Foundations of Animation is an introductory course covering various aspects of the history, theory and practice of animation. This will include a broad overview of traditional and computer animation techniques from the earliest experiments until today. Emphasize creating computer 2-D animations using the popular animation program, Adobe Flash CS5.

Required Reading
Flash CS5: The Missing Manual by Chris Grover
Today we will be discussing the following:

1. Course Overview

3. Animation Basics

4. Intro to Flash

5. Animation Inspiration

Required Reading: Begin Reading the Intro and Chapter 1: 13-40

Stop-Motion

Stop-Motion animation uses individual captured moments that are joined together to give the impression of movement.

1906 – Humorous Phases of Funny Faces

Animation Inspiration

Pixilation – Oren Lavie

3D:

Cutout – Jib Jab

http://sendables.jibjab.com/originals/never_a_year_like_09

Magnetosphere Software – Barbarian Group

1. Object vs. Merge Drawing Tools
2. Keyframes
3. In-between Drawings
4. Frames
5. Frame-by-frame Animation
6. Timeline
7. Tweening

Note: Check out this link for all of the source files to complete the exercises in the book. http://missingmanuals.com/cds/flashcs5tmm/

Animating Your Drawings

Frame-by-frame Animation

Animators first began making animations by drawing each individual drawings. This is the first form of animation we will create today frame-by-frame animation. The best time to use a frame-by-frame animation is when you need to create a highly complex and tightly controlled animation.

Before getting started there are a few key terms you should familiarize yourself with:

1. Animation- is nothing more than a series of framed images displayed one after the other to create the illusion of motion.

2. Keyframes - these are key drawings that show big changes in the finished animation

3. Frames - are the less detailed drawings in-between the keyframes

4. Timeline - starts with one layer and one keyframe. This is where you will animate all of your animations using keyframes and frames in Flash.

Tweening – Animating Automatically

Tweening allows you the animator to save time, effort and files size. As an animator you may not always need full control and it may be easier to get by with less control.

The three different tweens are:

1. Shape Tween - when you want to dramatically change an objects shape or create a morphing effect you can use the shape tween. You can only use a shape tween on an editable object.

2. Classic Tween - is a simpler way to move objects on the stage