The voting is over

The new name is Jolly Roger, or Jolly Roger Productions.

Let the contest begin

 The finalist are all here.  As mentioned earlier we have had Oz Studios as a name for our animation class's output productions for several years.  The students have mentioned that we need a change.  After many suggestions we have three choices to choose from:

Cosair Productions

Pirate Animation,or

Jolly Roger Productions

 The corresponding logos are also show with each choice.


You will vote with your email.  Just email me your choice.  The voting will be open until Friday October 22

Crossing the boundaries

One of the new things we are trying this year is to cross curriculum boudaries.  The Animation Problems and Solutions class will be working on a year long project using TSPS guidelines.  That project will be a animated feature-ette.  The difference this year, from past year projects, is that we have asked the Creative Writing class to be our writers and the Theater class to be our voice overs. 

Already we have discovered some organizational issues that need to be addressed in the future: 

1. First and foremost is to meet, prior to the start of school, with the creative writing teacher to establish guidelines and goals.
2. Get the preliminary story by first six weeks progress reports and screenplay before the end of the first six weeks.
3. Cover the process in more detail with the Animation Students insuring that all roles (specific) be addressed.

There probably will be more items to be aware of as we go.

By any other name.....

For many years we jokingly referred to the animation courses at Wylie as Oz studios.  Mainly due to my personal love of the movie Wizard of Oz.  But with the new programs its was felt that it also is time for a change.

We are currently looking at three different names Corsair Productions, Pirate Animation, and Jolly Roger Animation.  I will show the logos as they are developed.

Welcome

This blog will not be about me, but instead, about the animation program at Wylie High School in Wylie Texas.  This is a special year, as it is the first where we have a true four year program.  The program has been building for a number of years starting out simply using Flash, Director, and Audacity to where it is now.  Software used in the program currently includes Photoshop, Anime Studio, Animation Master, Lightwave, Maya, Bryce, Premier, AfterEffects, and Soundbooth.

The courses in the program are:

Digital Graphics and Intro to Animation - Course cover the creation and use of digital graphics, 2D animation, and 3D animation.

Animation - Modeling tools, animation tools, and production via Premier/AfterEffects are covered in a 3D environment.

Animation Production - Half the time will be spent learning advanced tools and the other producing animated shorts.  This process will flow from scriptwriting, storyboarding, Storyreels, Modeling scene generations and editing and final production.

Animation Problems and Solutions - In this course the students work as a team on a year long project (featurette).  This will be done in-conjunction with the creative writing class (screen play writers) and the theater department (voice overs).

Its all so new so there will be a lot of trial and error I am sure.