Courses in Animation MFA

Degree Requirements

To download a copy of this, which includes a checksheet, please click here.

I. Area: MFA Animation (See sections I to V for all requirements)

II. Summary:

Minimum 6 quarters graduate residence in the Department; maximum 12 quarters residence. Minimum total of 72 units (18 classes) for the degree. At least 5 Graduate numbered courses (200,400,500 Level). Minimum course load is 12 units per quarter

Maintenance of a B average GPA.

III. Courses:

A. Required Courses:

181A

ANIMATION DESIGN

1818

WRITING FOR ANIMATION

181C

ANIMATION WORKSHOP

484AB

VISUAL THINKING AND ORGANIZATION FOR ANIMATION (DRAWING)

488A

INTERACTIVE ANIMATION

489AB

COMPUTER ANIMATION FOR FILM AND VIDEO

or

483AB

ADVANCED COMPUTER ANIMATION MAYA

B. FTVDM Required Courses:

Two Film and Television Graduate Seminars:

209D

SEMINAR IN THE ANIMATED FILM

Plus choose one course below:

203

FILM AND OTHER ARTS

206A

EUROPEAN FILM HISTORY

206C

AMERICAN FILM HISTORY**

207

EXPERIMENTAL FILM

208B

CLASSICAL FILM THEORY **

208C

CONTEMPORARY FILM THEORY

209D

ANIMATED FILM

217

TELEVISION HISTORY**

218

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SOCIETY

219

FILM AND SOCIETY

220

TELEVISION AND SOCIETY

221

FILM AUTHORS

222

FILM GENRES

223

VISUAL PERCEPTION

270

FILM CRITICISM

271

TELEVISION CRITICISM

276

NON WESTERN FILM

277

NARRATIVE STUDIES

** courses are sometimes taught as a core course for MA students and may not be available that particular quarter to MFA students.

C. One Live Action Course:

150

CINEMATOGRAPHY

483AB

INTRO TO EXPERIMENTAL FILM

Or another approved course from the Production area (Directing).

D. Electives:

152

FILM AND TELEVISION SOUND RECORDING

188A

REAL TIME ANIMATION: PUPPETRY ARTS

188N

HISTORY OF ANIMATION IN AMERICA

188J

THE DISNEY FEATURE: THEN AND NOW

480

ANIMATION TIMING

482B

ADVANCED ANIMATION (CHARACTER ANIMATION)

482B

ADVANCED ANIMATION (WRITING FOR THE ANIMATED TV SERIES

485

LEGAL ISSUES IN ANIMATION

488B

ADVANCED ANIMATION (LAYOUT)

This list is subject to change. Availability of courses is not guaranteed. Do not wait until your last quarter to fulfill requirements

E. To graduate an animation student will need to have finished:

One traditional film (181C)

One computer film (483ABC or 489ABA)

One interactive project (488A or B)

And one thesis film (596) if needed

IV. Courses by Year:

A. FIRST YEAR Traditional Animation

FALL

FT 181A

INTRODUCTION TO ANIMATION 5 UNITS

FT 181B

WRITING FOR ANIMATION 4/8 UNITS

FT 484A

VISUAL THINKING AND ORGANIZATION FOR ANIMATION (DRAWING) 4 UNITS

Electives if you have the time:

FT 488B

ADVANCED ANIMATION (LAYOUT) 4 UNITS

If you have completed 181ABC and have finished your first film as an undergraduate you can start as a second year student, but you will need to take the Seminar during the winter quarter.

WINTER

FT 181C

ANIMATION WORKSHOP 8 UNITS

FT 484B

VISUAL THINKING AND ORGANIZATION FOR ANIMATION (DRAWING) 4

FT 209D

SEMINAR IN THE ANIMATED FILM 4 UNITS

You could take one of these electives if you have the time:

FT 482B

ADVANCED ANIMATION (CHARACTER ANIMATION)

FT 480B

TIMING (or FTV 485 LEGAL ISSUES IN ANIMATION) 4 units these two courses alternate each year

FT 152

FILM AND TELEVISION SOUND RECORDING 4 UNITS (check availability and course number)

Falling Lizard Weekend, a traditional event of the workshop, will take place the weekend of the Super Bowl (and The Annie Awards) Feb 5,6,7

SPRING

181C

ANIMATION WORKSHOP: 8 UNITS: Finish your first animated film

178

4 units if needed for working on your 181C project.

You could take electives if you have the time:

188N

HISTORY OF ANIMATIO IN AMERICA

Note: This undergraduate course, like all animation courses, is open to every student in the University (but in this case pre enrolls it alternates. Every other year, with FT 188J The Disney Feature Then and Now

FT 152

FILM AND TELEVISION SOUND RECORDING 4 UNITS (check availability and course number)

B. SECOND YEAR: Computer Animation

Note: you can automatically take the computer class only if you have finished your 181C film by the end of summer. If not, admission to the computer courses will be on a case by case basis and you may have to wait until your third year (with a finished 181C film) before you can enroll in the computer courses.

There are three options for the computer flight (1) 483ABC Maya, (2) 489ABA, or (3) Some combination of 483 and 489 but you must have a completed computer film finished to complete the computer animation requirement. All students must take 489A in the Fall Quarter even if they are taking 483A.

The required courses outside of animation (one approved directing course and one approved media studies graduate seminar) can be taken any quarter.

FALL

FT 483A

ADVANCED COMPUTER ANIMATION MAYA 4/8 UNITS

FT 484A

VISUAL THINKING AND ORGANIZATION FOR ANIMATION (DRAWING) 4 UNITS

FT 489A

COMPUTER ANIMATION 4 TO 8 UNITS MUST BE TAKEN

FT 488B

ADVANCED ANIMATION (LAYOUT) (OPTIONAL) 4 UNITS

You could take elective course(s) if you have the time:

FT 488A: Interactive Animation is required in 3rd year but may take it in 2nd year if you have enough computer experience and are not enrolled in 483A (Maya)

FT 152 Film and Television Sound Recording: 4 units (check availability and course number)

WINTER

483AB

ADVANCED COMPUTER ANIMATION MAYA 4 to 8 UNITS

489B

COMPUTER ANIMATION MAYA (if you are not taking the Maya class; may be taken concurrently)

484B

(OPTIONAL) VISUAL THINKING AND ORGANIZATION FOR ANIMATION (DRAWING) 4 UNITS

Electives:

FT 482B

ADVANCED ANIMATION (CHARACTER ANIMATION)

FT 488B

INTERACTIVE ANIMATION (B is an option for 488) if you have enough time.

FT 480

TIMING 4 units alternate with the Law course each years

SPRING

FT 483C

ADVANCED COMPUTER ANIMATION MAYA (may also take 489A) 4 to 8 units

FT 489A

Computer Animation (required if you are not taking the Maya class) 4 to 8 units

Electives:

FT 482B

ADVANCED ANIMATION: WRITING FOR THE TV SERIES

FT 182N

HISTORY OF ANIMATION IN AMERICA

note: This undergraduate course, like all animation courses, is open to every student in the University (but in this case pre enrolls) it alternates. Every other year, with FT 188J The Disney Feature Then and Now

FT 152

FILM AND TELEVISION SOUND RECORDING: 4 UNITS (check availability and course number)

THIRD YEAR (Thesis)

FALL

FT 488A

INTERACTIVE ANIMATION

FT 484A

VISUAL THINKING AND ORGANIZATION FOR ANIMATION (DRAWING) 4 UNITS

Elective/required course(s)

FT 596

THESIS

You should be finishing your required animation courses by now. With a completed project in: Traditional Animation, Interactive Animation, and Computer Animation. Your thesis project can be in traditional, animation narrative, experimental, any content or style for any idea, for any purpose. It is your film and purpose and should be good. This is the year of your thesis film.

You can go on a leave of absence if you like.

WINTER

FT 488B

INTERACTIVE ANIMATION (optional)

FT 596

THESIS

Elective/required course(s)

SPRING

FT 596

THESIS

Elective/required course(s)

FT 482B

ADVANCED ANIMATION: WRITING FOR THE TV SERIES

Leave of Absence

REQUIRED NON ANIMATION COURSES

One graduate seminar from the approved list of the Cinema Media Studies area

One approved course from the Production area (Directing)

SUGGESTED ELECTIVE COURSES

Drawing: Character animators should be drawing all the time. The Union and others have classes.

Editing: Especially for those without any film background - the language of film.

Acting: For those into character animation, remember you are the actor or actress.

Sound: Designing, mixing and using sound creatively - sound can make your film.

Camera/Lighting: Especially for the lighting of 3D computer and puppet animation.

And any of these: Design film, Computer programming, Directing, Movement, Painting,

Perspective, Design, Color, Mythology, Life, and Love. We have a library of books, tapes, laser disks, DVD's you will need to read, look, analyze and learn from these to be a good filmmaker of animation. Internships are available and are helpful, especially if you know what you want to do also there is freelance work available. Both take time away from your education, a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The Falling Lizard is not required, but is a lot of FUN.

To download a copy of this, which includes a checksheet, please click here.

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