Session 1: Foundations of Animation and Planning Your Scene

• Objective: Introduce animation principles and begin planning the animated scene.

• Topics Covered:

  • Short introduction to TVpaint and basic functions

  • Core animation principles: timing, spacing, squash & stretch, and anticipation.

  • Understanding character action and story beats.

  • Designing an effective pose and silhouette.

  • Importance of reference materials (videos, sketches, real-life observation).

• Activity: Brainstorm ideas for a character action scene. Sketch thumbnails and create an animatic to map out the action sequence.

 

Session 2: Scene Design and Integration  

• Objective: Incorporate the environment and enhance the character’s interaction with the scene.

• Topics Covered:

  • Expanding on TVpaint and tools that will be needed in the animation process.

  • Designing and refining the background or setting.

  • Aligning the character’s action with the environment for believability.

  • Blocking out a few story beat poses to insure the background and characters will work within the scene we’ve created.

  • Creating and placing props a character will interact with.

• Activity: Finalize the scene layout so the character animation can work with the environment, ensuring believability.

 

Session 3: Key Poses and Staging

• Objective: Define key moments and compose the scene for clarity and impact.

• Topics Covered:

  • Creating strong, expressive key poses.

  • Principles of staging: composition, perspective, and depth.

  • Understanding arcs of motion and line of action.

  • Begin discussing timing charts.

• Activity: Draw and refine 5-7 key poses for the character's action sequence, focusing on storytelling and movement clarity.

 

Session 4: Timing and Rough Animation

• Objective: Block out the timing and rough out the animation sequence.

• Topics Covered:

  • Timing and spacing for realistic motion.

  • Working with frame rates: deciding on ones, twos, and holds.

  • Adding breakdown poses to connect keyframes.

  • Refining timing with charts and intent

• Activity: Create a rough animation pass, blocking out the motion with timing adjustments for flow and energy.

 

Session 5: In-Betweening and Refining Motion

• Objective: Smooth out the animation by adding in-betweens and refining arcs.

• Topics Covered:

  • Adding secondary motion and follow-through.

  • Techniques for clean in-betweening.

  • Analyzing arcs and maintaining consistent volume.

• Activity: Add in-betweens to the rough animation, achieving smooth and cohesive movement.

 

Session 6: Final Polish and Presentation

• Objective: Add finishing touches and prepare the animation for completion.

• Topics Covered:

  • Cleaning up actions and readability.

  • How to address notes

  • Checking arc and spacing

  • Refine facial performance and character’s thoughts

  • How to export for clients and portfolio

• Activity: Complete the final animation.