Animation Academy: Intro to Flip-a-Clip

This ongoing course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of animation using the popular and approachable (and free!) Flip-a-Clip app. Throughout the course, students will learn the basics of animation theory and practice, while exploring the features and functionalities of Flip-a-Clip as a versatile animation tool.

Students will be taught the principles of animation, including timing, spacing, and movement, and learn to thoroughly use the Flip-a-Clip interface and how to navigate its tools and menus effectively. Through hands-on projects and demonstrations, students will gain proficiency in creating various types of animations, including character movements, object animations, and scene transitions.

The course will cover key animation techniques such as frame-by-frame animation, onion skinning, layering, squish/stretch, and camera movement . Additionally, students will explore the creative process behind storytelling and character development in animation, applying these concepts to their own projects.

Expectations for class:

The Flip-a-Clip app should be installed and ready to go before the learner joins class. I'd also recommend installing it early enough to be able to play around with it for a day or two beforehand.

This class is a learning club setting that encourages student engagement and interactions. It is meant to be social and open to asking questions as they arise during the course of class, with a free flow of conversation, though we do ask that students mute themselves when not talking in order to avoid background noise.

We aim this class at a beginner-to-intermediate level; there can be a learning curve for fresh beginners, but we will work together in and out of class to get up to speed.

Have fun! Bring ideas and collaborate so we can get the best experience possible!

Sample class schedule:
Week 1 (Feb 12): Bouncing fireball
Week 2 (Feb 19): Character running cycle
Week 3 (Feb 26): Character and object morphs
Week 4 (Mar 4): Throwing motion with camera movement
Week 5 (Mar 11):  Character or object floating in the wind, then smashing to the ground
Week 6 (Mar 18): Two-character fight scene