How long are the classes?
Our classes meet for one-hour on a weekly basis.
Are the classes online?
Yes, the classes are online! We offer a few different options for different students' schedules—live online classes with video reviews, recordings with video reviews, and recordings only.
what comes with the recorded and graded class options?
With the Recorded and Graded Classes come the opportunity to watch a pre-recorded lesson for that week. For most drawing and animation classes, the recording is available on Monday Evenings at 6:00 pm Pacific. You can watch at any time.
The weekly one-hour lesson is pre-recorded and made available through Canvas.
Will include about 2-4 extra hours of live options: for example Open Art with Chad Stewart, the creator and instructor.
Assignment videos are provided that demonstrate that week’s assignment
A video review of student work is provided by our professional animation staff
Tech Time is available upon requests for help with specific questions
Instructor & Grader is available by email for any help needed
Live Open Art is available to all Recorded and Graded students – Chad Stewart (the instructor & creator of our course) animates for 2 hours or draws for 2 hours and the students are invited to that online classroom to watch, work on their own art, ask him questions and chat with other students during this live opportunity. The schedules for Open Draw (2 hrs) and Open Animate (2 hrs) vary each week to try and catch different students who have different school schedules.
After reading this, you are more than welcome to call Kayla Stewart (Chad’s wife) to ask more questions. She can be reached at 661-755-5775 or by email at kayla@theanimcourse.com
HOW DO I GET TO THE CLASS?
You will log into an Adobe Connect Classroom using a link sent during orientation week. No membership is required but you will need to install the Adobe Connect plugin the first time you sign in. You will sign in as a guest and Mr. Stewart will let all students in class at the class hour.
What type of software do I need?
For The Animation Course, students need only one animation software (either 3D or 2D) and must be able to turn in a video of their work. There is free or low cost animation software available, but you will need access to a computer that will run it or if you would like, you can choose to run your own software. All you need to do is be able to show your animation in a video. Since our classes teach animation and are not specific to a certain software program, it allows you the freedom to choose your own software while still learning about the exciting world of making your creations come to life through animation!
The Drawing Course requires no specific software, just pencil and paper and a way to scan/take a picture of your work.
WHICH VERSION OF MAYA DO I NEED TO DOWNLOAD?
We recommend any of the 2018 to 2023 versions. Most of the menus and buttons will be the same but sometimes it takes us a little while to update our assignment videos. We currently have our assignment videos in 2018 and 2019.
WHEN INSTALLING TOON BOOM HARMONY?
You can purchase a 1 year discounted student license from either Toon Boom directly or from us at the Animation Course. You will want a digital drawing pad, like a Wacom Intuous or Huion to draw directly into the software. Toon Boom Harmony is an industry standard software that is much more complex, but also much more powerful than Flipbook 6 from Digicel. There are instructional assignment videos for Harmony for all assignments.
when installing maya?
Autodesk allows for many educational institutions to be used for downloading of their Maya software. Students must be 13. We are now an APPROVED Educational Institution!!! Follow their instructions to set up an account and use “The Animation Course” (Colbert) to get approved. We are under “University-Post-Secondary Education” for some reason. You may need our address as well, so ask me for that when you email me about the certificate. Let Kayla know that you need a “Certificate of Enrollment” to prove that you are a student of our courses. Contact us at kayla@theanimcourse.com to ask any questions. You will also need a 3-button mouse for Maya.
When installing FlipBook 6?
The discount code does not work anymore because they have decreased their price to $19.99 for the lite version, which is all you will need for our class. You might want a digital drawing pad, like the Wacom Intuous or the Huion to draw on to work with the software. Otherwise, you can work on paper and just scan your work in.
IS MY COMPUTER POWERFUL ENOUGH TO RUN THE CLASS?
Most all computers that can stream a movie will be able to handle the live classroom. Depending on what kind of software you choose, you will need to check the specs to see if your computer can run other software necessary for the course, Toon Boom Harmony, Maya and/or FlipBook.
what equipment is needed for the animation track?
We recommend having a digital drawing pad of some sort to do 2D animation using FlipBook or other software. We recommend the Wacom Intuos or the Huion tablets. There are starter tablets for about $80 but if you want yours to have a screen built in, those are about $350 and up. Email Kayla@theanimcourse.com if you’d like some suggestions she has prepared in a Word Document.
what if i am a part of a charter school?
Only when your school will be paying for the cost of the class:
Full Class: Decide which class to register for and in the payment drop-down box, please choose the “$50 deposit now…” and then choose the class desired in the second drop-down menu in the course and format section. Then go through the registration/check out process but you won’t be required to pay anything if you use the discount code – CHARTER – this will allow you to register and use a PO/Certificate/Voucher to pay for your class. Please make the PO/Certificate/Voucher for $400 for a one-time invoicing.
Recordings ONLY: Choose the full payment now of $150 and use the code - CHARTER150 - this will allow you to register and use a PO/Certificate/Voucher to pay for your class. Please make the PO/Certificate/Voucher for $150 for a one time immediate invoicing. The pdf with all of the links will be sent to you for your use as soon as the PO/Certificate/Voucher is received by our office.
Are the classes only for kids?
Yes! Our classes are in such high demand, we are only taking students age 11-18 during this time! However, you are welcome to check back with us or email to be put on a list in case we incorporate adult-age learning into our classes again.
HOW DO I TURN IN MY ASSIGNMENTS?
We use Google Drive for assignment turn in. You will receive specific instructions on how to access your student folder during orientation week.
Are they graded?
Yes! Unless you choose the Recordings Only course format, which does not come with grading, students' homework is graded and given a video review by a professional animator.
Are your classes refundable?
We have a policy that explains our cancellations and refunds HERE!
Can I watch/Engage the class on iPAD or iphone?
There is an Adobe Connect App (in the app) that works decently well for the live class, but Safari does not work the best, which sometimes prevents the class recordings from being played. In order to watch the recordings, you’ll need to purchase Puffin Browser Pro for $4.99 in the App store and copy and paste the links for the recordings to Puffin. Puffin free no longer works.
Got more questions?
Don't hesitate to ask!