EMILIA WHITE

Animation Courses
Stamps School of Art & Design, University of Michigan
Courses Taught: Intro to Animation, Animation for Non-Majors, and Live Action Film & Animation

Intro to Animation Course Description:
In this course, students receive an intensive introduction to different 2D digital animation techniques. They will develop foundational technical skills while learning the principles of motion and timing. Each project will introduce a different technique starting with keyframing motion in After Effects, followed by rotoscoping in Photoshop,  and then finally more detailed techniques in compositing and 2.5D animation combining After Effects and Photoshop.  For the final project, students will continue to refine their skills by working with the techniques of their choice while learning the basic workflow of animation production including style frames, storyboarding, narrative structure, sound editing, and effects.  There will be regular opportunities for peer feedback and dialogue about the theoretical concepts of animation, including live-streamed presentations by professional animators working in the field. Additionally, students will learn to recognize inequalities within the animation field, and act as agents of change while examining representation of a diverse range of people and backgrounds.

Live Action Film & Animation Course Description:
This course explores the possibilities of combining live-action filmmaking techniques with animation. At times, a filmmaker employs simple animation, motion graphics, or moving images to emphasize or enhance a story. These techniques might appear subtle and seamless in live-action or highly expressionistic through animation. In a series of individual and group projects, students will learn a variety of styles and approaches to these experimental, arthouse techniques. The second half of the class will be the completion of a carefully planned and produced final project that strategically combines live-action film with animation, whether it be through subtle or obvious. 

Alongside creative work, we will explore a range of different contemporary and historical approaches to filmmaking, guided by occasional screenings and talks by visiting artists. Practical instruction in digital filmmaking and animation will further structure and define this course. Students will produce, as their mid-term and final projects, short films expanding on the notion of the cinema as a tool for creatively engaging with society as a malleable and at times eccentric form of storytelling.

Selection of Student Work: