Final Exam

The Final Exam is Friday, April 27, 2012 during regular class time.

Tumblr!

I have been asked by several students if I have a Tumblr...and I do!

This is the link to the account I use, mostly to reTumble gifs and other bits of animation I find fun or interesting!

Follow, if you like!

http://talksabouttoons.tumblr.com/

Professor's Choice Film Announcement

Tomorrow, 4/20, we will be watching The Secret of Kells (2009).

Here is the Powerpoint for it:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1pfMTMrZ9fNpmrStwF1QUllVuuS6Ui78KKMmULrkCGcE/edit


Also, as a reminder, the early final exam will take place in class tomorrow.
See everyone there!

Class Screening List for 4/13/12

Vincent (1982)
The Making of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Powerpoint For Class 4/13/12

Nightmare Before Christmas/German Expressionism/Tim Burton/Henry Selick/Will Vinton:

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bwgo6_hwgbzxcnF3eHYyaEl6a3c

Final Exam Review Sheet

Below is the link to the PDF of the Final Exam Sheet.
Please be able to identify/define the historical significance of the people, films, and images on the review sheet.
Good luck!

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bwgo6_hwgbzxcTREVWxCVHZIejQ

Class Screening List for 4/6/12

Toy Story (1995)
Tin Toy (1988)
Knick Knack (1989)
The Adventures of Andre and Wally B (1984)
Presto (2008)
Luxo Jr. (1986)

Powerpoint For Class 4/6/12

Pixar Animation Studios:
 https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-M8iBD2c81UeV2c2wi8Nd6UvdscDmmpwYxn-OgRupcs/edit

EARLY FINAL INFORMATION

For those of you who will be unable to make the Final Exam on April 27, I am offering another version of it on April 20 during regular class time.  Format will follow the Midterm and it will be on information discussed after.  A study sheet will be put on the class blog within the next few days. 

Please contact me about taking the early exam via Gmail or in Person on 4/6 or 4/13 if you are interested in taking the early final.

Class Screening List for 3/30/12

The Secret of Nimh (1982)

Powerpoint For Class 3/30/12

Don Bluth

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1cX_YBwrSJ2YoEnvYGfeuYGdVCroEeEIhT_HNtBrWbZw/edit

Class Screening List for 3/23/12

Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009)

Powerpoint For Class 3/22/12

Disney After Disney/The Disney Renaissance:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1OdrRWahbdnpOyG6hLbZjr87HT-9l07SFTPTkyz8X0jI/edit

University Writing Center

For those of you having trouble coming up with ideas for writing up Response Papers, I advise you to take advantage of the University Writing Center on the Main Campus.  It offers complimentary paper critiquing and help sessions which can be really helpful!

Take advantage of this FREE opportunity.

Powerpoint For Class 3/16/12

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1vq7rkMZwkp0G1z7P3nz-GGr-RSuK9W06Txf8is8h_TY/edit

Class Screening List for 3/16/12

My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari No Totoro) (1988)

Spring Break Extra Credit Question Due March 16

I have been pondering this for over a year and feel I am missing out on understanding the appeal of James Cameron's (So much CGI, it might as well be animated) Avatar.  I don't quite comprehend how massively popular this film is as it did not speak to me at all for a number of reasons.  I shall list my grievances and if you are a fan of the film, please counter my points in ways you think the film succeeds.

1.  The Plot/Writing-The plot is an amalgam of the movies Pocahontas and Ferngully: The Last Rainforest. The writing is weak and relies on actors being able to say really loud, complicated, painfully obvious words like "unobatnium" and expect it to be taken with a straight face.   
Matt Bateman's wonderful plot synopsis summarizes my views on it exactly:

2.  The Villains-The villains are not interesting.  They are cardboard cutout stereotypes.  There is the sleazy, greedy, lazy corporate archetype, Parker Selfridge, who plays golf in his office and talks about preserving the profit margin by any means necessary.  In addition, there is also the racist, military bigot, Quaritch.  He uses phrases like "terrorists" (in reference to the native Na'Vi) and "scatter the cockroaches."  In story, a hero is only as good as the villains.  Complicated villains make a story interesting.  Characters like Lord Shen in Kung Fu Panda 2 and Sinestro from the Green Lantern comics...or Ra's Al Ghul from Batman are all complicated villains that challenge the heroes in more ways than physical ones.  Often, these complex villains engage in cerebral arguments with the hero that causes them to think about the motivation of their antagonists.  When a villain is a simple caricature, an element of the story is lacking.


3.  The treatment of the disabled.  Jake Sully was a Marine before he became paralyzed in combat.  Within the world of Avatar, despite taking place in the far future, this is treated as a kind of stigma.  Quaritch even tells Jake (who is not an amputee) that if he helps them learn about the Na'Vi, that he will give him back his "real legs," which are still attached to his body.  It is implied that Jake cannot be happy in a wheelchair as he spends more and more time in his avatar body.

4.  The Technology-Isn't that new.  The combat/loader mechs are very similar to the one used at the end of Cameron's previous film, Aliens.  The interactive screens used in it are similar to those used in various Star Trek series over the past thirty years.  I've heard people discuss the weapons used in Avatar as the "weapons of the future," yet this is defeated by an army of native wildlife, arrows, and spears.  


You have your challenge!

Out of Office/Away From Email Starting 3/3/12

Good Afternoon!
I am posting here to let everyone know that I will be out of office starting 3/3/12 until 3/8/12.
During this time, I will not be able to be reached by email.
If you have any questions you need to address, please do so in class on 3/2/12.
Have a fun and safe Spring Break!

Class Screening List for 2/24/12

The Marathon (1988)
The Hedgehog in the Fog (1975)
The Scarlet Flower (1952)
The Golden Rooster

Powerpoints For Class 2/24/12

Russian Animation:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EQy1lFHahzaLh57pbBdOxY0Fe_D3s7f0whSQRuSffw8/edit

Hedgehog in the Fog:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QXZKUCD00of8vMfmLTF4zx6XCqB0JSyU296rqAvI3wE/edit

Midterm Review

Here is the link to the Midterm Review Sheet for the Midterm!
Good luck!

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bwgo6_hwgbzxMGFkNjc5ODQtOGUyMy00Nzc0LThkNGItY2Q3MjE1NzEzNzkw

Extra Credit Question

This is an extra credit question to be turned in IN CLASS no later than 2/24/12.
Please answer this question in 2 pages or less:

1. Which segment of Fantasia do you find most effective in terms of mood, visuals, story (or lack thereof), and theme?

Powerpoint For Class 2/17/12

Fantasia:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQgo6_hwgbzxZGY0em1kM2ZfMjEwZ3A4ZGpjZHI

Class Screening List for 2/17/12

Fantasia (1940)

Powerpoint For Class 2/10/12

Disney on the Front Lines:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQgo6_hwgbzxZGY0em1kM2ZfMTg2ZDRueDl6ZnM

Walt and El Grupo:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQgo6_hwgbzxZGY0em1kM2ZfMTk0bTJqazg4ZHI

Class Screening List for 2/10/12

Education For Death (1943)
Der Fuerher's Face (1943)
Walt and El Grupo (2008)

Email Timeouts

Good Evening students!

Just as a heads up, please always CC my personal email account when sending me emails.  It can be found in the syllabus.

My UCF Webmail is currently timing out/not letting me log in, so just keeping you posted to make sure I get emails!

Of course, the Ask The Professor entry is always an option as well :)

Powerpoint For Class 2/3/12

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQgo6_hwgbzxZGY0em1kM2ZfMTc4aGZ3bXpyZnI

Let me know is anyone is having issues with getting these!

Have a great weekend!

Class Screening List for 2/3/12

Today we started features!


Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.

Class Screening List for 1/27/12

Pink Panther Opening Credits (1963)
Red Hot Riding Hood (1943)
The Cat Who Hated People (1948)
Hair Raising Hare (1946)
Feed The Kitty (1952)
Don't Give Up The Sheep (1953)
Yankee Doodle Daffy (1943)
Duck Amuck (1953)
Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century (1953)
Rabbit Seasoning (1952)
The Scarlet Pumpernickel (1949)
Rabbit Fire (1941)
For Scent-imental Reasons (1949)

Powerpoints For Class 1/27/13

Chuck Jones:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQgo6_hwgbzxZGY0em1kM2ZfMTU2Z3ptd3FtZHE

Friz Freleng:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQgo6_hwgbzxZGY0em1kM2ZfMTY3ZDRiYzdwaGM

Tex Avery:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQgo6_hwgbzxZGY0em1kM2ZfMTcyZ2I3eDl4ZDc

Class Screening List for 1/20/12

Trolly Troubles (1927)
Steamboat Willie (1928)
The Skeleton Dance (1929)
Flowers and Trees (1932)
The Three Little Pigs (1933)
Music Land (1935)
The Old Mill (1937)
Lend A Paw (1941)
Donald and the Gorilla (1944)
Working for Peanuts (1953)

Powerpoints For Class 1/20/12

Here are the Powerpoints for Class!
Early Disney:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQgo6_hwgbzxZGY0em1kM2ZfMTIwaGgyYnNiY24

Ub Iwerks: The Typo has now been corrected


https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQgo6_hwgbzxZGY0em1kM2ZfMTUwZGg4eDliZHg

The Multiplane Camera:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQgo6_hwgbzxZGY0em1kM2ZfMTQyY3M1anNrY2g

Class Screening List for 1/13/12

1. Gertie The Dinosaur (1914)
2. Poor Cinderella (1934)
3.  Somewhere in Dreamland (1936)
4. Greedy Humpty Dumpty (1936)
5. Christmas Comes But Once A Year (1936)
6. Educated Fish (1937)
7. Hunky and Spunky (1938)

Powerpoints For Class: 1/13/12

Good Afternoon!
These are the Powerpoints for Class on 1/13/12!
They have been uploaded to Google Documents for your 24/7 Access!
Copy and Paste the URL into your browser URL Bar to see the Powerpoints:

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQgo6_hwgbzxZGY0em1kM2ZfOThkMnFmZDNnNg
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQgo6_hwgbzxZGY0em1kM2ZfNzVkcTc1azVkOA

Ask The Professor

Here is my contact post!

Post a question about an assignment, screening, or the class in general!

Syllabus

Access Your Class Syllabus 24/7 here!

Google Docs Syllabus File:

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bwgo6_hwgbzxMTQyZmZkYTItZmQzOS00MzJhLWJjMDMtNWU2NTgwZWNhMzMy

Welcome!

Welcome to FIL 4040: History of Animation for Non Majors!


We meet on Fridays in HEC 125  from 1:30-4:20!

See you there!

Professor Gill