EPE/KIN 1134 - Animating Life

Credits: 2
Animation has become an important art form not only for entertainment in film and television but also in medicine, video gaming with Avatars, and forensics. This course will first explore the history of animation from the early 20th Century and the work of the Disney Studios through the computer animation technology of the Pixar artists and motion capture technology in video games. Then a brief introduction to anatomy and human motion for artists will provide the basis for establishing the twelve basic rules of animation. In the 1960s, Disney introduced Audio-Animatronics that paved the way for creative theme park rides but also provided clues to instrumentation for prosthetics. This course will look at the technology of the audio-animatronic figures. Finally, the use of animation in medicine from 3-D anatomy teaching software to diagnostic modeling technology will be explored. The field of forensics has also used animation to re-construct crime scenes and we look at the detail that must be created to predict outcomes. To enhance the learning experience, the class will travel to Walt Disney World and have a guided tour of the Parks to see the use of audio-animatronics in creating an interactive ride and be able to work individually with animators.