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2D DIGITAL ANIMATION ONLINE COURSE

STUDY UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF
A TOP ANIMATOR

2D ANIMATION

© SPA Studios

DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC STUDIES

Director of Academic Studies, teacher - former Art director and Production designer - PIXAR Studios

Anthony Christov is an internationally renowned art director and production designer for the award-winning Pixar Animation Studios...

THE BEST IDEA FOR NEXT-GEN ANIMATORS!

COURSE INTRODUCTION 

Enroll in one of the most dynamic  2D Animation programs in Europe!
 
IDEA Academy offers the one and only animation course directed by Anthony Christov,  former Art Director and Production Designer at Pixar Animation Studios.
 
The course by many experienced professionals who have worked for international companies such as SPA studios, Cartoon Network, The Line, Titmouse and Cartoon Saloon, just to name a few.
 
This ​​one-year program is designed for passionate individuals looking for a career in the entertainment industry. The course is made of 3 modules; each module runs for 12 weeks and will allow students an in-depth study of 2D animation to learn how to convey weight, motion and personality to characters with the most advanced techniques. If you’re an aspiring storyboard artist or 2D animator, join us and learn from a group of amazing internationally renowned professionals!

IMPORTANT: Applications should meet the minimum entry requirements to pursue the program.

Courses are taught in English in an online live streaming format

LET'S GET STARTED

2D ANIMATION 

INTRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION + SOFTWARE BASICS

Basic principles of animation, working with simple shapes and humanoid characters...

TIMING AND SPACING + SLOW IN AND SLOW OUT + CHARTS - the bouncing ball

Exercise: rough - bouncing ball

Exercise: rough, a flick/hit/kick/punch on something that reacts 

ANTICIPATION, OVERSHOOT, SQUASH AND STRETCH - 

Working on easy movements like a hit, a drop, a knock, breaking the joints

MODULE 1

Duration: 12 weeks

STAGING, POSING, SOLID DRAWINGS and EXAGGERATION

Exercise: rough - sack of flour acting bit

FACE ACTING, OVERLAP, TAKES - Get the rhythm and don't time all together

Exercise: rough - mid shot, a character looks around and changes expressions

CENTRE OF GRAVITY, ARCS

Exercise: rough -wide shot, a simple body action, bowing, sitting, standing up

BASIC WEIGHT, FLEXIBILITY AND TAKES – secondary action

Exercise: rough -wide shot, little body movement (weight shift/one step/etc) head turn, the character sees something and…

FOLLOW THROUGH AND TIE DOWN - Spice up your animation!

Exercise: tie-down - add a feather, a belly, a cape, something to your previous animation then tie it down

MORE ON WEIGHT -

Lines of Action, change of shape

Exercise: tie down - animate a push, a pull or a lift

LOOPS

Exercise: tie-down, animation loop like a flying animal or something more complex like a dance loop

WALKS - A generic walk

Exercise: tie-down, animate a generic walk

WALKS – A walk with character

Exercise: tie-down, animate a more personal walk

MAKE YOUR CHARACTERS ALIVE

2D ANIMATION

PERSONALIZED WALK CYCLE
Exercise: start, run, jump, stop

WALK CYCLE IN PERSPECTIVE / CHANGE OF DIRECTION

SPORT ACTIONS
Exercise: sports action (one action to choose between 3 or 4 given actions) with a given character

TIEDOWN ON THE ROUGH MADE BY SOMEONE ELSE

FX - BASES (WATER, FIRE, SMOKE, ETC)

INBETWEENING
Exercise: astronaut or diver - slow motion exercise

FIGHTING SEQUENCE
Exercise: ninja training (original character design or one chosen among some designs provided)

DYNAMIC ACTIONS
Exercises: dance, a character who has to move a heavy object in an established space with acting



 

BODY MECHANICS

MODULE 2

Duration: 12 weeks

LEVEL UP YOUR ANIMATION SKILLS

2D ANIMATION

ACTING

PANTOMIME 1
Exercise: unboxing a present + reaction

PANTOMIME 2
Exercise: character starts to say something but is not sure how

INTRO DIALOGUE ACTING - BODY ONLY (NO FACE/EXPRESSION)
Exercise: work on a soundtrack - focus on body acting (given sound)

INTRO DIALOGUE ACTING - MOUTH ONLY (HEAD NOT MOVING)
Exercise: work on a soundtrack - focus on lipsync

ACTING + LIPSYNC - CLOSE UP
Exercise: start working on subtlety, hidden meaning and subtext (choice among given sounds)

ACTING + LIPSYNC - FULL FIGURE/MEDIUM SHOT - 11 SECONDS
Exercise: work on a fully animated, tied down acting and lipsync shot (they choose the sound)

TALK ABOUT SHOWREEL

MODULE 3

Duration: 12 weeks

ENROLLMENT DATES 2023/24
Enrollment deadline: subject to availability


 

MODULE 1: CLASS A Sept. 25th, 2023 - December18th, 2023 - CLASS B Sept. 26th, 2023 - December 19th, 2023

​

MODULE 2: January 8th, 2024  -  April 2nd, 2024

 

MODULE 3: April 15th, 2024 - July 15th, 2024 (Including 1 week of pause during the Annecy Animation Fair

TIME SCHEDULE

 

CLASS A

Monday: 3 PM - 7 PM cet/cest
Thursday: 3 PM - 7 PM cet/cest

 

CLASS B

Tuesday: 3 PM - 7 PM cet/cest

Friday: 3 PM - 7 PM cet/cest

​

IMPORTANT: The school reserves the right to change the course's schedule

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Course language: English

​

Materials provided (included in the cost of the course for the duration of the course only):

- License Toon Boom Harmony Pro;

- Syncsketch License;

​

Required tools: 

- Computer + graphic tablet;

- Webcam + microphone;​

​

COST

The cost of each module (12 weeks) of the 2D Animation online course is 1900€  â€‹

The sum is to be paid at the enrollment.

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