Digital Art - Game Design: Animating Pixel Art Characters

This class is an ongoing format. Students will sketch a new digital design every week. Each week is charged as a subscription on Sunday mornings. Students can join or leave the series any week. 
Please note, this is not an absolute beginner’s class. Students are required to have some digital art experience and basic understanding of digital tools already. Students should also be skilled in the use of basic computer skills like typing, opening and closing programs, saving files, and hand control. 

Students will learn the basics of digital art. Using layers, brushes and masks they will create anime characters digitally. We will go over how to break down a drawing into simple shapes on a sketch layer before getting more detailed on a line art layer and then will delve into coloring using different brushes, the paint bucket tool, the stamp tool, and a mask layer.

Each class will follow the below structure:

Step 1: Set up 
Each student will learn how to create a canvas on the program. They will then learn how to create new layers. 
Step 2: Grid Layout 
Taking reference from the original image, the students will learn to break down the complex shapes down to simpler ones in a sketch layer. They will learn how to use the grid function to make it easier to see their character. 
Step 3: Pixel Art 
Using the pen tool, students will make their characters. Students will learn how to use the preview function in the program to get smoother shapes. 
Step 4: Coloring 
Students will learn how to use the bucket tool and experiment with different colors on the character on another layer. Also, they will learn how to use clipping masks as another method of coloring. 
Step 5: Background (optional for more advanced students)
Students will explore how to utilize the bucket tool to get a solid background color quickly and then the stamp tool for some decorations.

These basics will form a foundation in any game concept art to prepare their portfolio. Once they have built a solid foundation and keep practicing, they will be able to design a multitude of unique characters of their own. Classes are highly interactive and students will have the opportunity to socialize with other video game fans and share their ideas in a fun and upbeat environment.

Schedule

May and June – Animation 
May
Week Starting 5/1: Pokeball 
Week Starting  5/8: Goomba
Week Starting 5/15: Flappy Bird
Week Starting 5/22: Creeper
Week Starting 5/29: Jigglypuff

June
Week Starting  6/5: Gift Balloon 
Week Starting 6/12: Among Us 
Week Starting 6/19: Yoshi
Week Starting 6/26: Enderman

January 
Week Starting 1/2: Imposter from Among Us 
Week Starting 1/9: Kirby from Adventures of Kirby
Week Starting 1/16: Link from Zelda 
Week Starting 1/23: Pikachu from Pokemon Go!
Week Starting 1/30: Isabelle from Animal Crossing

February
Week Starting 2/6:  Bub from Bubble Bobble
Week Starting 2/13: Mario from Super Mario Brothers
Week Starting 2/20: Ninja from Ninjago

March
Week Starting 2/27: Carrot Imposter from Among Us
Week Starting  3/6:  Sonic from Adventures of Sonic
Week Starting 3/13:  Shy Guy from Super Smash
Week Starting 3/20: Mew from Pokemon 
Week Starting 3/27: Tom Nook from Animal Crossing

April
Week Starting  4/3: Starship from Space Shooter
Week Starting 4/10: Leonardo from Ninja Turtles
Week Starting 4/17: Bee from Minecraft 
Week Starting 4/24: Toad from Mario Cart 
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Please read below for frequently-asked questions on our policies:

Mandatory Video Check-In
Video check-in is mandatory for safety purposes per Outschool policy. Students are required to have their cameras on to allow the teacher to check in and verify each learner. After check-in, students have the option of either turning off their camera or leaving it on, whatever is their preference. Younger learners are highly encouraged to leave their cameras on.

Missed Classes & Refunds
All our classes are backed by the ‘Limited’ refund policy. Parents may withdraw up to a week before class starts with a full refund OR within 24 hours of purchase. In the event a learner misses a class, recordings are made available in each classroom. Students are more than welcomed to reach out for any questions and share their work in the classroom.

Late/ Missed Class
All classes will begin on time as long as one learner is in the classroom. In the event that no students are in the classroom at the assigned class time, the teacher will leave a message in the classroom and exit after ten minutes of waiting per Outschool policy.

Minimum Enrollment & Class Cancellation
A minimum of two learners is required for every class to run. In the event that we have to cancel a class, parents will be notified within 24 hours of class. Learners will have the option of either transferring to a more populated section of the same class or receiving a full refund, whichever is preferred.

Technical Difficulties
In the event of class delay/ cancellations due to unforeseeable technical issues, all families will be notified and a make-up section will be posted, or a refund will be issued if a make-up class cannot be scheduled.