Index
Connect with Bill Fischer
Office Hours: If you would like additional help or feedback you are welcome to sign up for one of my online office-hour slots here. I typically have several slots available 4 days per week.
Email: fischerb@ferris.edu
Text: 616-901-3462
Canvas url: https://ferris.instructure.com
Why Am I Required To Take This Course?
That's a fair question. Find the answer on our curriculum development page in the DAD Hub.
Course Description
In a cross-disciplinary environment, students will mix traditional and digital imagery to create two-dimensional animated art related to their major area of study, The animation will be published for delivery via CD, DVD, web, video, film or broadcast media.
Outcomes
Recognize current animation and motion design genres, understand the related copyright issues, and discuss possible distribution channels
Communicate an animation or motion design project concept in concise verbal, visual, and written formats
Understand design, and production processes that are congruent with current industry standards
Critique and receive critique for projects, relative to the stated objectives, as a member of a review group, and then advance them accordingly
Integrate Universal Design Principles
Materials
Students will bring their own laptop and file back-up systems.
Revisions
This syllabus may be revised, at any time, at the discretion of the instructor.
Engaging With The Course
This is a "Flipped" style course. That means:
Students will acquire from this course site, all of the information they need to complete their projects (assignments).
Students will work independently using the supplied information over the course of a week.
Students will attend group meetings each week where we will collaborate to move your projects along technically, functionally, and aesthetically.
Note: Students will have the option to attend as many group meetings each week as they desire. But will only be required to attend one meeting each week.
Meetings
Class meets in room 708 in two separate groups, one on Tuesday and one on Thursday, from 3:30-6:20 (check the home page on canvas to see which group you are in). Students are welcome to work in the classroom and join other groups at will.
All students. from both groups will attend together on the first week of class Tuesday January 10, and Thursday January 12, at 3:30 PM in room 703.
Attending Remotely
If you are not feeling well, have transportation issues, or are experiencing anxiety regarding being on campus, you can request to attend via Zoom.
The Zoom URL for the online sessions and students that want to engage online will always be: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6169013462
Open Labs
The classrooms at KCAD are available as open labs (when there is no class in session), and there are work-stations by the elevator if you need access to the internet, Cintiqs, or computers.
Covid Protocols
Getting assignments
login to your myFSU account, then visit Canvas
Once there, choose the S23-DM294 Anim Proc. course from the Dashboard. There, you find information regarding this course.
Click on the calendar. There, you will see all of the assignments listed on their due dates. Assignments should be completed and uploaded to your Google Drive before class starts.
Zoom Etiquette
Turning on your camera is optional
Using a profile picture is optional, but encouraged. A photograph is the preferred professional method for creating a digital presence on Zoom in most scenarios.
Listing your pronouns in your profile name is optional, but encouraged.
The Project
Overview
Students will complete a singe project that includes all of the steps in a typical animation process.
The kind people at Spokenworld Audio have agreed to allow us to use the soundtrack from British voice artist Anthony Richardson's Aesop's Fables. Each one is between 30 and 60 seconds.
Project Rubric
Is the visual storytelling clear? (play without the audio)
Will the added foley make sense to a blind person? (play without the visual)
Are Colorblind person's getting a quality experience?
Is the storytelling emotional? Which emotions does it evoke?
Process
The project will be managed using this Google site, Google docs and Google Drive. You will need to have a Google account. They are free.
Choose your fable, then storyboard, produce production art and animate from the soundtrack.
Add additional foley and sound effects .
Add credits (for the student (animator), Anthony Richardson (voice artist), Purple Planet (music), Neil Gardener (producer) and Spoken World Audio (producer).
Create an mpeg4 video and turn it in with a thumbnail image and .fla file
Aesop's Fables Aren't What You Might Think
It is generally understood that Aesop's Fables were written by more than one person, around the 6th century BC. The fables were designed to be relate hidden, subversive, meanings by couching them in charming allegories. It was a way to engage in literary comment on the leadership without loosing one's head. The term Aesopian is still used today to mean " A form of literature ... that veils itself in allegorical suggestions, hints, and euphemisms so as to elude political censorship."
Communications
Overview
Assignments will be acquired through the Canvas calendar.
Completed Work will be uploaded to Google Drive (not Canvas)
Grades and Attendance will be acquired through canvas.
This course website is optimized for phones. This means you can use your phone as a second screen to follow assignment instructions while you work on your laptop
There is also a mobile app for Canvas (external link)
Check your Grade
(1) Choose the Grades in the left sidebar menu
(2) Click on the assignment you wish to check
Aquire an Assignment
(1) Visit the Canvas Calendar and click on an assignment
(2) Review The Assignment Overview from the pop-up window
(3) Click the links in the pop-up window to acquire the detailed instructions from the course website.
How To Set Up and Use Zoom
Zoom has an excellent tutorial series for setting up and using Zoom. It allows you to learn step by step, form beginning to advanced.
Profile Picture
I recommend using a photo for your profile picture. Your fellow meeting participants generally want to know what you look like. The picture you choose should be able to work with a wide range of audiences.
Issues Getting Your Profile Pic to Show Up?
Here is a pretty good tutorial for how to fix the issue of you profile pic not showing up.
Policies
Accommodations
Kendall College Of Art and Design is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. Counseling and Disabilities Services (CDS) is the campus office that collaborates with students who have disabilities to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations.
If you have, or think you may have, a disability (e.g., mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical), Discuss accommodations you may need with me. I will do my best to facilitate them or, in some cases, advise that you contact CDS at 616.299.3046 or marieyowtz@ferris.edu to arrange a confidential discussion regarding equitable access and reasonable accommodations.
If you are registered with the CDS and have a current VISA requesting reasonable accommodations, contact your instructor early in the semester to review how the accommodations will be applied in the course.
Syllabus Supplemental
Syllabus Supplement Spring 2023.pdfYour Identity
Please let me know if you have specific pronouns you would like to be referred by.
Please let me know if you have a first name other than the one listed in the FSU course roster. For record-keeping purposes, I will need to use your last name as it is listed in the FSU course roster.
KCAD Student Artwork Usage Policy
As a condition of enrollment, students and/or parents of minor students consent to the following usage rights, for purposes which may include, but are not limited to: display, educational assessment, accreditation, archiving, and publicity/promotions for the college. The college reserves the right to edit materials as needed for best use in context without specific written permission.
1. Use of any works produced by students while attending Kendall College of Art and Design, Ferris State University.
2. Use of photographs, video, audio or other recordings of any artworks, designs or other coursework produced while a student at KCAD.
3. Use of photographic, video, audio, written or other recordings/documentation in college or KCAD sponsored/affiliated classes or activities, on or off campus, while a student at KCAD. Usage may be in any medium.
Materials may be used without further notification, compensation or credit, though whenever possible, credit will be included for students enrolled in a KCAD degree program. Materials produced by or for KCAD are the sole property of KCAD.
All other copy and reproduction rights to original artwork, designs or coursework remain the sole property of the student. KCAD students may request that their name and other public information be kept confidential by submitting a completed Directory Non-Disclosure form to the office of the Registrar.
Bill Fischer's Additional Artwork Usage Policy
I will honor any requests to not publish, record, or share your work if notification is given.
Using A.I. Generated Imagery
Policy Summary:
An AI-generated image can be used as a reference, similar to a photograph, and the student can create their own art over it in a transformative manner.
An AI-generated image (or multiple images) can be used as components in a collage to create a new, novel image.
Students should not use the phrase "in the style of" and then append another artist's name when creating their own work.
If you use AI software as part of your creative process, you must disclose and demonstrate its integration in your work.
Your writing should be originally created by you. You can then use software, such as ChatGPT, to suggest edits and improve the writing of your original concepts.
Copyright Overview
Copyrights can only be held by humans in the U.S. (currently). For this reason, the courts can only take two approaches to addressing AI-generated works where human interaction is minimal or absent in copyright law. These approaches are to either:
Not grant copyright protection to works generated by a computer program.
To attribute authorship of such works to the creator of the computer program.
Note:
There is currently debate over whether manipulating a text prompt for a specific outcome is sufficient human interaction to qualify for copyright protection.
Human Interaction and Copyright
What constitutes sufficient human interaction to qualify an AI-generated image for copyright protection is currently a topic of debate. For the purposes of my classes, I define sufficient human interaction as such:
An AI-generated image can be used as a reference, similar to a photograph, and the student can create their own art over it in a transformative manner.
An AI-generated image (or multiple images) can be used as components in a collage to create a new, novel image.
Note: Students should not use the phrase "in the style of" and then append another artist's name when creating their own work. This may be considered inappropriate use of another artist's work. Many AI-generation software creators are not allowing this in the prompts.
Why Copyright Matters
As a professional multimedia or entertainment artist, you can only receive payment for work for which you own the copyright. According to U.S. law, the moment you create a work, you own the rights to it, regardless of whether you have registered the work or not. When you sell art or design, you are actually selling the usage rights of that work.
Note: If you use AI software as part of your creative process, you must disclose and demonstrate its integration in your work.
AI Writing Software
Your writing should be originally created by you. You can then use software, such as ChatGPT, to suggest edits and improve the writing of your original concepts.
Grading
Rubric
On-time delivery
was work turned in on the the due date
were you present at the scheduled reviews
File submitted correctly
is the file(s) in your Google Drive, named correctly, with the permissions set for me to edit
Followed assignment directions
are all of the components listed completed?
Understood & implemented assignment concepts
this is a measure of the quality of the work based on the goals given.
Iterated based on feedback (if feedback was given)
revisions have been made to the previous week's assignment based on the feedback you received.
Values
Progress Meetings are worth a maximum of 5 points.
Each of the 5 Benchmark Reviews are worth a maximum of 25 points.
Midterm and Final Grades
Will be determined by averaging your progress reviews and benchmark scores.
(A) 96-100 %
(A-) 91-95 %
(B+) 86-90 %
(B) 81-85%
(B-) 76-80 %
(C+) 71-75%
(C) 66-70%
(C-) 61-65%
(D+) 56-60%
(D) 51-55%
(D-) 46-50%
(F) 0-45%