Making Amazing Animated Movies - Intro to 2D Animation (Ages 12+)
In this 6-Day (or 6-Week) course, students will learn the basics on how to create an animated film! Learn how to do it the old fashion way, like the classic Disney Films & Popeye! They will work on other forms of 2D Animation as well.
Raymond Mullikin (Raytoons Comics)
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(469)
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What's included
6 live meetings
5 in-class hoursHomework
Optional: After class is over students could try making a video with the Lapse It software and share their creation with the instructor and rest of the class. (We would love to see it. 🥰)Class Experience
This is class is for students interested in learning more about how traditional animation works.
Students will learn how to animate characters, creating walking animations with the help of movement guides. They will discover how to transfer their drawing designs to Animation Cels the old fashion way (with layers and backgrounds), similar to the process in making of classic animated films like Snow White and Popeye. They will also explore other types of 2D Animation styles as well.
📢 Doing the Animation is Optional
Throughout the class, the instructor will show how to different 2D animation styles.
Students can try out the process as well with the instructor during class. Or they can just watch (and maybe try out the process on their own after class). Or they can work on a different 2D Animation.
**NOTE: This class may meet once a week for 6-weeks OR "camp-style" in which it will meet a few days a week for a couple of weeks.**
💡SOME EXTRA THOUGHTS💡
I am open to different approaches to 2D animation, if the learner wants to explore them. When I am showing how to use a certain type of animation, the learner doesn't have do the same animation in class. If they don't want to do it, they can just watch or work on one of other ones.
There have been students in past classes interested interested in doing "Cut-Out" animation, another type of classic animation.
It involves using paper (thin cardstock works best) to design the character animations.
Here are example cut out animation videos that I did for past business projects:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_J7BZRmtw8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2McTxIEAqz8
This is a LIVE class and is NOT pre-recorded.
This class will be presented via cameras from the instructor. He will have one camera at his face and another will be at the table where he is drawing, so that the student can see the instructor as speaks, and be able to observe step-by-step what the instructor is doing. Students can interact with the instructor, as well ask ask questions during instruction.
No writing or independent reading is necessary.
Students are expected to communicate with the teacher. Communication, visuals, and hands-on instruction are all the things that I are important in helping the students get a better understanding of the subject.Learning Goals
1. Students will design and paint their own traditional animation "cels" in the manner of classic animated films (Snow White, Bambi, etc.)2. Students will learn to demonstrate understanding of the basics of animation development through designing a character and learning “pencil test” animation techniques.
Syllabus
6 Lessons
over 6 WeeksLesson 1:
Introductions
✔️ Introduction & Slideshow (On the various types of 2D Animation.)
✔️ Students will watch an old film short about the history of traditional animation.
✔️ Discuss animation ideas.
If students don't want to do traditional Cel animation, they can try a different form a of animation instead.
(Examples: Making a Flipbook, Doing a Cut-Out Animation, Creating a digital 2Danimation with FlipaClip) 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Character Concept Design
✔️ Students plan their character designs first, while learning about the creative thinking involved in creating a cartoon character.
✔️ Direct Instruction: Students will follow along with the teacher as he shows the process of planning out the character movements.
If the character isn't doing movements very well, they can try changing the character to make movements a little bit easier. (Like what Jim Davis did with Garfield.) 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Creating a Traditional Cel Animation
✔️ Students will watch a film short about the traditional animation process.
✔️ Students will design their Cel drafts (in pencil) on paper. Afterwards they will be traced onto a plastic cel sheet.
✔️ Direct Instruction: Students will follow along as the instructor shows the process of painting an animated cel and designing a background on another sheet of paper. A demonstration on how the Cels would then be animated through Stop Motion Animation Software. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Creating a Cut-Out Animation
✔️ Students will watch a film short about Cut-Out Animation.
✔️ Students will design their cut-out characters on paper (preferrably cardstock) and then cut them out.
✔️ Direct Instruction: A demonstration on how the Cut-Out pieces can then be animated through Stop Motion Animation Software (Stop Motion Studio or Lapse It).
(𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉, 𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒎.) 50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Supply List
【Materials Needed】
✓ Pencils or Pens
✓ Sharpies or Colored Pencils or Paint for the backgrounds
✓ Paper/Sketchpad
✓ Transparency Sheets or Clear Sheet Protectors
✓ Paint Pens (different colors, including black)
(If the learner is familiar with using regular paint and a brush, they can use that instead, if they want.
But the paint should be thicker paint, like Acrylic.
There are some special pens for writing on metal and plastic that can be used as well.)
【Optional】
(During class, the instructor will show how to make an animated video from their artwork. Students can just watch, or try out the process as well.)
✓ Smartphone or Tablet (Android or iOS)
If you only have a computer, you could either run the android apps on your PC with BlueStacks:
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/3-free-ways-to-run-android-apps-on-your-pc
Or you could try installing a Stop Motion program for Windows: https://fixthephoto.com/best-free-stop-motion-software.html
Here is a link to Stop Motion Studio on the PC or Mac: https://www.cateater.com/
✓ Stop Motion Studio works great for gluing the pictures together into a video
Or Lapse It or Lapse It Pro (An alternative that also works.)
✓ Lightpad or Lightbox: Having a back-light to animation makes it stand out more. But this isn't required.
✓ A very large sheet of paper for the background. The more room, the more the character has room to walk on.
✓ Flipaclip App Software (For Android or iOS)
After practicing with Traditional Animation, students can also play around with digital 2D animation through Flipaclip, if they want.
(Or the Animation Desk software can also be used. It is very similar setup as Flipaclip.) 1 file available upon enrollment
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined June, 2020
4.9
469reviews
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
California Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
2 Degrees
Bachelor's Degree in Education from University of La Verne
Associate's Degree in Education from Cuesta College
Hi, my name is Raymond Mullikin. 👋
I am a professional cartoonist and credentialed teacher from San Luis Obispo, California.
I teach classes in Cartooning, Comic Book Printing and Publishing, 2D Cartoon Animation, Claymation/Stop Motion, Toy Figure Design, Video Game and App Coding, Creative Writing, etc.
I am also a professional illustrator/writer and Creative Director for Raytoons Comics. The Raytoons website is at Raytoons.Net. I have published cartoons in books, magazines, newspapers, and e-cards. I am an app designer who have designed my own games and software for schools and Appstores. I have also done past work in animation, creating animated film shorts for film festivals around the world.
I graduated from the University of Laverne with a Teaching Credential (2012) and a BA in Liberal Studies (2009). I also have certifications in Early Childhood Education, Technology and 2D Design. I've worked in education for 20+ years (including a few years in Special Ed) and have been doing contract teaching since 2009. I teach art and technology to children and adults of all ages.
How students approach a learning task can strongly influence the quality of their learning outcomes. For me, my approach is often very hands on (kinesthetic) with a lot of visual examples... That's how I've learned things, with a more creative approach. I have a lot of this in my instruction, with a mix of direct and interactive instruction with lots of Experiential Learning hands on!
It is also important to me to get feedback from both children and parents... Some kids have some very clever ideas! And, in teaching, there is always room for expansion of ideas and improving oneself.
I love drawing, comics, writing, creating my own games, and reading. Pretty much everything that I teach I enjoy and do professionally. I also enjoy teaching and thank all the parents and students willing to give me a try! 😃Reviews
Live Group Course
$16
weekly or $93 for 6 classes1x per week, 6 weeks
50 min
Completed by 9 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-12 learners per class
Financial Assistance
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