Flash Animation Projects
NSCAD - Basics of Animation / Motion Graphics for Flash CS5
2011 Course Outline & Assignments - Ron Doucet, Instructor

Download Syllabus

Upon completion of each project, e-mail the Flash file to:
ron.doucet@gmail.com
OR hand in the file in class on USB drive.
Label your files with your name and project number:
"your_name_test#.FLA"
ie: joe_blow_project02.fla


Week 1

Project 01 | Pendulum Swing |
Sample:




Project 02 | Ball Bounce |
- View Sample




Week 2

Project 03 | Animated GIF |



Project 04
Sample:





Project 05 | Bloo Walk |
- Step-by-Step Guide
Sample:





Week 3

Project 06 | Flight Path |



Project 07 | Camera Moves |
- Step-by-Step Guide
Sample:




Project 08 | Bitmap Manipulation |
Download this and this.




Week 4

Project 09 | Lip Sync |
Sample:




Project 10 | Kinetic Typography |

Samples:















Week 5

Project 11 | Laser FX |

- See this Step-By-Step Guide
Samples:








Week 6

Project 12 | Motion Graphics Recreation |
Reference Guide:



Activate the Onion Skin and adjust the keys on the timeline until the spacing looks close to this:


Download:
- Path of Action
Spacing refers to the frame by frame displacement of the moving elements. If the element is accelerating, the spacing increases from frame to frame. If it's decelerating, the spacing decreases. Everything that is moving is either accelerating or decelerating. The farther apart the spacing is; the faster the action, the closer together; the slower the action.


Project 13 | Basic Button-Activated Motion Graphics |

Follow the steps to this set of instructions on how to create an Instance in a new Flash document for basic button "goto" operations.

*Note: On Step #15 (page 15 of the instructions), it refers to the "Script Assist" button; since version CS5, this has moved to the tiny menu button in the top right corner of the Actions window, simply click on it to make sure the "Script Assist" text is check-marked, otherwise proceed as normal.

**If you are working on a Mac; whenever the CTRL key is refered to, use the Command (apple) key instead.

***Next week: Bring materials to class for the webpage assignment - digital photos, images, resume, any personal works.



Week 7

Project 14
 Build a Self-Contained SWF Website

This project is made for Applying Functions to Buttons, Movie Clips, Graphics, and Text, in addition to Adding Scenes, Backgrounds, with your Resume, and Portfolio Content to a simple Web Page Layout.

DOWNLOAD this set of instructions and create a self-contained Flash portfolio.

The contents and titles within your website are entirely up to you. Follow the instructions provided, but customize the text, graphics, colors, content, and layout to your liking.

*If you are working on a Mac; whenever the CTRL key is refered to, use the Command (apple) key instead.



Week 8-10

Project 15
 Final Short Film
Samples:






For the last project - plan, design, animate your own short film or motion graphics movie.
It must be at least 10 sec. long.

This can be an animated graphics presentaion, slideshow, motion comic
artsy-morphing colors & shapes, political statement, short cartoon,
paper-cutout style imagery, or anything you want.

Here's instructional videos reviewing some basic Flash functions,
including ways to create artwork and character designs:
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

1. Begin with designing and building your elements and/or character(s).
These can be abstract shapes or human, creature, alien beings.
Either way, keep it very simple.
Sample character building reference guide: Video Crash Course + Source File

2. Plan out your shots.
Position your characters on screen, sketch in some backgrounds,
and space out some poses on the stage, spread out the keys on the timeline.
This allows you to roughly time out the length of your movie and to develop
whatever the story may be and how it will unfold.
Import any photos, backgrounds, and audio you may want to use.

3. With your character(s) built and your scenes mapped out, start to animate.
Keep it simple, refine the actions and story as you go along.

4. Polish off your animation, tweak all the colors, tweens, timing of everything.
Make any adjustments in the motion and speed of all elements on screen.
Import and line up any sound effects you may want to incorporate into your project.
A nice spot to download free sounds is at SoundDogs.

If you have ANY questions at all (now or anytime in the future),
don't hesitate to ask - ron.doucet@gmail.com
Good Luck and have fun with it!