Updates and Deadlines

Wed, Apr 30 at 2:00 - DUE: Visual Music v2 (mp4, working files, assets). Attendence of final is required.

Grades for the Chain Reaction are posted.

Course Information

Stephan Larson

email:  stlarson@nmu.edu 
phone: x1488 (227-1488)
Office: 84 ART -- Office Hours

Syllabus/FAQ
Semester Schedule
Lab Hours

Web password and Google Drive link are in Educat.

 

Look At That

Additional references, project materials, and generally interesting animation stuff.

Abstract Sticker Set (Jan 13)
Simple Shapes Challenge (Jan 15)
Emergent (for the smash) (Jan 15)
Ministry of Eye Control (Jan 22)
Sports Balls in Motion (Jan 27) One of many references out there.
Shhh // We'll Never Tell - Giant Ant (Jan 27)
Google Home App - Gunner, now part of Duolingo (Jan 27)
Shapes (Jan 29)
Contest Motion #3 (Feb 3)
Illusion of Life (Feb 5)
A ball that bounces higher than its drop height. Bouncy physics stuff. (Feb 5)
Primary (Feb 10)
Buck - WhatsApp stickers (Feb 10)
Stuff to Model (Feb 10)
Disney Classics (Feb 17) - hierarchy for animation.
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (Feb 19)
Wolkov Promo (Feb 24/26)
OPPO R11 (Feb 24)
Driven (Mar 10) - repeaters + fundamentals
SOFTWAR (Mar 12) simulation madness
Endless (Mar 19): Xpresso
Smartzone Idents (Mar 24) chain reaction with AE
LUMBRE Tiki Series (Mar 24)
World's Slowest Rube Goldberg (Mar 26)
This Too Shall Pass, OK GO (Mar 26) - James Frost. : chain reaction meets music video
Ordinary Folk (Apr 9)... files in the Play link.
Strava - Year in Sport (Apr 14)
Francis Mallmann on Growing Up (Apr 16)

Semester Schedule

Note: All dates are subject to change.

I. 2D Animation

Jan 13 - Welcome back. Intro. Progress check 1.
Jan 15 - After Effects review. Speed graph. Assign Project 1.
Jan 20 - MLK. No class.
Jan 22 - Project 1 due. Pre-comps, masks, and eye paths. Assign Project 2.
Jan 27 - Parabolas, decay, and AE motion graph. Project check-in.
Jan 29 - Animation fundamentals. Parenting.
Feb 3 - Project 2 due. Repeaters.
Feb 5 - Project 2 revision due. Rule of thirds. Secondary Animation. Assign Project 3.
Feb 10 - Project 3 due. Back into C4D. Progress check 2.

II. 3D Animation
Feb 12 - C4D keyframes and f-curves.
Feb 17 - Axis and hierarchy. Deformers. Assign Project 4
Feb 19 - Project 4 due. C4D materials, lighting, and HDR. Assign Project 5.
Feb 24 - Rendering and Team Rendering. Cutting and editing while animating.
Feb 26 - Postproduction.
Mar 3/5 - Spring Break. No class.
Mar 10 - Background replacement and studio check-in.
Mar 12 - Project 5a due. Cloners, volume building, and simulations.
Mar 17 - Project 5b due. Previs. Assign Project 6.
Mar 19 - Xpresso and rigging. Storboards for Project 6 due.
Mar 24 - Progress check 3. Project check-in.
Mar 26 - Look development and Particles. Project check-in.
Mar 31 - IAR. No class.
Apr 2 - Project 6a due.
Apr 7 - Project 6b due. Assign Project 7.

III. Open Animation
Apr 9 - Project 7 storyboards due. Animatics. JSX shortcuts.
Apr 14 - Grunge and grit.
Apr 16 - Progress check 4. TBD based on project 7 proposals.
Apr 21 - Motivated transitions. Project check-in.
Apr 23 - Project 7a due.
Final: Project 7b due: Apr 30 (Wednesday, 2:00-3:50)