Class Description

Animation Creation walks students through the process of making their very own animated short films, every step of the way, from the initial concept down to the very last frame. Through hands-on practice, students will discover the roots of animation using multiple foundational techniques while creating original animated projects of their own. Each class begins with a visual demonstration and brief introduction to the topic of the day, along with a unique creative prompt to inspire students' work. Students are encouraged to develop their own artistic voice and storytelling style while receiving guidance and support throughout the creative process. The course emphasizes exploration, imagination, and personal expression, giving students the freedom to create films that reflect their unique ideas and interests. The semester is divided into stages that introduce a variety of animation techniques: 2D Hand-Drawn Animation – Beginning with flip books, students will progress through optical illusions and traditional hand-drawn animation techniques using paper, pencils, crayons, markers, and other art materials. Cutout Animation – Students will explore silhouette and collage animation using fabric, construction paper, magazines, and textured materials to create characters and scenes. They will then photograph and sequence their work to create original animated films. By the end of the course, students will have gained a strong understanding of animation fundamentals, visual story