ANIMATION | LEVEL ONE
INSTRUCTOR: NATHAN FISHER

For new and beginner students (and for continuing students who want to strengthen their foundational skill set before advancing to LEVEL TWO). In-person classes are limited to 12 students per class and tend to fill up very quickly. *This class is also open to students age 18+

IN-PERSON CLASS SCHEDULE INCLUDES:

• Animation Production Fundamentals – live, flexible schedule, or in-person weekly class
The summer semester is a six-week session, and the lessons will be different than what we teach in the Fall and Spring semesters. We will focus on the 12 Principles of Animation and use them to make some fun animations together. We will help you grow in your drawing skills so you can create better and faster animations. We will get into character animation and cover key frames, breakdowns, in-betweens, and smear frames. We will also animate visual effects like impact frames, explosions, fire, and lightning to make your character animations more interesting and exciting. This is a class experience that is relevant to beginner, intermediate, and advanced students alike.

• Intro to Animation – online class
Weekly Recorded Video Class released on Fridays –
Hands on, step-by-step animator training to compliment and support skill development together with our animation production classes. Weekly lessons released on 5 Fridays

• Three Live Q&As (question and answer sessions)
on Wednesdays or Fridays
4:00-5:30PM Mountain Time
(3pm Pacific / 5pm Central / 6pm Eastern)

• Online Voiceover Sessions:
Live Online Class on three Saturdays* –
Join other students and perform character roles together in a live recording session.
9:30-11:00 AM Mountain Time
(8:30am Pacific / 10:30am Central / 11:30am Eastern)
*voiceover sessions are not included with the late summer class

• DAILY Online Community Interaction and Support
Connect with other students, build friendships, and work together on projects. Receive help and support any day of the week through our safe, private online community.

REGISTER NOW: SATURDAYS | JUNE 8-JULY 13 | 1 PM TO 2:30 PM | $197 (GRADES 5-12)

REGISTER NOW: MONDAYS | JUNE 10-JULY 15 | 4 PM TO 5:30 PM | $197 (GRADE 5-ADULT)

If you would like to pay in two installments, email Annie at classes@cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The following roles DO NOT REQUIRE ownership of any tech, computer, or equipment:

CHARACTER DESIGNER, BACKGROUND ARTIST, VOICEOVER ACTOR, or SCRIPTWRITER**. It is possible to learn and accomplish a lot in this class using nothing more than a pencil and paper. However, if your student does have a Windows or Mac laptop computer, iPad, or Android Tablet available, we encourage them to bring those items with them to class.

FOR CHARACTER DESIGNERS and BACKGROUND ARTISTS who do have a computer, tablet, or other electronic device available to them, we recommend:
1) Purchasing the Sketchbook App for their computer, iPad, Android Tablet and even their iPhone or Android Smartphone. Other drawing apps are also welcome to use in this class like Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop, ProCreate, or any of the following free apps: Krita, Ibis Paint, Medibang Paint, or Jump Paint.
2) Owning a Wacom Drawing Tablet to use with their Windows or Mac computer – OR – a drawing stylus to use with their tablet, phone, or mobile device:
• For laptop or desktop computers (Windows or Mac): there is no better option than a Wacom Drawing Tablet – Click here for info. You can find a good one on Amazon for approx $75 to $100. We recommend the Wacom Intuos Swhich is a good, affordable tablet to start with.
• For iPad Pro: we recommend the Apple Pencil drawing stylus. Apple Pencil ONLY works with the iPad Pro.
• For all other touchscreen devices: including iPad, Android Tablet, Android Smartphone, iPhone, or a touchscreen Chromebook, we recommend the Adonit Pro drawing stylus. The Adonit Mini 3 was recently on sale and may still be available on clearance for $12

**FOR THE ANIMATOR ROLE ONLY (most recommended setup):
to participate in the animator role, it is recommended that your student have access to, or invest in the following four items:
1) A desktop or laptop computer (Windows or Mac) at home that they can practice with. It is best if they have a laptop they can bring to class, but at bare minimum they need access to a computer at home. We recommend a minimum of 8MB RAM for the apps to work well. Chromebooks are NOT capable of running some of the animation apps we use, for example Toon Boom Harmony, so I recommend a Windows or Mac computer.
2) An optional student subscription to the industry standard animation software, Toon Boom Harmony will be available for purchase. This software will ONLY work on a Windows or Mac computer, not on other electronic devices.
3) Their own Wacom drawing tablet to use at home and/or in class with their computer. Click here for info. You can find a good one on Amazon for approx $75 to $100. We recommend the Wacom Intuos S.
4) The Sketchbook App for drawing, painting, and concepting ideas. The following apps will also work for this purpose: Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop, ProCreate, or any of the following free apps: Krita, Ibis Paint, Medibang Paint, or Jump Paint.

**FOR ANIMATORS WHO CANNOT AFFORD ACCESS TO A COMPUTER AT THIS TIME:
If students are not in a position to afford access to a Windows or Mac computer, it is still possible to learn and practice the principles of animation in this class with other digital devices: Apple iOS (iPad or iPhone), Android (tablet, phone, or Kindle Fire), or a touchscreen Chromebook. For this option to work, you will need the following:
1) Drawing stylus such as Adonit Pro for all touch screen devices or Apple Pencil for iPad Pro
2) Rough Animator app ($5)
3) Sketchbook app for mobile (for drawing, painting, and concepting ideas).

NATHAN’S STORY + THE CREATION OF THIS PROGRAM:

When I was teenager, I dreamed of having a place where I could grow in the art and creative expressions that were inside of me. I loved movies, cartoons, Hollywood and artistic media. I loved to draw and experiment with cartoon animation. I wanted someone to show me how I could get really good at it. I wanted a community I could be a part of that would affirm and encourage who I am as a creative person. The problem was that none existed that was either affordable or accessible to me. Eventually, I enrolled in an expensive art school that failed to provide any lasting community to support me on my journey.

Today, creative youth are experiencing that same frustration. I discovered this first hand as a public school art teacher. Many of our in-school art programs are restrictive and limited to academic requirements that do not allow artistic students to truly explore their creative interests and ambitions. Today’s students are inspired by their heroes and the pop-culture stories that they have come to love and respect. This is why I have created the Animation Production Group After School classes.

This is a place where students who love animation, digital media, or pop-culture art can grow in the skills and expressions that they dream of mastering. Students in this program have told me that not only do they love what they learn in these classes, but also that they love to come because it is a safe place from the stresses and pressures of life, and that it provides a peaceful atmosphere where they can relax and enjoy their creative gifts, and enjoy the company of others who share that same passion. They tell me it’s the best 120 minutes of their week!

Artists need mentors and friends who share their passion and will walk with them as they pursue their creative passions. We invite you to register below and join us for this purpose.

____________________________
Nathan Fisher
Animation Group Teacher