The Art and Production of Pixar Animation—Flex

In this four week class, students will learn about the history of Pixar animation studios and how they produce their favorite animated movies! Students will be able to identify basic computer animation processes used by Pixar by the end of class, and be able to discuss different technologies that went into the making of the most popular films! 

Parents, this is a flexible course class that does not meet live. Students will gain access to a lecture video once a week and interact with the instructor and other participants through the online course page. Students will access all of the materials through the classroom, where class discussions will take place and assignments will be posted.  Students will interact through discussion questions in the classroom and the teacher is accessible via the classroom and is happy to meet for a live meeting if a student requests so. If you prefer a live class, you can find it here: https://outschool.com/classes/the-art-and-production-of-pixar-animation-alhxqlV3#usvipOLoSC

The course schedule is as follows:

Week 1--An Introduction to Pixar and Computer Animation: In week 1 of the course, students will learn about where Pixar started (as a computer company!) and why they decided to make their own animated shorts and films. Students will learn about the early programs used for creating animated shorts, specifically Renderman.  Students will watch two of the earliest short films by Pixar to see how their technologies progressed, including a version of the short "Luxo" that has not been through the rendering stage, to see what the shorts look like before and after they go through the rendering process. By the end of class, students will be familiar with the concept of rendering, how computer animation is different from hand-drawn animation, and how Pixar got their start! 

Week 2--Toy Story: In week 2, students will learn all about the production of the first ever computer animated film--"Toy Story"! Students will learn about the eight stage process of animation at Pixar and what each step requires. They will learn about some of the production challenges behind this film and different technologies created to make the film itself appear realistic. By the end of class, students will be familiar with the basic process of animation and film production at Pixar and be able to discuss fun facts about the harrowing process of making "Toy Story"!

Week 3--Adding Details to Computer Animation: In this class, students will learn about the technologies that Pixar created to adapt to the challenges of creating real worlds in their films that came after "Toy Story." Students will start by learning about the challenges of creating fur for "Monsters Inc." and the programs created to make fur and hair look realistic. Students will also learn about how film lighting can alter how realistic the environments look by discussing the lighting challenges of "Finding Nemo" and how animators created a realistic underwater world. Students will learn about how realistic humans are created through a discussion of "The Incredibles" and the concept of "Sub-Surface Scattering",  or how light reflects through human skin. We will then talk about how sub-surface scattering applies to other Pixar films, like "Ratatouille" and the creation of real looking foods. 

Week 4--Finishing Touches in Computer Animation: In this final class, students will learn about the minor details that go into creating realistic worlds and stories in Pixar films, starting with "Wall-E." We will discuss how the animators created a story through characters that do not speak and the process behind creating a trash-filled world. We will discuss how the animators made cars loveable characters for the film of the same name and how "Up" uses minor details in things like fabric to tell a story. Students will also learn about how "Inside Out" interacts with the art world and how the animators prepared for "Coco" by visiting Mexico and using Mexican art as inspiration. By the end of class, students will be able to discuss how the minor details make a Pixar film extremely realistic and relatable!