Teaching Flipbook Animation with Shimmy

# Teaching Flipbook Animation with Shimmy ###### tags: `sketchdance` ## One-day session 1. Preparation: iPad loaded with Shimmy page, program created in Moat, paper and pencils for sketching/ideas/storyboard. 2. Set expectations: What are we going to be able to create? Show some examples (briefly). 3. What is a storyboard? How can you use it to plan an animation? Handout? 4. The 12 principles of animation (with examples or handout). https://the12principles.tumblr.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_basic_principles_of_animation 5. Introduce Shimmy, show how to draw, change colour, and use other tools. 6. Try it out: make a bouncing ball. 7. Try it out: make a face smile and blink. 8. Advanced: Pick two things you can draw. Show one changing into the other. Can you make an apple change into a house? 9. Wrap-up: save using Moat and write down the URL to download their final animation as a GIF. ## Continuing Sessions: ### Session 1 * Introduction to Shimmy * What is Shimmy? * Who creates and maintains Shimmy? * What is animation? * What is Shimmy good for? * What is Shimmy not good for? * Making a face smile * Some quick examples * Step by step: * Draw the face without the mouth * Copy that frame about 20 times * Switch to the first frame * Draw an unsmiling mouth * Go to the next frame * Using the previous frame as a references (onionskinning) * Draw the next mouth ever so slightly smiling * Keep doing this for each frame in turn * Try to use at least 10 frames * If you use less than 20, you can delete the extras * If you need more than 20, duplicate the last frame before drawing a mouth on it * Introducing the tools * Pen * Copy frame * Move tool * Save / Save as Gif * Brief overview of all other tools * Homework * Pick two things you can draw. Using at least 20 frames, change the first thing into the second thing. ### Session 2 * Links * Previous episode * Shimmy * Feedback page * Principles of Animation: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_basic_principles_of_animation * Illusion of Life: Library https://yourlibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1264677101 * Principles of Animation: Animated https://the12principles.tumblr.com/ * Shorter Introduction to Shimmy * What is Shimmy? * Who creates and maintains Shimmy * Link to Episode 1 * Link to Shimmy * How to get in touch (correction to last week) * Revisit homework from previous week * Don't have to do this real-time, but show an example or two of transforming one thing into another. * Example animation: Make a bouncing ball (repeat of last week) * Introduction to 12 Principles of Animation * Link page about it * Link to videos about it * Using principle of Squash & Stretch * Example: use squash and stretch for the bouncing ball * Using principle of Timing * Example: use timing for the bouncing ball * Combining the two examples * Using color * Why there is no Fill tool * Exercise: draw with a single line (keep mouse button pressed) * Exercise: choose a palette (or make one) and using only that palette, colour in the drawing from previous exercise (you can also vary the width of the pen) * Homework * Draw someone walking. Use at least 20 frames. It doesn't have to be a person, it can be a stick figure, a duck, a robot, whatever you feel comfortable drawing. But pay attention to the movement of the whole body as it walks. Can you apply the principles of Squash and Stretch? How about Timing? ### Session 3 * Greeting, short introduction of what shimmy is, who I am * Walk through of my walking animation * [x] Make this animation! * [x] Get my Surface back so I can draw with a stylus * [ ] Using Copy, Move, Rotate, and Scale tools * [ ] Save time making animations * [ ] Capture movement by moving the background * [ ] No homework this time: keep playing with Shimmy and let us know what you think!