City Lit animation

What is the course about?

This course will develop your skills in a range of contemporary animation techniques using both stopmotion and digital animation. Taught by professional animators, you will be encouraged to experiment with a range of approaches, materials and software to produce exciting and effective animated sequences. Throughout the course you will be introduced to the work of contemporary international animators and will develop an awareness of where best to place your own animation practice.

The course concludes with a final major project in which you gain expert guidance in creating your own short animated film. You will end up with impressive work for your showreel that could prove invaluable for gaining commissions, for film festivals entries or for gaining a place on a more advanced course.

What will we cover?

• Exploring international contemporary animation practice
• Planning, storyboarding and scheduling
• A range of stop motion animation techniques including drawn, cut out and model animation
• Capturing stop motion using the professional stop motion capture software Dragon Frame and DSLR cameras
• Preparing assets for digital animation using Photoshop
• Digital animation and SFX using the professional applications Adobe Photoshop and Adobe After Effects
• Creating narrative and character animations
• Applying experimental approaches to a range of traditional and digital animation techniques
• Creatively compositing animations produced traditionally and digitally to create innovative animations.
• Editing and animated special effects techniques
• Screening opportunities and animation festival entries.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- use a range of traditional and experimental stop motion animation techniques using the professional application Dragon Frame
- Prepare assets for digital animation using Photoshop
- Create traditional and experimental digital animation sequences using the applications Photoshop CC and After Effects CC
- Creatively composite animations produced using Premiere Pro and After Effects.
- Edit animated sequences using a range of special effects and sound in Premiere Pro
- Be aware of international contemporary animation practice
- Be aware of screening opportunities
- Plan and produce a short effective animated film
- Evaluate your own work and the work of your peers.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

Although this course is for beginners it is a fast track course requiring students to demonstrate a high level of commitment throughout. You'll need good time management skills and be able to work independently in conducting research, practising skills, and developing projects outside the course. You should have a basic knowledge of, and competence in, using computers, including creating, saving and retrieving files.
Please note we will be using Apple Mac computers.

You'll need to be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be happy using numbers and able to do simple measurements and calculations.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will be taught through demonstrations, practical workshops and exercises, short lectures, small group and individual guidance and assistance, group presentations and critiques. The course puts equal emphasis on skills and ideas-based thinking. Practicing techniques and developing projects outside the class is encouraged.
We use Google Classroom E-learning platform which will store all tasks, notes and resources. You will be sent an email with the necessary information and will need to login into your Google classroom before each sessions starts.

As you will be expected to practise your skills and prepare and develop your projects outside the class you will need to gain access to computers and the required software outside the course. We use Google Classroom E-learning platform which will store all tasks, notes and resources. You will be sent an email with the necessary information and will need to login into your Google classroom before each sessions starts.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Our DSLR cameras and the latest professional equipment and software are available for your use throughout the course.
You will need to bring your own external hard drive (formatted for use on Mac computers) if you want to keep and develop work done in the class.
You will be using a range of Adobe Creative Cloud software on this course including Photoshop, After Effects, and Premiere Pro.
If you wish to buy your own copy to work at home, you might be eligible for a discount from Adobe

adobe.com/uk/creativecloud/buy/students .

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

You can develop and compliment your skills in animation through a range of City Lit courses in animation, film making, cartooning, illustration, and editing. You can find the outlines of courses available by entering the subject you’re interested in in the search box of the City Lit website at http://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses.