Purpose:

Mass mediated messages are not solely the result of creative vision but are often influenced by a variety of cultural, indus-trial, and technological forces.  This is particularly apparent when one examines the history of animation.  Animated cartoons began as theatrical slapstick comedy shorts geared toward a general audience composed mostly of adults.  They included sophis-ticated comedic references and were often risqué.  They then moved from the theaters to the "children's ghetto" of Saturday morning television.  More recently they have once again moved back into the theaters as feature films and into other areas of television; however, they are still considered to be entertainment mostly appropriate for children or families.  The content of the medium has changed drastically with changes in the industry structure, the production process, the audience, and the regulatory environment.  This course will examine all of these influences on animated content but will focus upon the early history of animation since there is a separate course (COMM 3325 - Modern Animation) which focuses on more recent animation.

Textbooks and Reserved Readings:

 Donald Crafton, Before Mickey:  The Animated Film 1898-1928
  (Cambridge, Massachusetts:  the MIT Press, 1987)

 Leonard Maltin, Of Mice and Magic:  A History of American
  Animated Cartoons (Revised Edition)  (New York, New
  York:  American Library, 1987)

 Additional readings may also be placed on reserve in the Library.

Grading:

  First Test.........February 2.........15%
  Second Test........March  4...........15%
  Final Exam.........May 1..............25%
  Final Project......Due April 24.......30%
  Class Presentation....................10%
  Class Participation................... 5%
 
 

Final Project
 Your final project may consist of either of two choices:  an animated production or a research paper.

Animated Production - You have the option of producing an animated project using the Disney program on the Amiga or the Strata Media Paint Program on the Mac.  Please be aware while students who have chosen this option have enjoyed having a creative opportunity, these programs are extremely time-consuming to learn and use, so students often find they spend more time on the production than on a paper.  In addition, the computer does not offer the type of freedom in drawing that conventional animation techniques allow.  If you choose this option, I would like for you to work in pairs, and I will stagger the due dates to avoid unnecessarily over-loading the system.  The end product should be a short production (the length of which we will negotiate) which is accompanied by a short (two page) paper describing what you were attempting to accomplish in the production, how successful you think you were in reaching your goals, your part in the creative process, and the techniques that you found least or most helpful.  I will meet with all of those who think they would like to exercise this option and will provide schedules for completion of the projects.

Research Paper - The research paper may be written on any topic having to do with animated cartoons.  It may be a historical study, an in-depth examination of the animation process or industry, or a critical study of animated content. However, the topic and approach must be approved by the professor in advance.  The finished paper should be approximately 10-15 pages in length and employ a significant number of different, credible sources.  All research information must be clearly cited using an approved style.  You may use in-text citations (with a reference list), footnotes, or endnotes.  All website references, must include name of person monitoring site or company which it represents, if not a source with obvious credibility then information as to the credibility of the source, and the address.  Start early!  The study of anima-tion is a relatively new field, so you will have to dig for sources.  Do not come to me at the last minute complaining that you are unable to finish the assignment on time, because you are unable to find sources.  If you start early, we will have enough time to contact sources away from campus.  Please see me if you are experiencing problems with your research.

Receiving Approval for Your Project/Paper Topic - In order to promote an early start on the paper or project, a typewritten paragraph with your idea and the way you plan to approach it must be submitted by February 25. A follow-up paragraph must be submitted March 25 so that final presentation assignments can be made.  Please give these paragraphs careful thought as they will be included in your participation grade.

In-Class Presentation of Final Project or Paper

 The presentations at the end of the semester will be your opportunity to present your research or projects to the class.  They should be short (approximately 10 minutes long), formal presentations, i.e. you are expected to present the cogent, new information from your research in an engaging way.  Since there is not a great deal of time for each presentation, you will work with a small group of students who are researching similar topics to present your findings in a coordinated manner (with video-taped examples or hand-outs if appropriate).  Please do not read your paper.  There is not time for this, and it is usually overwhelming and/or boring.  Remember this presentation is 10% of your grade, so I expect additional work to extract the pertinent information from the paper and to prepare it for presentation to an audience.   Students who prepare animated projects will show these projects to the class in the latter days of the presentation schedule.  These presentations should also be formal; that is, you should practice what you will say to the class, and each person participating in the project should participate in its presen-tation.  Your remarks should explain what you will include in your paper - i.e. what you were attempting to accomplish in the project, how successful you think you were, your part in its creation, and the techniques that you found most or least helpful.
 For those students thinking of not supporting their fellow students and skipping these presentations, at least one question on the final exam will come from the presentations.
 
Participation
 Participation will be graded on regular attendance and your contribution to the in-class discussions of readings and videos/ films.  More than three unexcused absences will be considered excessive and will result in a reduction of your participation
grade of one letter for each absence.  After six unexcused absences, a reduction may occur in your final grade.  Severe illness or other excused causes which accounts for more than three absences must be documented in order to avoid penalty.  To receive an excellent rating for in-class participation, you should arrive on time and contribute regularly without prompting to class
discussion.  You should demonstrate that you are familiar with the material in the readings; however, discussion of readings or
aural/visual communications from other sources which adds to the topic under consideration is also encouraged.  An average grade (C) will be earned by students who only answer questions when asked.  For those students not comfortable participating verbally in class, there are other possible participation avenues, e.g. bringing to class materials which would enhance discussion.  See the professor to discuss those options.

Class Schedule
(Subject to Change)

Jan. 14 (W)     Introduction to Cartooning and to the Course

Yesterday - The Silent Film and the Individual Animator

Jan. 19 (M)     The Early Influences     C l & 2

Jan. 21 (W)     The First Animator: Cohl, McCay, Bray?  C 3 - 5

Jan. 26 (M)     The Beginning of Animation Studios      C 6, M 3     in America(Fleischer)

Jan. 28 (W)     Review
Feb.  2 (M)     Test #1

Yesterday -     The Golden Studio Years

Feb.  4 (W)     Walt Disney       M 2
    to 11 (W)

Feb. 16 (M)     Warner Bros.       M 9
    to 18 (W)

Feb. 23 (M)     MGM         M 10
 

Feb. 25 (W)     Terry, Lantz, Van Beuren & Columbia/  M 4, 5,
                        Screen Gems, 7, 8   Submit Paragraph on Research Topic

Mar.  2 (M)     Review
     to  4 (W)     Test 2

Mar. 7 to 15     Spring Break

Today - Corporate Animation Comes to Television

Mar. 16 (M)     Animated Cartoons on Television
 
Mar. 18 (W)     Psychological Research and Political
                            Debate on Children's TV
                        Submit Second Paragraph on Research Topic
 
Mar. 23 (M)     Changing World of Animated Films

Mar. 25 (W)     Influence of Roger Rabbit

Mar. 30 (M)     Influence of the Simpsons
 
Apr.  1 (W)     Changing World of Television Animation
 
Tomorrow - New Cultures, New Technologies

Apr.  6 (M)     Japanimation

Apr.  8 (W) Computer and Experimental Animation
 
Presentations

Apr. 13 (M)     Assigned Presentations
  to 22 (W)

Apr. 24 (F)     All Projects Due

Apr. 27 (M)     Wrap-Up

Final Exam:  Friday, May 1, 6:30 PM