Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy
​The Animation Course Spring 2018

​Location: Online using Adobe Connect
​Ages: 11-18
Day/Time: 12- 1 hour long sessions, 1 hour per week. The Animation Course is held at a specific weekly time using Adobe Connect.  
You do not need special software. See website for open days and times and software/hardware requirements.  
*See HOW TO REGISTER below*

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Instructor Introduction:
Chad Stewart, former Disney animator and homeschool father to 8 wonderful children. Beginning his career as an old fashioned hand-drawing animator (flipping pages), he has been working in the feature animation world for about 26 years! He made the switch to digital/computer animation about 15 years ago and now has expertise in both types of animation. He has been very much a part of our 16 year journey in homeschooling our children and has enjoyed that process of teaching. About 9 years ago, he began teaching at an online animation school for career-minded adults and that experience was so positive that he and his wife began to envision The Animation Course for school age students.

​Syllabi:

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ANIMATION COURSES
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Animation LEVEL 1:Topics covered through the class:

• The Principles of Animation
• Traditional Hand Drawn animation
• Computer Generated animation
• Joint critiques of student work
• Animation History
• and much more

​Animation LEVEL 2:
Prerequisite:  The Animation Course:  Level 1
Topics covered through the course:

• Weight and Balance
• Basic human structure
• Force
• Body language
• Examining human walks and runs
• Acting and Expression
• Communication and the Face
• Joint critiques of student work
• and much more

Animation LEVEL 3:
Prerequisite:  The Animation Course:  Level 1 and Level 2
Topics covered through the course:

• Plot and Story Structure
• Character development
• Storyboarding
• Dialogue
• Showing not Telling
• Communicating with the Camera: Basic types of shots
• Editing:  Cuts and Transitions
• The Power of Sound
• and much more

Animation LEVEL 4:
Prerequisite:  The Animation Course:  Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3
Topics covered through the course:

• Instructor Mentoring and student critiques
• Flexibility and film making
• Good ideas come from observation
• Overcoming frustration with perseverance and encouragement
• Practice, practice, practice!
• and much more​

DRAWING COURSES
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Drawing LEVEL 1:Topics covered through the course:

• Perspective
• How to “See”
• Texture
• Line and Shape
• Design
• Light and Shadow
• Silhouette
• introduction to “Creating a Character”
• and much more

​Drawing LEVEL 2:Topics covered through the course:

• Character Expression
• Shape and design
• Personality
• Gesture and motion
• Structure: Skeletal and Muscular
• Silhouette value
• Creating a Character
• and much more

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​To find out more: http://www.theanimcourse.com/theanimcourse.html          
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theanimcourse/

HOW TO REGISTER: register for class on our registration site and also reserve your spot with The Animation Course at  http://www.theanimcourse.com/theanimcourse.html  You do NOT need to pay a deposit.   When you register, use the code “WAIVED” and that will bypass the registration fee.

Teacher of Record:  Lisa Van Plew-Cid