Sunday, May 24, 2009

Animation Presentation

You are to create a visual presentation on one of the following famous animations.

You may choose from the following animated films or choose an animator of your choice. Here are a list of the following top animations


Mary Poppins
Toy Story
The Simpsons-you may analyze one of their episodes
The Incredibles
Snow White
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Finding Nemo (2003)
WALL-E
Beauty and the Beast
Ratatouille
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
Wallace & Gromit in Chicken Run
Monsters, Inc.
Dumbo (1941)
Bambi
Princess Mononoke
Fantasia
Monsters, Inc.
Metropolis
Charlotte's Web
Transformers: The Movie
Cars
Shrek
The Lion King
The Little Mermaid
Beauty and the Beast
The Little Mermaid


Art History Assignment

You must rent a copy of the movie and go through it with a notepad in your hand taking the following notes:

  1. Company who created the film:

  2. The year it was created:

  3. Director and/or animator(s) -(there could be several) of the film

  4. Analyze three free-frame pictures (you can get these from) using the vocabulary of the elements and principles of design i.e.: In this picture in Monster's Inc there is a strong use of value in that the central figure is brightly lit and the background is very dark. This brings out the central figure in contrast to the background creating a strong focal point and a balanced composition. Note that the words in red are vocabulary of the elements and principles of design.








The elements of design (things that make up a piece of art)are: line, shape, form, colour, texture, and value(light and dark)
The principles of design (things that make a work of art look successful) are: focal point or emphasis, movement, repetition, variety, balance and unity.

5. Describe the storyline of this movie. Why is it such a good story to be used in an animated film?

6. Has this film been influenced by any previous animations, artists, art style or artwork?
Why is this film seen as one of the better animations of all time? What is the philosophy of the director or head animators?

7. What did the critics think of this film? Provide a quote of one critic.

8. Why do you like this film? Name at least three things that inspire you about the animation.

9. How could this film influence your own artwork.

You should provide at least 3 pictures of the film in your presentation and provide a bibliography of the film. Please note that it is very easy to plagiarize

Aside from wikipedia you must have at least 2 other websites listed that you got information from to research this presentation.

Put the presentation on one of the following software-PowerPoint, flash, Corel presentations and then submit it to the inbox no later than Friday January 20, 2011
There will be up to 10 marks extra given if the presentation is submitted for proofreading a week before the 12th (June 5th)

Monday, May 18, 2009

The History of Animation

Please read the following website: the History of Animation (the Early Years before Disney) and and answer the questions.
http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/viza615/97spring/pjames/history/main.html
www.myholler.com/155online/lectures/history.pdf


1. Name three forerunners to today’s comic strip. What did each of these designers do in their work?

2. What is the persistence of vision? Who discovered it?

3. What were two other inventions that helped to develop animations?

4. After the development of the motion camera by Thomas A. Edison, who created the first animated film? Describe it.

5. Who developed the first characters in animation?

6. In the 1920’s what were most plots about in animated film?

7. Why did animation go into depression in the 1930’s?


Now read the Short History of Animation and answer the questions:
www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow5/may99/History/history.html

1. What is animation?

2. How did the development of celluloid make animation easier to manage?

3. How did animation change with Walt Disney?

4. Why was Toy Story important?