Secondary Action - and 25 Years of Simpsons

D'oh D'oh D'oh D'oh D'oh D'oh

Today is the 25th anniversary of the animated television series The Simpsons.

For your sketchbook assignment, draw a scene of Homer Simpson doing one of his famous "d'ohs." You can read more about the origin of the "annoyed grunt" at item number 12 above. You can also view a selection of d'ohs here.

Principles of Design

List and Show examples of The Principles of Design as stated on The Getty Museum Education website.

Illustrate each "Principle of Design" and include in your post. Please use a computer program, such as MS Paint or Adobe Illustrator, to show each element. Then attach (or insert) each image with the appropriate element of art. 

You may also try Photoshop or Flash, if you think either will work.

Updated on 12/16/14

Sketchbook - Arc and Kandinsky

For today's sketchbook assignment, work with a group of students and choose a Wassily Kandinsky painting that illustrates the Basic Principle of Animation for today.

Today would be Kandinsky 148th birthday. Google has devoted the Google Doodle to him. You can learn more about Kandinsky Google Doodle here and here.

Somewhere on the sketchbook page, describe the artwork; e.g. the name of the painting.

It Started with a Mouse - Notes #4

This is the forth and final movie notes for "It Started With A Mouse."

For this assignment, you will work in a group of 3 or 4 students. You will submit ONE piece of paper for the entire group.

Please include the title at the top of the paper.

1. When was Dumbo released?

2. What popular culture trend started after the television show Davy Crockett?

3. When did the theme park Disneyland open?

4. How many people visited the park the first seven weeks?

5. What was Walt's idea behind the The Epcot Center?

6. When did Walt Disney die?

7. When Michael Eisner became Chairman of The Walt Disney Studio, what film production company did he add to the company? Why was this important?

8. Why did animation give new management problems?

9. When was Who Framed Roger Rabbit released?

10. What early Disney animation series was similar to Roger Rabbit?

11 - 13. In "It Started With A Mouse," Director of Animation Richard Williams states that three new things were accomplished in the movie. What three?

14. Walt used an editing trick in Mary Poppins. What was it? Why was it used?

15. How was this trick used in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 

Elements of Art

List and Show examples of The Elements of Art as stated on The Getty Museum Education website.

Illustrate each "Element of Art" and include in your post. Please use a computer program, such as MS Paint or Adobe Illustrator, to show each element. Then attach each image with the appropriate element of art. You may also try Photoshop or Flash, if you think either will work.

You can read more about the Elements of Art at this link.

YOU CREATE YOUR OWN IMAGES!

Updated on 12/16/14

For Example, list the elements below

Line ... and insert the image HERE 

It Started with a Mouse - Notes #3

When was Pinocchio released?

Disney stories were not scripted. Instead, Disney stories were shown using what hand written/drawn device? Provide a short example.

Disney relied on his animators as actors as well as visual artists. Provide an example from today's section.

What terrified Pinocchio? How did the animator show Pinocchio's terror?

When "poor Pinocchio" was in a swinging cage, how did the animators draw the cage? 

How much was the original budget for Pinocchio? How much did it originally cost?

Why did Walt stopped production on the movie? How did the studio solve the problem?

In today's segment, there is a scene where the camera pans down into the city showing a detailed village. Why is this scene important?

In 1928, what animated movie was released? What is it's significance?

In 1932, what animated movie was released? What is it's significance?

In 1937, what animated movie was released? What is it's significance?

In the 1950's Walt Disney began producing what type of programs?


You will work in groups of 3 or 4, include the names of your fellow group members. A student must be here for him or her to be in your group.

During the video, each group may have one computer turned on. You choose.

Submit your paper at the end of class today

12 Principles of Animation

12 Principles of Animation

In The Illusion of Life "Disney Animation," authors Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston discuss the 12 Principles of Animation. Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston were two of Walt Disney's "Nine Old Men." This group of animators defined the field of animation, and similar to the US Supreme Court who they were named after, the Nine Old Men decided the future of animation.

Wired Magazine published a blog post earlier this year about the 12 principles and The Illusion of Life. Wired included a short video created by Italian animator Centro Lodigiani. The video explains the principles.

For this blog post, list the 12 Basic Principles of Animation with a short description. Call your blog post "12 Basic Principles of Animation."

In the Labels section, add "Principles of Animation," "The Illusion of Life" and "Walt Disney Studios." 


Note: This post was backdated on December 9, 2014; the video was added on December 10th.

Welcome to 2D Animation

"Music is the space between the notes" - Claude Debussy ?

I teach two periods of 2D Animation at Mission San Jose High School in Fremont, California. For some assignments, students will use a blog to showcase their work.

Please create a Google Blogger blog.

You might want to refer to the Blogger Getting Started help notes.

Please list whether you are in our 5th or 6th period. Please include your blog link, your blog title, your name, and your favorite Disney character. In the section next to the orange word "Post," write My First Post

Include the quote, "Nature abhors a vacuum."