2.5D Stop Motion

This course will explore the art of limited
cut-out animation through a series of workshops
investigating concept development, storyboarding,
character and landscape design, and
post-production techniques. Combining digital
processes with hand-made techniques, this class
helps students hone their design skills to create
short works that communicate through simplicity.

The emphasis of the class is on process and
concept, starting with a series of workshops
intended to enhance student's skills in idea
generation, concept development, pre-production
design and fabrication techniques. Students will
learn how to design a character through research
and shape study, and construct cut-out jointed
puppets with paper and found materials. Workshops
in landscape design will teach students how to
create effective compositions using both hand-made
prop making skills, and digital design and
compositing.

The latter part of the course focuses on the
production and post processes: animating cut out
puppets and digital editing and compositing.
Throughout the semester students will experiment
with the expressive range of cut-out techniques,
to explore all stages of directing a short stop
motion work beginning with the genesis of initial
ideas and concluding with the completion of a
short animated work.