Animation Techniques: Expressions and Movement

Create animated characters that leap off the screen with personality.

This four-week course is designed to build on your foundational knowledge of digital animation and take your skills to the next level. You'll learn ways to communicate narratives through character body language and expressions, enhancing your ability to create visually engaging movement.

Throughout the course, you will learn to think in three dimensions by mastering the rotation of shapes and maintaining consistent volume in your drawings. You'll delve into the nuances of facial expressions, learning to convey complex emotions through the eyes, mouth, and other facial features. You'll also learn how to animate walk cycles, runs, and unique gaits, equipping you with the skills to depict a wide range of characters, from humans to animals, in a way that reflects their mood and personality.

Whether you aim to create animations for film, games, or personal projects, this course will provide you with the techniques needed to bring your characters to life.

What you will learn:

✔ Rotate simple polyhedrons by breaking them down into planar forms, creating the illusion of 3D space in a 2D medium
✔ Create a wide range of facial expressions, focusing on the eyes and mouth, and combine these features to convey complex emotions in characters
✔ Use timing and multiple breakdowns to create dynamic and emotionally resonant animations
✔ Animate realistic walk cycles and other forms of locomotion for characters, applying unique movement styles that reflect the character's mood and personality

Join us and learn how to animate online!

Prerequisite skills:

Completion of Digital Animation 101 and Developing Animated Characters, or equivalent knowledge and/or experience.

What you need to participate:

Computer or mobile device with Internet. Internet speed must be at least 1.5Mbps download and 800Kbps upload. For students using a mobile device, download the Canvas mobile app and select “Interlochen Online” as your school.
Toon Boom Harmony (Essentials, Advanced, or Premium are all acceptable).
Recommended, but not required: Touch screen attachment or tablet for drawing on your computer.
Recommended, but not required: Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams.

How the course works:

Interlochen Online courses are designed to be inspiring and flexible with weekly learning units that combine video segments and guided instruction that you can complete on your own schedule during the week. You will interact regularly with your teacher and peers inside the learning environment.

You can also participate in an optional weekly hour-long video class meeting, where you can learn from the teacher and interact with your classmates in real-time. At the beginning of the course, you will complete a survey indicating your preferred times for the class meeting. The teacher will make every best effort to identify a meeting time that works for everyone. The teacher will also post recordings of the meetings and you can view them when it is convenient.

The goal is that you walk away not only with practical skills and friendships but that you are inspired and motivated to pursue your art and realize your potential.