Animation 11 - Sem1

Welcome to Animation 11

Instructor email address: 

T Linburg: Telinburg@sd43.bc.ca

Wacom driver install / MediBang drawing utility (ignore C ++ option!) Inuos 2015 driver / Wacom One Creative Pen Display

Our key focus in this class is learning the essential skills and techniques required to be a successful animator. Some of the skills that we will be developing include; 2 D sketching, computer drawing, pose to pose animation, motion / shape tweening, soundtracks, voice overs and learning techniques to add 'realism' to your movement cycles. Remember this...."The difference between good animators and great animators lies in the ability to identify and incorporate subtle realism in movement"

The approach for this course will be:

We'll start by developing a comprehensive 'animators tool kit' to allow us to bring our creative ideas to life. Some of the skills covered include tweening, layering, creating moving backgrounds, a study of 'realism', walk cycles, timings (on the two's), sound effects, dope sheets and lip syncing your characters with your story scripts.

Once we have gained some specific animation competencies, we will unleash your full creative talents in more lengthy animation scenes. Students will have access to drawing tablets and will have a specific subscription to Adobe software. We'll also have to figure out software install and how we'll use the tablets for both in class and for remote learning.

Please ensure you have access to my cloud animation resource files.

Drop Box - Animation 11 - 

(spreadsheet only) 

Create a one Drive share link - create an 'on line' spreadsheet for sharing course assignments 

Toon Boom

Create and Share links in ONE drive - A 'how to' guide

Example - T Linburg - (using Google Sheets - but you could use your Microsoft version of Excel) 

T Linburg - grade and assessment link spreadsheet (adjust the share permissions to allow Mr. Linburg to edit) 

Instructions: 

• Download an excel version 

• Rename the file "Last Name / First Name" - Animation 11 - Block 4 

• Drop this spreadsheet into the hand in box and then add in One Drive Share links as you complete course assignments. 

• It is YOUR responsibility to keep this spreadsheet updated as you complete assignments

Please make share links that can be opened JUST by Mr. linburg ONLY.(to find me for sharing - start typing in tel... (and my name should pop up!) 

Intro to animation - tell us about your journey...

• Tell me about your interest in Animation?

• Do you have a background with drawing? Do you animate for fun?

• Tell us about the three most treasured animation productions!

•  (Share clip links – and describe your response in terms of story line – animation techniques incorporated – eg Claymation…)

Module # 3 - "Timing is Everything" - Animation's Supporting Cast...

We will now turn our attention to the interplay between primary and secondary animations and learn about new ways to imagine a scene. 

Part A - Make a Shape Tween (practice) - Essential for 'realism' ('right click' on frame one of your animation sequence to make one!)

Introduction

• Shape Tweens - What are they? And what are their importance to the art of animation...

• Make a Shape Tween (in frame one make one shape and have it 'morph' into another) - Instructions 

Try to make a few of these - start with shape A and then have it 'morph into another object. You can use basic polygons for this task. 

Part B - Make a short production that incorporates 'Shape Tweening'

Option 1 - Create an 'artsy' candle with a flickering candle and glow effect

• Lit match with glow effect (written instruction set)  / Great video with candle and glow effect

Option 2 - create a scene with a primary animation with a 'supporting cast of secondary animations' 

Create a scene (eg an aquarium) or a person walking in the park and add in other changing objects and shapes in the background. For example, a crab (the focus of the stage) is scurring along in the sand meanwhile there are an ensemble of fish darting in and out of the sceen. Or in the case of the person walking in the park, the trees sway overhead, the clouds move from point A to point B changing shape as they go. 

PDF animation timing and secondary movement assignment

Module # 2 - The 12 Principles of Animation 

12 Principles of Animation /12 Principles of animation described (playback link) / more 12 principle examples 

Instructions - Simple outline sketches using Classic "Frame by Frame" animation 

Help guide # 1 (Adobe) / Video explaining classic frame by frame

Summary of the task: 

Take a look at this example - (Vimeo - The illusion of life!

• Compose each of the 12 principles of animation on different timelines to demonstrate your understanding of the concept. Where possible, try to put  AT LEAST TWO OF THE ELEMENTS IN THE SAME ANIMATION SKETCH (to streamline and shorten the artwork involved).  For example, one could easily combine anticipation and exageration in one sketch or or arcs with secondary actions. 

• Please add a title for each animation so we can know what we are actually looking at

• Draw a sketch and then select the onion skin mode. Decide if you're going to animate on the "2's" or on the "3's". However, sometimes 'chunky animations' can be effective if that is your intension and stylistic choice. Move and redraw the sketch into the new frames. Keep your sketches simple so as to reduce the amount of work you need to do. 

• You may use any animation technique (motion tweens or shape tweens or frame by frame) 

Please read /view about the 12 principles of animation. These 12 principles of animation are a key aspect of the 'animator's tool kit'. We will be creating a short animation production in animate CC, using ONLY outlines and sketches to demonstrate the 12 principles of animation. You could incorporate stick people or cubes or facial outlines to demonstrate the concepts; either sequentially or in combination. Please just illustrate the concept in as simple and as a  crisp format as possible. In other words, you don't need to add any backgrounds or other non essential animations. 

(*) Please add titles to (use the T tool) the animation to help me see where each specific animation element is situated in the picture. Otherwise its very difficult for me to see specific segments in a short production! 

Frame by Frame Animation Explained   

Classic frame by frame (using onion skin) - make a rough sketch of your own and change its look over a few frames 

Example one (*) 

Example two 

Other Animation related resources

• frame-by-frame animation with use of onion skinning / shape tweening / Camera tool

• Add motion path refinements explained / free sound effects (with sign up

• Animate CC tool bar and program essentials

• Animation basic concepts / outstanding link explaining key concepts in animation 

• All about sound Animate CC - how to synchronize sound effects and timings

• Edit sound clips part II / Use of the camera tools for animation / Art and drawing lessons for specific scenes and situations

Module # 1 - Introduction to Animation essentials

Assignment # 1 - Introduction to Animation - Bringing Simple Illustrations to life... 

Due Date: Wednesday Sept. 17th

In our first look at animation style and techniques, we will be using Animate to create a ball bouncing sequence. This will allow us to start to learn more about the Animate software and how one opens and creates a basic animation project (please see PDF attachment below for further assignment details.

• Here is the PDF outlining our first assignment / a set of how to instructions

• Examples of this style of animation / Squash and Stretch in animation

• Animate CC - program essentials (adjust the canvas rotate etc...)

Concepts covered:

Layering, creating objects, filling objects, creating backgrounds, tweening, movement on the ' two's ', a case study of 'natural' movement, introduction to sound effects library, drawing with a tablet, tracing objects in Animate CC.

A 'natural' bouncing movement trajectory. As animation is, in effect, a study of "realism" we need to understand in great detail how objects actually move in space and time. In this example, we can see that the ball not only does a "squash and stretch" but the object also moves at different rates in different speeds depending on the location of the object in the "arc". As the ball drops to the ground, the ball picks up speed while the reverse is true on the return. The final bounce is of course lower until the ball rolls to a stop

To add in 'easing' to your project please select this link - This allows for very subtle but important motion trajectories that allow for changes due to effects of gravity and object spin and movements.

To export your finished project as an MP 4 file - you will need to use H264 format and then use the video 'media encoder' to get the correct output!

• Working wtih Adobe Animate CC Brush set

Adding sound to your project: (do at the end)

• A great discussion of Adding and Sychronizing sound files 

In order to add sound to the project please take a look at these instructions / Edit sound clips part II / free sound clips / my library of sound clips

Adobe's Official Animate sound site resource

All about sound Animate CC - how to synchronize sound effects and timings

You can use Audacity to adjust the sound properties:

1. Select the desired track in the Timeline.

2. Navigate to Effect > Amplify.

3. From the new window, set the New Peak Amplitude to -3.0 db. This will increase the track volume to an ideal level.

4. Ensure “Allow Clipping” is un-checked to prevent peaking and click OK.

Student Project Sample folder

Animate CC - workarounds

1) To get Sound to work on Animate CC please do the following:

Open up Adobe "Audition" - import sound file / Save As - change to 44100Hz playback of 16 bits - MP3 format - then import into Adobe Animate

12 Principles of Animation 

Assignment # 2 - Drawing Essentials - Your digital doodles....Due: September 26th 2025 

(fill your digital sketch book with the fanciful, the frightful, the fun... :) - at least 10 sketches 

For today we'll be using the open source drawing software Krita or Adobe Fresco! 

• Yes we can all draw (TED talk) - don't believe your 'inner voice'

• Perspective drawing basics / one point perspective drawing / learn to draw for beginners / how to draw faces (front view)

• Instructions for making characters and faces (use Paint 3 D)

Try drawing scenes from different perspectives or sketch three expressive faces or animals. Use the above links as a guide. and just let your creative mind take over and do the 'unexpected'.....You are encouraged to do your sketched using Adobe Fresco. Adobe Fresco is excellent for offering a greater variety of textures / painting tools / watercolour brushes and so much more. One can use Adobe Fresco seamlessly with Adobe Animate. For example, one might create a background in Adobe Fresco and then export it to Adobe Animate for the character and movement cycles.

Adobe Fresco - a dramatic improvement in drawing tip and painting brush options. You can also easily stylize your projects to give your work a specific 'look and feel'.

• Adobe Fresco - How to Guide

• Adobe Fresco - intro 'how to' video guide

Resource Guide - Artistically Inspiring Animation productions 

' Mexican Standoff ' - effective perspective and view angles and excellent personalized sketch work / 'Hot Dog' (Bill Plympton) - effective use of stilted animations

Working With Animate CC - Video learning guides 

Shape Tweens - With 'Shape Hint' - Ocean Waves example (look at practice set example / covers movie clip and boat making)

Export Video and Audio Separately, Then Combine

1. Export the Video:
   
   

In Animate CC, go to:

File > Export > Export Video...

1. • 
     

   • Choose:
     
     

     • Render Size: Match your stage size.
       
       

     • Export as: .mov or .mp4 (through Adobe Media Encoder)
       
       

     • Render: From frame 1 to last frame
       
       

     • ✅ Uncheck "Skip audio" if it appears (sometimes greyed out)
       
       

   • Click Export → It will launch Adobe Media Encoder and render the video (without sound).
     
     

2. Export the Audio Separately:
   
   

   • If the audio is in the timeline:
     
     

Go to:

File > Export > Export Movie > WAV

2. • • 
       

     • Or, extract the original audio file if you imported it.
       
       

   • Save as .wav or .mp3
     
     

3. Combine Video + Audio in Premiere Pro (or similar editor):
   
   

   • Open Adobe Premiere Pro or any video editor.
     
     

   • Import both the MP4/MOV video and audio file.
     
     

   • Sync them manually (usually easy if unchanged).
     
     

   • Export the final video using H.264 with audio.