Over the course of this semester we will be conducting two Research Assignments investigating a variety of animated media and the artists who use them.
The First Research Assignment, will focus exclusively on "2D Under the Camera" media and will finish with a 10 second experimental piece. This semester our First Research Assignment will focus on the theme "10 Seconds for Peace" in solidarity with Russian animator's protesting Putin's attack on Ukraine.
The Second Research Assignment will serve as the final project for the class and will be open to the wide variety of media. Students are encouraged to do a deep dive into any of the artists we have explored in our weekly film screenings, or to build their research around a particular artist, medium or animation technique that they are interested in pursuing. The only requirement is that the research is grounded in some aspect of Traditional Media.
1. Broad Exposure: You will be given exposure to animators, films & alternative animation techniques via class screenings, personal investigation, and assigned readings.
2. Research Proposal: Each student must submit a Research Proposal Document based on their personal skills, interests and artistic influences.
3. Experimentation, Documentation & Posting: Each student is required to complete weekly experiments, document the results, and post short clips and images to Discord.
4. Final Narrative, Presentation & Movie Clips: The final step is to pull together what you've discovered into a written narrative, a 5 to 7-minute presentation, and a short movie clips.
1. BROAD EXPOSURE: We will be watching and discussing in the class! Most of this work we will screen is available on-line. I will provide links to the class screening lists but I strongly advise that you write down the artists and films that most interest you into your Research Journals for future access.
2. RESEARCH PROPOSAL: Consider what questions about your chosen technique are unanswered and how they might be addressed through experimentation? Use the Research Proposal Templates to compile these questions into a research plan and submit your proposal documents to Basecamp.
Research Proposal Templates: Template #1 Under the Camera / Template #2 Self-Directed
3. EXPERIMENTATION, DOCUMENTATION & POSTING: The Process is an important part of Experimentaton. Not just the animated footage. This includes everything from process notes, to preliminary experiments, test stills, and even behind the scenes footage and images.
Experimentation: Short and simple at first, focusing on the medium at hand. If your experiments take you into uncharted territory. . . even better.
Documentation: Start documenting your work process in your Animation Journal. Jot down recipies for your experiments, take pictures of your studio set up. . . and even photos of each other working in the studio! All of this will be super useful in your presentations.
Posting to Discord: Posting images and videos to the #327 Research Channel will allow you to share research ideas and get feedback from the class.
4. FINAL RESEARCH NARRATIVE, PRESENTATION & MOVIE:
A. Two-Page Narrative: (12pt, dbl-spaced) Compile your research into a personal “narrative” of your experimental process.
Describe your initial goals of your research, experimental process, set-up key discoveries, and even failures. The Narrative should address the following questions:
- Who are your artistic influences , and what specifically about their work or technique did you find inspiring and helpful?
- What have you learned about yourself as a researcher? Do you work best with a specific step-by-step plan or a blank slate and no rules?
- How would you approach the next research opportunity differently? . . what would you do the same?
B. Final Presentation: All Research Presentations must be in a PowerPoint and should be 5-7 minutes with 3 minutes for Q & A.
Outline your initial goals and the significant questions stated in your Research Proposal. Give us insights into your process, showing your most successful experiments. Be sure to include examples (even failures) that reinforce your final conclusions.
Use visuals as starting points for what you want to communicate and to help maintain the flow of your presentation. End by showing what you consider to be the "most successful" animated experiments.
The following are some things to consider:
- Show excerpts or stills of the artist's work that inspired your investigation.
- Consider presenting you research in chronological order as a narrative, starting with the questions you had at the beginning of your research.
- Show us your discovery process and ultimately reveal how your questions were answered.
- Did your investigation take you down any unexpected paths? If so, what did you discover along the way?
- What conclusions did you come to and how will they inform your work in the future?
- Show pages from your Research journal.
C. Final Movie Clips: If appropriate, compose an edited version of your best animation for stand-alone presentation. Something you might include in a demo reel or submit for exhibition. While audio is not required it is strongly recommended.
D. Submitting Final Research Files: All research files should be correctly named and submitted by submitting them to the Basecamp Research Assignment in a single submission folder. Include artist's last name/first initial, "researchProject" and "typeOfAnimation".
Submission Folder: simpsonB_researchProject1_sand.
1. Final Movie: simpsonB_research1_sand_final.mp4
2. Research Presentation File: simpsonB_research1_sand.pptx
3. Research Narrative: simpsonB_research1_sand_narrative.doc
4. Zipped Animation Folder: simpsonB_research1_sand_animation.zip
All relevant animation files (including failed experimentation)
Stephan Leeper/Central Michigan University 2025