ART 4921
CAPSTONE ANIMATION
FALL 2020
Instructor: Jim Ovelmen
Office: FA227 (now virtual)
Office Hours: listed here
Class Day/Time: FRIDAYS 8am-1:15pm
Room: CANVAS
Prerequisites: Art 4960, 4940, 3830, 3780, 3810, 3800, 3760, 2800
GE Category: Upper Division
Course Fee: None
Tel: 213-323-4033
Email: jovelme@calstatela.edu, jim@jimovelmen.com
| Course Description | Classroom Protocol | Suggested Texts |
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| Capstone Animation project is the final project which demonstrates your personal vision, creative, and technical skills culminating in traditional story, fine-art, or mixed media/experimental animation. Students are encouraged to mix different kinds of animation, and create experimentally. Emphasis should be on the quality of work, good use of technology, originality, and professional attitude. Final grades will be based on a points accumulated with Progress and Final Reports, and the evaluation of those reports, which are based on both technical and conceptual hard work and effectiveness of production. | It is essential that students attend class on time, and remain working and productive the entire period of class. Arriving late or leaving early will be counted against points of participation. Capstone Animation, is a course where students work with much autonomy, and provide their own working schedules and keep in a production timeline. A professional atmosphere is expected at all times. Use of texting, phone technology, social media websites, as well as socializing during class is strictly prohibited. Instructor reserves the right to eject students engaging in such behavior. Students will turn off their phones when they participate class. In an emergency situation, students may activate their phone to call campus Police at: (213) 323-3700. Absences and tardiness may not be excused against penalty of participation points, except in the case of a personal illness, emergency, hospitalization, or hardship that incapacitates the student, and only with the written note by a medical doctor.
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Furniss, Maureen, The Animation Bible: A Practical Guide to the Art of Animating Furniss, Maureen. Art in Motion, Revised Edition: Animation Aesthetics
Halas, John, Sito, Tom and Harold Whitaker. Timing for Animation, Second Edition
Sitney, P. Adams. Visionary Film: The American Avant-Garde, 1943-2000 (third edition). Oxford University Press, 2002.
Foster, Gwendolyn Audry and Winston-Dixon, Wheeler. Experimental Cinema: The Film Reader. Routledge, 2002.
Robinson, Chris. Animators Unearthed: A Guide to the Best of Contemporary Animation. Continuum, 2010.
Turvey, Malcolm. The Filming of Modern Life: European Avant-Garde Film of the
Brakhage, Stan and McPherson, Bruce R. Essential Brakhage: Selected Writings on
Wells, Paul; Hardstaff, Johnny and Clifton, Darryl. Re-Imagining Animation: The Changing Face of the Moving Image. Ava Publishing, 2008.
Perlich, John and Whitt, David. Millennial Mythmaking: Essays on the Power of Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature, Films and Games. McFarland, 2009.
Good, Howard and Borden, Sandra L. Ethics and Entertainment: Essays on Media Culture and Media Morality. McFarland, 2010.
Other Readings Wells, Paul. Animation – Genre and Authorship. Wallflower Press, 2002. Anker, Steve; Geritz, Kathy and Seid, Steve. Radical Light: Alternative Film and Video in the San Francisco Bay Area, 1945-2000. University of California Press, 2010.
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| Student Learning Objectives | Assignments and Grading | |
| This course provides students a rigorous independent and group environment that results in a final animation of the highest standard achievable of each student thus far. Thusly named “Capstone”, the core depends on equally rigorous effort by the student in order to achieve that objective. The finished Capstone Project, usually a short animation, is the crowning portfolio piece that may be used to enter a career in animation industry, entry into animation festivals, and/or become material toward an application to a graduate program in animation. | Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, etc. Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes: https://get.calstatela.edu/Registrar.htm
7 PROGRESS REPORTS + 1 FINAL REPORT REPORTS 1-4 = 35 points REPORTS 5-7 = 35 points FINAL REPORT = 10 points ATTENDANCE= 20 points
Missing more than 6 classes is an AUTOMATIC FAILURE
each student will recieve 3 "work-at-home-passes" worth 0.7 attendance points each.
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| Course Learning Outcomes | University Policies | |
| Upon completion of the course, students will be able to utilize and begin to master a chosen technique of animation to represent their artistic concept. They will understand the production process in both independent, and studio production methods. Students will have the ability to create both technically and conceptually and an artistic expression in short animated form. They will have the ability to experiment, plan and execute an individualized approach to visualizing to completion an animation that is long term in the making, and the dedication needed to do so. |
Information on student rights and responsibilities, academic honesty, standards of conduct, etc., can be found in Schedule of Classes (http://www.calstatela.edu/classschedule/) under Policies and Procedures. Americans with Disabilities
Reasonable accommodation will be provided to any student who is registered with the Office of Students with Disabilities and requests needed accommodation. Learning DisabilitiesAny student with a learning disability (i.e., reading, speaking, and/or writing impediments) that might affect his/her performance in this class is encouraged to notify me in writing at the beginning of the QUARTER, identifying the specific nature of such disability. |
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| Course Materials |
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| Computers labs are provided with up to date software and hardware for animation, but are only available during designated lab hours. Students are not required but may be encourage to provide materials and software needed to work on their own, as well as during labs. 3d, 2d animation and graphics software as well as a fully equipped stop-motion lab is available. As standard student will need to provide their own sketchbook, art materials, as well as a back-up hard drive to protect with their own work and data. The following is standard daily materials required for classroom pre-production and production. |
Friday August 28 Professor Intro Outline and Capstone Philosophy View Sample Schedule and Percentage Download Personal Schedule and Shotlist Create personnel for Tuesday and Thursday presentations
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Present Research to professor Animatics and descriptions Present your personal production schedule and shot list to instructor Remaining class: Studio Work
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Friday Sep 4 PROGRESS REPORT #1 Capstone1 Tuesday group presents Show animatic at 12% total finish Capstone: 12% percent of scenes are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound Show animatic, motion tests, finished models, sample scenes Show sound samples, scratch audio complete
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PROGRESS REPORT #1, Capstone2 Thursday group presents Show animatic at 12% total finish Capstone: 12% percent of scenes are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound Show animatic, motion tests, finished models, sample scenes Show sound samples, scratch audio complete
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Friday Sep 11 PROGRESS REPORT#2, Capstone1 Tuesday group presents Show animatic at 18% total finish Capstone: 18% percent of scenes are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound
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PROGRESS REPORT#2, Capstone2 Thursday group presents Show animatic at 18% total finish Capstone: 18% percent of scenes are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound
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Friday Sep 18 STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab View Sample Animations
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STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab View Sample Animations
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Friday Sep 25 PROGRESS REPORT #3, Capstone1 Tuesday group presents Show animatic at 31% total finish Capstone: 31% percent of scenes are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound
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PROGRESS REPORT#3, Capstone2 Thursday group presents Show animatic at 31% total finish Capstone: 31% percent of scenes are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound
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Friday Oct 2 STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab may unite with nextdoor Capstone class for troubleshooting
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STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab may unite with nextdoor Capstone class for troubleshooting
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Friday Oct 9 PROGRESS REPORT #4, Capstone1 Tuesday group presents Show animatic at 44% total finished Capstone: 44% percent of scence are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound
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PROGRESS REPORT #4, Capstone2 Thursday group presents Show animatic at 44% total finished Capstone: 44% percent of scence are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound
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Friday Oct 16 STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab View Sample Animation
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STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab View Sample Animation
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Friday Oct 23 PROGRESS REPORT #5, Capstone1 Tuesday group presents Show animatic at 56% total finished Capstone: 56% percent of scence are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound
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PROGRESS REPORT #5, Capstone2 Thursday group presents Show animatic at 56% total finished Capstone: 56% percent of scence are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound
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Friday Oct 30 STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab View Sample Animation MIDTERM SCORE EVALUATION
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STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab View Sample Animation MIDTERM SCORE EVALUATION
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Friday Nov 6 PROGRESS REPORT #6, Capstone1 Tuesday group presents Show animatic at 68% total finished Capstone: 68% percent of scence are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound
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PROGRESS REPORT #6, Capstone2 Thursday group presents Show animatic at 68% total finished Capstone: 68% percent of scence are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound
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Friday Nov 13 STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab View Sample Animation
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STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab View Sample Animation
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Friday Nov 20 PROGRESS REPORT #7, Capstone1 Tuesday group presents Show animatic at 81% total finished Capstone: 81% percent of scence are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound
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Progress Report #7, Capstone2 Thursday group presents Show animatic at 81% total finished Capstone: 81% percent of scence are completely finished/rendered/colored to final with sound
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NO CLASS NOV 27, FALL RECESS
Friday Dec 4 STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab View Sample Animation
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STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab View Sample Animation
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Friday Dec 11 STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab View Sample Animation
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STUDIO WORK DAY troubleshooting working together in lab View Sample Animation
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Friday, Dec 18
Finals Day,
time 8am-9am
FINAL REPORT Capstone2 = 100% finished with final sound.
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ADDITIONAL GRADING INFO
GRADE SCALE: A 90%-100%B 80%-89%C 70%-79%D 60%-69%F Below 60%
EVALUATION METHOD (click)
Students may be able to re-submit any assignment for an improvement points as long as that assignment was turned in the ORIGINAL DUE DATE. The policies are specific to each assignment. Check specific project descriptions for more details.
Other opportunities for extra credit are possible involving visiting related exhibits, films, museums, specific research, attending relevant shows or conferences, or related study, etc. Such points are limited and per the instructor's discretion
ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION INFO
excused absenses and makeup policies
This course follows the University policy on excused absenses. Click for more information
Regular class attendance in mandatory. Class attendance is also part of your class participation grade. Arriving on time is equally important. You would be fired in a job you do not show up on time. The expectation here is similar.
LATE WORK
ANY ASSIGNMENT TURNED IN LATE we be REDUCED a LETTER GRADE per CLASS LATE. Also, if turned in late, you will not have the chance to redo the assignment for an improvement grade!
MAKE UP WORK
if an project is turned in on time, you may have the opportunity to REDO and resubmit the project by the end of the semester for improvement points.
Late assignments, or absences due only to emergency or illness may be accepted by the professor only according to published university policy.
CLASS EXPECTATIONS INFO
Expect to spend from 6 hours a week on your working outside of class. Lab hours will be available and posted by the end of the first week.
Students are responsible for any material missed due to tardiness or absence. Readings, and assignments, and projects are expected at the beginning of class on their due dates.
Late submissions will be lowered one grade per class day late.
Student may be able to re-submit any assignment for an improvement grade. The policies are specific to each assignment. Check specific project descriptions for more details.
Late assignments, or absences due only to emergency or illness may be granted leniency only per the instructor's discretion.