Cognitive Science 0143 - Stop Motion from Scratch

This course uses the framework of stop motion animation to build a fundamental skill set for creating any type of animation. Students begin by creating wire-armatured puppets using a technique called "foam buildup," which is a common technique most famously utilized by Ray Harryhausen in King Kong. The puppets the students create in the first weeks of class will provide them with both a canvas and a brush to explore their personal style by animating specific movements and analyzing each other's work. Students will be introduced to materials such as latex rubber, epoxy resins, animation clays, and silicone gel mediums. Class lectures will cover animation history and techniques as well as when, where, and why to choose them. Course work will progress from simple bouncing ball animation to fully realized character animation with lip sync.

Arts, Design, and Media Independent Work In this course, students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time. This time includes reading, writing, research.