Adobe Animate – Final “Pac-Man” Animation

Objective:

  • Produce an original HTML5 animation using the Adobe Animate tools and techniques studied in class.

Student-Friendly Objective:

  •  I can produce a complete HTML5 animation featuring Pac-Man.

Links:

Topics Discussed:

  • For a complete list of Topics Discussed, please see the previous lessons.

Assignment:

  • First, create a new 800 x 600 HTML5 animation running at 30fps.
  • Use File -> Import -> Import to Stage or the “Pin Library” techniques demonstrated in class to move the “Pac Man” graphic symbol, and any other symbols that you wish to use in your animation.
  • Using the Adobe Animate CC techniques studied in class, design an HTML5 animation using motion  tweens and embedded animation to have Pac-Man “wocka” as he moves onto the stage, performs some action, then leaves the stage. Take a look at the Pac-Man Intermissions YouTube video above for inspiration!
  • Your animation must be a minimum of 8 seconds long, without titles. (That’s at least 240 frames at 30fps!)
  • Your animation should have a basic story that should be obvious to the viewer. What kind of story can you tell with Pac-Man? What other characters will you need to add to tell your story? Will you need to use text or word bubbles to create dialogue? Remember that Pac-Man must enter the stage, perform his action, then leave the stage. Depending on the story you want to tell, 8 seconds may not be enough!
  • Your animation should have at least one original background. You may use a background that you produced on your own, or you may use an original photograph (one you took on your own). You may not use any photographs downloaded from the internet. Alternately, you may draw your own background in Illustrator, Animate, or Photoshop.
  • Your animation should have an audio soundtrack. I will provide music clips to use, but you may import music that you have available as long as you use less than 8 seconds of music. You may create sounds using Garageband if you have experience with this software.
  • You may only use images and text that you have created yourself. This includes artwork, photographs and animations. You may, however, use downloaded audio under fair use guidelines if the clip you place is shorter than 8 seconds. Anything else that you did not create yourself may not be used.
  • When your animation is complete, save it as “YOUR NAME – Final Animation.fla”.
  • Seniors: Turn the finished .fla Animation file  to the Google Classroom “Final Animation” assignment post by end of day on Friday, May 17th.
  • Underclassmen: You may turn in the finished .fla Animation file to the Google Classroom “Final Animation” assignment post by end of day on Monday, May 20th.
  • Everyone will be taking a multiple-choice final exam on Friday, May 17th. Seniors who complete the exam early may use the remaining time to turn in their Final Animation, if necessary.
  • All completed movies will be viewed at an in-class film presentation on May 21st and 22nd.
  • You must have an 8-second movie to present by end of day on Monday, May 20th, bearing in mind that Tuesday and Wednesday the 22nd and 23rd are half-days where we will be watching the finished products together. Failure to have a movie to present on the half-day Presentation Days will result in an “zero” on your final project grade.

Do your best, and good luck!

Assigned: May 8th, 2019
Due Date: May 22nd, 2019

Adobe Animate – Importing from Illustrator to Animate CC

Objective:

  • Students will be able to prepare Illustrator artwork for export to Animate CC for use in an IK Animation.

Student-Friendly Objective:

  • I can prepare my Illustrator artwork to make a Bone Tween animation in Animate CC.

Topics Discussed:

  • IK Armature
  • Bone Tool
  • For a complete list of Topics Discussed, please see the previous weeks’ lessons.

Assignment:

  • Create a new Illustrator Web document with all the default settings.
  • Use the Shape tools to draw six shapes: a Head, a Body, a Left Arm, a Right Arm, a Left Leg and a Right Leg.
  • In the Front View document, use the black selection arrow to select the different parts of your character, and use the fn+F8 shortcut to convert each part to a Symbol. Every part of your character that is going to move should be made a separate symbol! Name each of the symbols appropriately as you create them. When you are finished, at a minimum you should have symbols for your character’s Head, Body, Right Arm, Left Arm, Right Leg and Left Leg.
  • Save this file as “Your Name – Body Parts.ai”. We will use this file to import into Animate CC.
  • Open a new Animate CC HTML5 canvas. Make the size 800 x 600, and set the framerate to 30fps. The stage color can be any color of your choice.
  • Use the “File -> Import -> Import to Stage” menu command to locate and import your “Your Name – Body Parts.ai” file. Walk through the prompts to import your body parts into Animate. Make sure to select all the parts, and select “Single Animate Layer” from the “Convert Layers to:” dropdown menu.
  • Use what we learned yesterday, and the in-class demonstration today to add bones to your shapes. (Remember: “Start from the heart” and work your way out to the arms and legs.)
  • Make your stick figure move! Add up to 120 frames to your animation, and use the Motion Tween-style Armature layer to animate your character’s poses.
  • We will use this technique this week and next week to produce a simple animation. Save your file as “Your Name – Stick Figure.fla” and submit a copy to today’s Google Classroom assignment post by end of day on Wednesday.

Assigned: May 7th, 2019
Due Date: May 10th, 2019

It’s super effective!