Fall 2008 Final Project

The Final Project is up to the individual student and the instructor. 
The Project can be up to 3 minutes in length, and created in any method, (traditional pencil-on-paper, Photoshop, Flash, stop-motion, photo-copy/scanner, etc.).

The Project can be abstract or representational, linear or non-linear, for a specific product, (i.e., show opener, commercial), or self-expression. 

The Project should reflect solid animation principles, as listed in John Lasseter’s Principles of Animation paper.

Final output should be as a QuickTime movie, NTSC-DV Widescreen, H.264 compressor, with audio.   

“Mile Markers”:

Proposal –
This can be a written short paragraph, a ‘pitch’, an annotated storyboard, a PowerPoint or Flash presentation or some other clear description of your intended project.  
It should have clear goals and objectives, and a strong sense of the visual style you intend to pursue. 
It should also describe the technical process you intend to use, and the production schedule you’ll follow. 
*All of this can, and probably will, change, but we need to start somewhere, and having a plan and throwing it out is better than having no plan at all.  Take my word for it.*

Animatic—
This is a QuickTime movie of the still images from your storyboard or style sheets.  The images should appear on screen for the length of time that you plan on having them on screen for the Final. Any pans, zooms, rotations, etc. should be simulated.
Audio should be a rough cut of the audio you plan on using. 

Rough Cut 1 –
You should have basic shapes, colors, and movement.  Audio should be more refined.  Timings of the movements and the shots will be the focus of the critique.

Rough Cut 2 –
There should be significant improvement from Rough Cut 1.  Shapes, colors, movements should be nearly complete.  Audio should be 80-90% finished.  Improvement from Rough Cut 1 and final decisions for the Final Cut will be the focus.

Final—
This should be as done as it’s going to get this year.