2D Animation Course Curriculum (12 Months)

Course Overview:
This 12-month comprehensive course covers all aspects of 2D animation, including software-based and classical animation techniques. The curriculum is designed to meet international animation school standards, ensuring students gain a thorough understanding and practical experience in 2D animation. Each semester lasts one month, with structured weekly plans to progressively build skills and knowledge.

Semester 1: Introduction to 2D Animation

Week 1: Animation Fundamentals

Overview of animation history and principles
Introduction to animation tools and software
Basic drawing techniques

Week 2: Classical Animation Basics

Understanding the animation workflow
Keyframes, in-betweens, and timing
Introduction to flipbooks and simple animation exercises

Week 3: Software Familiarization (Adobe Animate)

Overview of Adobe Animate interface and tools
Creating and managing layers
Basic animation using Adobe Animate

Week 4: Simple Character Animation

Designing simple characters
Basic walk cycle and run cycle animations
Understanding squash and stretch

Semester 2: Advanced Classical Animation Techniques

Week 5: Traditional Animation Techniques

Advanced keyframe animation
In-depth study of the 12 principles of animation
Frame-by-frame animation exercises

Week 6: Character Design and Development

Creating detailed character model sheets
Expressions and character poses
Turnarounds and character rotations

Week 7: Storyboarding

Fundamentals of storyboarding
Creating a storyboard for a short animation
Planning and organizing shots

Week 8: Animatic Creation

Converting storyboards into animatics
Timing and pacing in animatics
Adding basic sound effects and dialogue

Semester 3: Digital Animation Techniques

Week 9: Introduction to Toon Boom Harmony

Overview of Toon Boom Harmony interface and tools
Creating and managing layers in Toon Boom
Basic animation exercises in Toon Boom

Week 10: Advanced Character Animation (Toon Boom Harmony)

Animating complex characters
Adding secondary actions
Facial expressions and lip-syncing

Week 11: Background and Layout Design

Principles of background design
Creating detailed backgrounds and layouts
Integrating characters with backgrounds

Week 12: Scene Composition and Camera Movements

Scene composition techniques
Camera movements and pans
Creating dynamic scenes with camera actions

Semester 4: Specialized Animation Techniques

Week 13: Effects Animation

Animating natural elements (fire, water, smoke)
Understanding physics in animation
Effects animation exercises

Week 14: Rigging in Toon Boom Harmony

Introduction to rigging techniques
Creating and using bone rigs
Animating with rigs

Week 15: Advanced Storytelling Techniques

Creating compelling stories for animation
Character arcs and narrative structure
Storytelling exercises

Week 16: Sound Design for Animation

Basics of sound design
Adding sound effects and music to animations
Syncing sound with animation

Semester 5: Intermediate Project Development

Week 17: Project Planning and Pre-production

Developing an animation project plan
Pre-production techniques and tools
Creating detailed project timelines

Week 18: Concept Art and Visual Development

Creating concept art for animation projects
Visual development and style exploration
Color theory and lighting

Week 19: Animation Production Pipeline

Understanding the animation production process
Working in a team environment
Production pipeline exercises

Week 20: Animation Workflow Management

Efficient animation workflows
Time management and project deadlines
Workflow optimization techniques

Semester 6: Advanced Digital Animation

Week 21: Advanced Techniques in Adobe Animate

Complex character animations
Advanced motion tweens and transitions
Special effects in Adobe Animate

Week 22: Paperless Animation Techniques

Introduction to paperless animation
Benefits and challenges of paperless techniques
Paperless animation exercises

Week 23: Vector Animation Techniques

Creating vector-based animations
Advantages of vector animation
Vector animation projects

Week 24: Animation Clean-Up and Refinement

Clean-up techniques for animation
Refining and polishing animations
Finalizing animations for presentation

Semester 7: Classical Animation Projects

Week 25: Classical Animation Short Film

Planning a short film project
Creating detailed storyboards and animatics
Classical animation production

Week 26: In-depth Character Animation

Advanced character animation techniques
Emotion and expression in character animation
Character interaction and dialogue animation

Week 27: Background Animation

Animating backgrounds and environments
Parallax scrolling techniques
Background animation projects

Week 28: Finalizing Classical Animation Projects

Clean-up and refinement of classical animations
Adding sound and music
Preparing animations for presentation

Semester 8: Advanced Software Techniques

Week 29: Advanced Toon Boom Harmony Techniques

Complex rigging and animation
Advanced effects and compositing
Toon Boom Harmony projects

Week 30: Adobe After Effects for Animators

Introduction to Adobe After Effects
Adding special effects and transitions
Integrating After Effects with other software

Week 31: Compositing Techniques

Compositing multiple animation layers
Color correction and grading
Advanced compositing projects

Week 32: Portfolio Development

Selecting and organizing portfolio pieces
Creating an online animation portfolio
Portfolio review and feedback

Semester 9: Animation Project Development

Week 33: Capstone Project Planning

Developing a capstone animation project
Detailed project planning and pre-production
Creating project timelines and milestones

Week 34: Concept Development and Storyboarding

Developing concepts for the capstone project
Creating detailed storyboards and animatics
Refining story ideas and visual style

Week 35: Production Phase 1

Beginning production on the capstone project
Keyframe animation and in-betweens
Regular project reviews and feedback

Week 36: Production Phase 2

Continuing production on the capstone project
Backgrounds, effects, and additional animation
Refining and polishing animation sequences

Semester 10: Advanced Animation Techniques

Week 37: Experimental Animation Techniques

Exploring non-traditional animation methods
Mixed media and hybrid animation techniques
Experimental animation projects

Week 38: Interactive Animation

Introduction to interactive animation
Creating animations for web and apps
Interactive animation projects

Week 39: Motion Graphics

Basics of motion graphics
Creating dynamic motion graphics
Integrating motion graphics with animation

Week 40: Final Project Review

Reviewing and finalizing capstone projects
Adding sound, music, and final touches
Preparing projects for presentation and critique

Semester 11: Industry Preparation

Week 41: Animation Industry Insights

Overview of the animation industry
Understanding different animation roles
Industry trends and opportunities

Week 42: Professional Development

Resume and cover letter writing
Networking and job search strategies
Preparing for animation job interviews

Week 43: Freelancing and Entrepreneurship

Starting a freelance animation career
Building a client base and managing projects
Financial management for freelancers

Week 44: Portfolio and Demo Reel

Finalizing and polishing portfolio pieces
Creating a professional demo reel
Portfolio and demo reel review

Semester 12: Final Project and Exhibition

Week 45: Final Project Production

Continuing work on the final project
Regular reviews and feedback sessions
Preparing for the final exhibition

Week 46: Final Project Refinement

Refining and polishing the final project
Adding final touches and sound
Preparing the project for submission

Week 47: Exhibition Preparation

Planning the final exhibition
Creating exhibition materials and displays
Practicing presentation skills

Week 48: Final Exhibition and Presentation

Presenting the final project at the exhibition
Receiving feedback from peers and industry professionals
Celebrating the completion of the course