Honors Scholars 120.004 Freshman Seminar: “Computer Animation: Special (And Not So Special) Effects” Fall 2007 TR 11:00AM-12:15PM Engineering Building 1011
	Instructor: Bill White Engineering Building 3041 (618)650-3483 wwhite@siue.edu Office Hours: MW 8-11:30AM, 12:30-3PM, and by Appointment!

Course Description:

Recent advances in graphics hardware and software have made it possible to produce dazzling visual effects via computers in motion pictures, commercials, and games. This course explores how these images are created, using an elaborate combination of mathematics, physics, art, and imagination. In addition, the potentially negative social effects of this work will be examined, including the decline of traditionally rendered animation attributed to Pixar-seduced audiences, the shorter attention spans and limited reading skills associated with the Playstation generation, and the effects-rich, plot- poor films that have characterized the post-Lucas era.

Prerequisite: Freshman status; acceptance into the SIUE Honors Scholars Program.

Course Objectives:
Examination of the artistic merits, technical foundations, and social impacts of entertainment-based computer animation, including special effects in motion pictures and video games. Development of composition and oral communication skills.
Textbooks:

The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston		Special Effects: The History and Technique by Richard Rickitt			Got Game by John C. Beck and Mitchell Wade		Smartbomb by Heather Chaplin and Aaron Ruby

HONORS SCHOLARS 120.004 - TENTATIVE SYLLABUS
Date	Topic	Reading Assignment	Assignment Due/ Activity Planned
Tuesday, 8/21/07	Animation as Art	Illusion of Life 1-2
Thursday, 8/23/07	Principles of Animation	Illusion of Life 3-4
Tuesday, 8/28/07	Aesthetic Quality	Illusion of Life 5-7	Position Paper #1 Due
Thursday, 8/30/07	Traditional Production	Illusion of Life 8-9
Tuesday, 9/4/07	Backgrounds, Effects, & Sound	Illusion of Life 10-11
Thursday, 9/6/07	Animated Realism		Panel Discussion #1
Tuesday, 9/11/07	Plot & Character	Illusion of Life 12-14
Thursday, 9/13/07	Facial Animation & Emotions	Illusion of Life 15-18
Tuesday, 9/18/07	SFX Historical Perspective		Panel Discussion #2
Thursday, 9/20/07	Optical Effects	Special Effects 1
Tuesday, 9/25/07	Models	Special Effects 2
Thursday, 9/27/07	Computer Animation		Panel Discussion #3
Tuesday, 10/2/07	Backgrounds & Make-Up	Special Effects 3-4
Thursday, 10/4/07	Physical Effects	Special Effects 5-7	Essay #1 Due
Tuesday, 10/9/07	Sound	Special Effects 8-9
Thursday, 10/11/07	Midterm Exam
Tuesday, 10/16/07	Video Game Prevalence	Got Game Intro & 1-2
Thursday, 10/18/07	Game Social Impact	Got Game 3-5	Position Paper #2 Due
Tuesday, 10/23/07	Gamer Attitude		Panel Discussion #4
Thursday, 10/25/07	Antisocial Gamers	Got Game 6-8
Tuesday, 10/30/07	Gamers in the Workplace		Panel Discussion #5
Thursday, 11/1/07	The Gaming Culture	Smartbomb 1-3
Tuesday, 11/6/07	Gaming Historical Perspective		Panel Discussion #6
Thursday, 11/8/07	Civilized & Uncivilized Gaming	Smartbomb 4-6
Tuesday, 11/13/07