Mixed Media Animation Age 8-12

Make the impossible possible with stop motion animation.  This classic technique is the basis for all modern animation and is still used in many films and commercials.

Animate cut paper, modelling clay, and even yourself! We will explore the keys to good story telling and view classic animations for inspiration. Students will work together in teams of two to produce their original, animated shorts.

On 12 April parents are invited to join us for an Animation Show to watch and celebrate all the work created throughout the term. Students’ short films will be sent digitally to parents at the completion of the course.

Course Outline:

Session 1: Introduction to Stop Motion Animation

• Learn the basic techniques behind stop motion animation
• Animate a walk cycle using cut paper

Session 2: The History of Animation

• Spotlight on photographer Eadweard Muybridge
• Bring toys and other household objects to life with animation

Session 3: Magazine Cut Outs

• Spotlight on director Terry Gilliam
• Use magazine cut outs to create a surrealist animation in the style of Terry Gilliam

Session 4: Morphing with Clay

• Spotlight on director Wil Vinton
• Learn how to make a ball of clay morph into a character

Session 5: Story Development for Final Projects

• Discuss creating stories without dialogue
• Write an original short story
• Create original characters with motivation

Session 6 & 7: Animate Final Projects

• Work together in pairs to animate short stories
• Add sound to key animations

 

Session 8: Pixilation & Animation Show

• Spotlight on animator Norman McLaren
• Make classmates appear to skate on carpet, disappear, and even fly
• Parents are invited to our Animation Show at 5.20

About Jess Weichler

Jess Weichler is a media arts educator at the MakerBox.

Ever since childhood she has been creating digital worlds through game design. Aside from a few lessons learnt from her 8-year old students, she is self-taught in the Scratch programming language, the Processing java subset, and a robotic Hummingbird micro-controller. She has taught these skills since 2012, and her courses are still in use both locally and abroad in the United States.