Animation & Film Production 101 – Syllabus

Instructor: SDA  School of  Art & Design Instructors
Duration: 7 classes, 3 hours each
Course Description:
Animation & Film Production 101 introduces students to the fundamentals of storytelling, animation, and filmmaking. Students will learn how to develop characters, create storyboards, animate sequences, shoot footage, and edit their projects. Through hands-on exercises, students will produce a short animation or film by the end of the course, gaining foundational skills in both technical and creative aspects of production.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will:

1. Understand the basics of animation and film production workflows.
   
   

2. Learn storytelling techniques for visual media.
   
   

3. Develop skills in character design, storyboarding, and scene planning.
   
   

4. Gain hands-on experience in animation and live-action filming.
   
   

5. Learn basic editing and post-production techniques.
   
   

6. Complete a short animated or live-action project suitable for a portfolio.
   
   

Class Schedule

Class

Topic

Learning Goals / Activities

1

Introduction to Animation & Film Production

Overview of animation and film workflows, roles in the industry, college programs. Hands-on: Explore animation software / camera basics.

2

Storytelling & Concept Development

Learn story structure, character development, and visual narrative. Hands-on: Create a short story outline and character concepts.

3

Character Design & Art Direction

Explore character sketches, design principles, and style choices. Hands-on: Draw character sheets and backgrounds.

4

Storyboarding & Scene Planning

Plan shots, camera angles, and animation sequences. Hands-on: Create storyboards for a short scene.

5

Animation / Filming Techniques

Learn frame-by-frame animation or live-action shooting techniques. Hands-on: Animate a short sequence or shoot scenes.

6

Editing & Post-Production

Introduction to editing software, sound, and visual effects. Hands-on: Edit and assemble scenes into a short film/animation.

7

Final Project & Showcase

Complete final project, review, and present to class. Peer feedback and tips for continuing projects independently.

Materials / Requirements

• Laptop with animation or editing software installed (e.g., Adobe Animate, Premiere, After Effects, or equivalent)
  
  

• Drawing tablet (optional for digital animation)
  
  

• Sketchbook, pencils, and markers
  
  

• Optional: Camera or smartphone for live-action filming
  
  

Evaluation / Assessment

• Class Participation & Engagement: 30%
  
  

• Weekly Hands-On Assignments: 30%
  
  

• Final Project / Animation or Film: 40%
  
  

Instructor Notes

This course emphasizes hands-on learning, creativity, and experimentation. Students are encouraged to explore their own ideas while applying the animation and film production techniques introduced in class.