AD 205 Introduction to Computer Graphics

Final Project (animation)
Due: Wednesday, December 3 - Final Presentation and Critique

Objective:

Create a short animation using Flash animation and multimedia techniques. Your animation can be linear or non-linear, narrative or abstract, surreal or a character animation. The goal is to communicate a strong concept. The focus should be your personal idea, design, aesthetics and artistic qualities, stressing creativity and imagination. Your animation should include the title sequence with your name, major, institution affiliation, class, semester and sound credits. Consider color/monochrome values, shapes, balance, composition, tempo, rhythm, and sound / imagery relationship. Complete technical functionality is mandatory.

Your animation can begin with a title sequence, which sets up the theme or mood of the project. The title sequence, while important, should not overshadow the animation itself.

Proposal
Write a single page proposal detailing your idea in terms of
Concept / Content
Temporal development

Storyboard
Once you refined your animation concept, make a storyboard detailing your idea visually. The storyboard should sketch at least 6 key scenes from your future animation, include instructions, sound, transitions, the duration of each scene, etc. The written part should explain any aspects of the project that the visuals do not clearly show. You may use the computer to create your illustrations and text, or you may create your storyboard using any other medium you wish such as pencil, watercolor, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, or any other package of your choice.
Each of the sketches must be at least 6 by 4 inches in print size.
The storyboard sketches should be mounted on a mat or illustration board (no less than 24*16 inches) and professionally presented during the in-class final project proposal critique.
Storyboards will be graded separately.

Technical requirements
Size: 550 * 400 pixels > 720 x 480 pixels
Speed: 15 fps+
Length: between 30 - 60 seconds
Final output: Flash .fla format and shockwave .swf

Suggested topic

Create an animation inspired by a residential, philosophical, social, metaphorical, material, or illusionary meaning of life in Chicago city. It should start and end with the window image in the center of the screen (the window frame should be 550 width by 400 pixels height in size). Your animation should also include the title sequence with your name, institution affiliation, class, semester and sound credits. Your animation should consider color/monochrome values, shapes, balance, composition, tempo, rhythm, and sound / imagery relationship. The focus should be on the concept, artistic qualities, stressing creativity and imagination. Complete technical functionality is mandatory.

Example film for the suggested topic
Rear Window (1954) by Alfred Hitchcock is a film about obsession, human curiosity and voyeurism. It was entirely filmed on one set; a very realistic apartment courtyard. The courtyard is composed of 31 apartments, and each tenant offers something different to watch, including the main character's apartment. Jeff (James Stewart) is a professional photographer who has broken his leg while attempting to take a picture of a race car accident. He has been confined to a wheel chair and stuck in his appartment for six weeks, with nothing to do but watch his neighbors from the courtyard through his appartment rear windows. Not even his daily visits from his nurse, Stella (Thelma Ritter) and his girlfriend, Lisa (Grace Kelly) can keep him away from spying on his neighbors activities.