Welcome to Digital Animation and Storytelling, an exciting program that empowers kids in grades 4-10 to unleash their creativity and turn their ideas into animated stories. Our 5-day, 3-hour long class meetings will introduce students to the fundamental techniques of animation, providing them with the skills to bring their characters to life and tell their stories through movement.

In this student-centered learning program, we will cover a variety of topics, including illustration, character design, properties of movement, and storytelling techniques. Our goal is to equip students with a solid foundation in animation that will help them succeed in any digital storytelling project they undertake.

During the course, students will learn how to design unique characters to animate and create a storyboard to guide their animation project. We will explore key concepts like key frames and timelines and cover how to create backgrounds and environments that fit the story. We will also review 2D and web-based animation, providing students with a well-rounded understanding of the art form.

Our course is designed for students of all skill levels, so no prior experience is necessary. We will teach using a collaborative project-based approach, encouraging students to work together to complete assignments and learn from one another. Our teaching style is fun, engaging, and interactive, using a mix of lecture, games, slides, video clips, and discussion to ensure that students stay engaged and interested.

We believe that interaction and collaboration are crucial to learning, and we will provide ample opportunities for students to interact with each other and with the instructor. Students will work together on group projects, receive feedback on their work, and have the chance to ask questions and share their ideas throughout the program.

Day 1 students will learn the Procreate Dreams interface, create a simple free draw animation to become familiar with the software, learn about frame rate and squash and stretch techniques.
Day 2  students will learn about storyboards, brainstorming, and scope and scale. Start working on their project
Day 3 Using your storyboards and continue animating your projects in Procreate Dreams
Day 4 students will continue working on their projects, Focusing on “squash & stretch” where needed, Timing and pacing, editing as needed while we work. Start to refine and ink and color if your animation is ready. 
Day 5 Put final touches and see your story come to life. Share your projects with your class.

By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of digital animation principles and be able to design and implement an animated story from start to finish. They will leave with a new set of skills that will allow them to express themselves creatively and bring their ideas to life in new and exciting ways.

Join us for this fun and engaging program and discover the magic of animation and storytelling!