🔵 🔴 🟡 Course description

The course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of the Art of Character Animation, focusing on the basic principles and techniques that govern this art. The theoretical section includes a historical review of the evolution of animation in Europe and America, but also in Greece in particular, and a presentation of the different genres and techniques of animation. Particular emphasis is placed on the 12 basic principles of animation, which determine the dynamics and expressiveness of movement. Through these principles, students will understand the essence of animation and apply them to their own creations. Students will examine the contemporary trends and technological applications of animation in cinema and digital arts, analyzing animation parameters such as posture, movement, and expressiveness of characters in the context of digital storytelling. In the laboratory part, emphasis will be placed on 2D computer animation, where students will apply the 12 principles and become familiar with modern digital tools. The goal is for them to be able to capture their ideas and draw inspiring characters in real expressive and narrative contexts. The purpose of the course is to cover the fundamental concepts of the Art of Animation with an emphasis on modern digital technologies.

At the end of the course, students of the department should be able to:

• identify and define the basic animation genres.
• understand and apply the 12 basic principles of animation.
• use digital tools to create 2D animation.
• create animation works with characters, based on the principles of movement and digital storytelling.

🔵 🔴 🟡 Theory (2 hours)

1. Introduction to Animation: History and Evolution (Focus on the World and Greek History of Animation)

2. Animation Genres: Traditional, 2D, 3D, Stop-motion, Motion Graphics

3. Basic Principles of Animation (Timing, Spacing, Squash and Stretch)

4. Digital Tools and Animation Software (Presentation of basic digital tools and technologies)

5. Character Characteristics and Structure in Animation (Character Expression Analysis and Body Mechanics)

6. Motion Analysis: Industry Rules (Arc, Follow-through, Overlapping Action)

7. Storyboarding: Organizing the Narrative (Scene Structure and Visual Storytelling)

8. Contemporary Trends and Animation Techniques (Introduction to modern trends and innovations in the field of animation)

9. Motion Graphics and their Application in Videos and Movies

10. Character Development in Digital Storytelling (Expressiveness, Movement and Interaction with the Environment)

11. Animation for Performing Arts and Cinema (Combination of animation with other arts)

12. Using Animation in Modern Applications: Gaming, VR, and Interactive Media

13. Review and Critical Analysis of Animation Projects (Presentation of works, analysis and commentary)

🔵 🔴 🟡 Workshop (1 hour)

1. Introduction to the Basic 2D Animation Tools (Installation and basic functions of software such as Adobe Animate or OpenToonz)

2. Basic Motion Planning (First Moves: Drawing frame-by-frame and creating simple motion sequences)

3. Creating a "Bouncing Ball" (Putting Timing and Squash & Stretch principles into practice)

4. Familiarization with the Digital Environment of 2D Animation (Creation of simple scenes with static backgrounds and moving objects)

5. Character Design (Creation and skeleton of a simple character for animation)

6. Character Animation App (Character Movement in Scenes: Walking and Basic Expressions)

7. Creating a Simple Storyboard (Designing the keyframes of a story)

8. Creating a Base Scene with Movement and Character Expressions (Upgrading the design and animation on the storyboard)

9. Motion Graphics Design (Creating simple titles and graphics for videos)

10. Character Interaction with the Environment (Character Movement in Relation to Objects)

11. Complementary Movements (Creating detailed movement and scene with more expression and interaction)

12. Project Animation Completion

13. Presentation of Final Works and Feedback (Presentation of the final project)

Review language: Greek

🔵 🔴 🟡 Evaluation method:

• 10% participation in the laboratory and completion of small frequent exercises-tasks
• 70% jobs
• 20% written exam

• Face-to-face
• Lectures + workshop, Interactive lectures, artistic creation
• Use of slides, laboratory and practical exercises using relevant software see. Bibliography as well as demonstration and video analysis with examples of works and character animation techniques.
• Use of e-class.

https://eclass.uop.gr/courses/3829/

🔵 🔴 🟡 Course Textbooks [Eudoxus]

• Frame by Frame, Eleni Mouri, Edition: 2/2009, ISBN: 960-8152-03-8 NEXUS PUBLICATIONS S.A. PUBLISHING ADVERTISING AND COMMERCIAL COMPANY, Book Code on Eudoxus: 20241

• Thema Informatika Kinmatografias, Kyriakoulakos Panagiotis, Version 1/2007, ISBN: 978-960-03-4547-6, Coded Book on Eudoxus: 16821 https://repository.kallipos.gr/handle/11419/6370

• Animation, Giannis Vassiliadis, Publication: 1st/2006, ISBN: 9603222615, Issuer (Publisher): Aigokeros Publications- Theonimfi Venianaki

• Creative act and production in animation, Eleni Mouri, Panagiotis Kyriakoulakos (eds.), Book Code in Eudoxus: 112694250 Publication: 1/2021 Publisher: ASIFA HELLAS HELLENIC ANIMATION ASSOCIATION NGO, ISBN: 9786188282711

• From complex arts to hypermedia and new virtual potential spaces. A Handbook for the Artist Who Deals with Digital Art, Matthaios Santorinaios, Electronic Book, Greek Academic Electronic Textbooks and Aids - "Kallipos" Repository, ISBN 978-960-603-374-2, Book Code in Eudoxus 59303612