apply design concepts in the creation of animation. [design]
* Create animation that exploits the strengths of animation (simultaneously acknowledging the weaknesses). [concept]
* Create animation as a synthesis of concept development, application of technology, evaluation of design, and final output.
Consideration in grading is given to the following:
* TECHNIQUE - Technical control and craftsmanship
* DESIGN - Visual thought process; composition and framing, overall design, lighting, texturing, quality of motion
* CONCEPT - Creativity and imaginative use of the medium; serious engagement with ideas and issues to communicate an idea to the viewer
* SCOPE/AMBITION - The amount of work produced and pushing beyond project minimums
All projects have a grading rubric with the specific criteria for project evaluation. The rubrics are linked to each project webpage.
The semester points grade scale is approximately as follows (max 2,500 pts):
A: 2,300+
B: 1,775
C: 1,250
D: 725
The grade weighting of the various projects is approximately as follows:
Airplane: 3%
Box Jump 2D: 4%
Animated Motif: 17%
Box Jump 3D: 4%
Watch Promo: 16%
Chain Reaction: 22%
Visual Music: 25%
Challenges: 5%
Engagement: 5%
As a reminder, if you are a Computer Art major, you must maintain a 2.7 GPA average (B-) across your computer art courses and you must achieve a C- or better grade in all Foundations courses -- 101, 102, 2D Foundation, 3D Foundation, Digital Foundation, 270 -- to be eligible for Individual Art Review and Senior Capstone Project.
Students are expected to complete all assignments for the specified date; late assignments will be penalized 25% (approximately one letter grade) automatically and no assignment will be accepted more than one week late. Failure to complete all Assignments results in automatic failure of the course. If you do not complete all of the assignments, you have not completed the minimum course requirements.
Stuff happens. Sometimes life stuff collides with class stuff. Sometime you just stumble during a project. Every student receives an Oops Token at the start of the semester.
Oops tokens:
* May be used at any time to receive a no-questions-asked 48-hour extension on a project. Extensions may not be used for the final project.
* May be used at any time to receive a project revision/do-over. The revision/do-over will typically be due 48 hours after the normal deadline but for larger projects, that may be extended to 72 hours. Oops tokens may not be used for the final project.
* If unused, Oops tokens will add 40 bonus points to your final grade.
Attendance is essential. The course is comprised of lectures, demonstrations,
class discussions, critiques, visual presentations, and working in class,
all of which cannot be repeated so it is in your best interest to conscientiously
attend class... but there is no formal attendance policy - it is just assumed you will attend class.
*** The final is required
for all students (as per the NMU requirement) - failure to attend the final will result in automatic
failure of the course.
Active participation in discussions and critiques, asking questions, and making comments are encouraged and expected -- engagement. Students will be expected to verbally present their images and talk about the process as well as their interests and ideas. Student engagement (participation, critique productivity, willingness to explore course material, completion of projects/challenges, etc.) contributes to the semester grade.
* A second storage system for files/backups: USB drive at least 16GB size (32+ is recommended), external hard drive, or regular access to Google Drive.
* Cinema4D/RedGiant requires a $60 purchasee from Maxon, valid for one year. Instructions are on the Links page in the side bar.
* The course does not provide consumable materials, such as sketch paper and pencils, and does not charge a course service fee.
* Class will begin at the scheduled time. Please be in the classroom with materials, ready to start working.
* Projects are mandatory. It shows that you understand how to apply the concepts learned in class. Projects must be completed before class starts on the day it is due. Some projects will include class critique and others will simply be turned in. Some projects will require a revision, some projects will have the option for a revision, and some projects will not be revised.
* Any project (except the final project) may be revised one additional time after the final submission. The optional revision is due one week after the initial project deadline.
* There will be no food or drink in the computer lab.
* If you have a cell phone - answer it in the hallway, NOT in the lab (and never during class).
* The computer studio will have open lab hours. It is assumed that projects cannot be completed during regular class meetings.
* Computers are to be utilized for coursework and activities related to coursework. Do not use computers for entertainment during class meetings.
* Do not display material on screen which may be distracting or offensive to your neighbor.
* Make multiple backups. "My laptop died" is not an acceptable excuse for not handing in your assignment. Keep a copy on your laptop, your backup drive, the server, etc.
* Version your work. Save different versions of your project whenever you make a significant change so that you can easily go back to an earlier version if things go wrong. (e.g. save files animation01.aep, animation02.aep, animation03.aep, etc.) There is a built-in Save Incremental function in both After Effects and Cinema4D.
* Try things on a test scene, not your main work. Everything can be copy/pasted together. This is particularly relevant when trying to fix a problem... sometimes it is easier to go back to an earlier version of the project (you did see the previous suggestion, right?).
* Be careful googling techniques/tutorials. There is a ton of good stuff out there but some of it is out of date (i.e. does not work the same way in current versions of software; this is more of a problem in Cinema4D than After Effects) or uses techniques that are not production oriented (i.e. the technique is slow, inappropriate, non-scalable, destructive, only works in one situation, etc.). Before using a long tutorial, check out the creator's other content to see if they have legit cred.
* Follow project guidelines carefully.
* Assignments WILL take more time than you expect. Start them early. Do not start a two-week long project two days before it is due. There is never a problem with completing a project early.
Outside of class, I can most easily be reached via email (stlarson@nmu.edu). I will respond to emails within 24 hours - usually within 6-8 hours; responses on Saturday/Sunday may be slower. When emailing, please use a subject line to assist in prioritizing responses - "Cinema4D problem" and "Project feedback" are more useful than "Help!" when I scan my inbox.
Office hours are an effective means for working out technical problems or receiving in-process feedback.
This classroom is a place where you will be treated with respect. In this course, each voice has something of value to contribute. Please take care to respect the different experiences, beliefs, and values expressed by students, faculty, and staff. Each member of this class is expected to contribute in a respectful, welcoming manner.
The instructor may duplicate your artwork from this semester for instructional and/or promotional uses that relate to the educational mission of the instructor, department, or university. If you are unwilling to allow your portfolio to be copied for these specific purposes, please inform the instructor.
If you have a need for disability-related accommodations or services, please inform the Coordinators of Disability Services in the Dean of Students Office at 2001 C. B. Hedgcock Building (906-227-1737 or disability@nmu.edu). Reasonable and effective accommodations and services will be provided to students if requests are made in a timely manner, with appropriate documentation, in accordance with federal, state, and university guidelines.
It is the responsibility of the student to safeguard his or her personal property, including any personal property that is required for any course. Northern Michigan University, the School of Art and Design, faculty and staff, are not responsible for loss or damage to personal property of students.
If you are a veteran and need assistance with your benefits or are experiencing complications with your education due to military service-connected issues, contact the Veteran Resource Representative in 2101 Hedgcock (227-1402 or mrutledg@nmu.edu). The Veteran Resource Representative can advocate for you before the Veterans Administration and can also help you solve any veteran-specific issues you may have.
