This Acting 1 course, the first in a series of advanced animation classes, focuses on creating believable character performances through acting theory, lipsync, and body language. Building on foundational principles, the teacher will work on a single-character, medium close-up dialogue, learning to integrate realistic lipsync to enhance personality and emotion. Emphasis is placed on the connection between facial expressions and body movements, as both must align to convey a character’s mood and intent. By mastering these techniques, students will produce lifelike animations that resonate with audiences and prepare them for deeper animation exploration in future courses.

Session 1: Theory of Acting – Introduction to acting fundamentals and the psychology behind believable characters.
Session 2: Planning & Reference – Develop strategies for planning scenes and gathering effective reference material.
Session 3: Story Block & Initial Blocking – Lay down the first steps of the animation with a focus on expression and emotion.
Session 4: Blocking & Spline Work – Refine movements by progressing from blocking to spline, creating smooth transitions.
Session 5: Polish – Hone animations, paying close attention to details in lipsync and facial expressions.
Session 6: Polish & Feedback – Finalize the animation with constructive feedback to perfect each scene.