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Part A - Animation 101

During the first few weeks, we will begin looking at the various styles and purposes of Animation.

Create a Thaumatrope
Review the History of Animation
Begin Exploring PhotoShop
Rise of Traditional, Rotoscope, Anime, Stop Motion, Cut-Out & 3D - Evolutin of Animation styles

HISTORY OF ANIMATION _2024

12 Principles Note SS

My Favourite Animation SS

Part B - Photoshop GIF's

1. Animated Gif

Create a 400x400 pixel Canvas

Use the Gradient tool to build @ 7 layers
Export an Animated Gif and turn it into Google Classroom

Grade 12s - Do this as a refresher

Submit GIF to Google Classroom

2. Using Sprites

Choose one of the provided sprite sheets (bird, basketball, cheetah, turtle, or jumping character) and create a simple 10-frame animation in Photoshop. Open a new document, import the sprite sheet, and place each of your 10 frames on its own layer, then use the Timeline panel to turn those layers into frames. Adjust the frame timing to control the animation speed—short delays for fast movement, longer delays for slow motion—until it loops smoothly. When finished, export your animation as a GIF (File → Export → Save for Web (Legacy), set to GIF and Loop: Forever) and upload it to Google Classroom.

Submit to the Google Classroom

3. Thaumatropes: The Persistence of Vision

Persistence of Vision refers to the optical illusion whereby multiple discrete images blend into a single image in the human mind. This is believed to be the explanation for motion perception in cinema and animated films.

A thaumatrope is an optical toy that was popular in the 19th century. A disk with a picture on each side is attached to two pieces of string. When the strings are twirled quickly between the fingers the two pictures appear to blend into one due to the persistence of vision.

Submit GIF to Google Classroom

Thaumatropes

4. Build your own GIF using Sprites

Part A

Your first task is to find (or design) an organized, professional-style sprite sheet that an animator, game designer, or another student could use to create movement.

Your sprite sheet must include:

A clean grid with evenly spaced frames
Consistent sizing for each pose or movement
Placeholder character poses showing basic actions (ex: idle, walk, jump, attack, interact)
A layout that shows you understand animation planning, asset organization, and visual communication

You have creative freedom — you can source a sheet online, remix one, or build your own from scratch.

Part B

You will now demonstrate your sprite’s potential in a short animation.

Steps:

Create a new Photoshop document
- Max size: 1000px × 500px
- Keep your workspace simple and clean.
Import your sprite sheet and build a small animated moment using at least one character from your sheet.
Your animation must include:
- A background (simple is fine; nothing overly detailed)
- At least 3 elements ("things") that interact
  - This could be character + object
  - Character + environment
  - Two characters interacting + an object
  - Anything that visually connects the action
Keep the animation simple — “less is more.” Focus on clarity of movement, timing, and clean looping.
Export your animation as a GIF
- File → Export → Save for Web (Legacy)
- Loop forever

Submit your Sprite Sheet and your animated GIFs to Google Classroom.

Part C - Intro to Adobe Animate

Animation Unit 1 Terminology

Complete the following 5 tutorials directly in Adobe Animate! Open Animate > Help / Hands-on Tutorials

Export a rendered gif and turn it into Google Classroom!

Drawing with standard Primitives

Amusement Park Swing

Boat Ride

Animate a Windmill

Bouncing Ball

Click Here for Adobe Animate Tutorials

Part D - More Animation Practice

Flower

Please try this Adobe Animate tutorial. This video will guide you through more of the basics of Animate.
Export your animated .GIF and turn it into Google Classroom.

ANIMATE TUTORIAL.mp4

Bouncing Balls

You must have 5 different balls (symbols), on 5 different layers, named
You must have a background layer (the beside is a level 3)
All balls must squash and stretch and show realistic movement

When handing in anything from Adobe Animate, ALWAYS HAND IN 2 FILES:

.fla (project file.

this allows me to see your work

.gif (file>export>.gif (uncheck transparency

this allows me to see your finished animation.

Download the image above

Part D - Final Animation

Character Design & Final Animation

Please utilize these last Animate tutorials. You will learn how to turn a character (spinning) in Animate. Design your own character as you would like digitally or by drawing it first and then importing it into Animate.