Schedule

Dive into the creative and technical process of designing 3D characters using Blender. Participants will explore core sculpting techniques and character development workflows to bring original concepts to life in three dimensions. Through guided demonstrations and individual practice, students will learn how to model, refine, and detail expressive characters suitable for animation, games, and digital art portfolios.

*This course is only offered virtually

For students new to digital art-making or with a project in progress, this class serves as a place where creators can work alongside one another to accomplish their 2D Animation goals in Adobe Animate. Instructors will assist with students who are working on developing portfolio pieces, passion projects, and foundational animation and digital drawing exercises. This class is for all levels. This class can be taken multiple times and will be customized to the student skill level.

This workshop introduces students to the art of storyboarding for animation. Using Photoshop, students will learn framing, composition, shot sequencing, and visual storytelling techniques to bring their ideas to life. Ideal for students interested in directing, animation, comic/manga design, or visual storytelling.

A project-based course in which students will be introduced to the core guidelines of planning and developing animated walk cycles. Students will revisit many of the 12 principles of Animation, from Squash and Stretch, to Timing, to Follow Through and Overlapping Action, among others. Fundamentals of storytelling will be discussed to offer clear goals when developing an engaging walk or run cycle.

Cartoon Saturday is a fun and immersive special workshop designed to introduce students to the art of animation using Adobe Animate. Held over five engaging *4-hour sessions (including a lunch break), this 20-hour program guides participants through the fundamentals of creating original animated cartoons. From concept and character design to motion, timing, and storytelling, students will learn how to bring their drawings to life using key animation principles.

*This course is 4 hours each week with a 30-minute lunch break

Rooted in neurodiversity-affirming practices, this workshop weaves hands-on creative work with emotional and behavioral practices that foster personal well-being. The dynamic is achieved by using two facilitators, one an animation instructor, the other a behavior analyst. Each session blends technical animation skills with social-emotional strategies, creative exercises, and peer collaboration to help students build confidence, resilience, and communication skills in a fun, supportive environment.

Drawing Anatomy distills the human form into foundational masses, planes, and gestural lines to provide students with an intuitive understanding of the body's underlying framework and articulations. Through rigorous life drawing and targeted instruction, participants will gain proficiency in anatomical analysis, proportion, movement, and digital rendering techniques essential for animating appealing, believable figures. This intensive 5-week course equips students with knowledge vital for animation, storyboarding, and character design.

Sketch, draw, sketch, repeat. This intensive drawing workshop, led by our talented animation faculty, challenges the student to draw outside of their comfort zone. Using visual prompts from the world of nature and animals, students cycle through drawing exercises to bring their craft to the next level. A perfect workshop to build your portfolio.

Develop original monster concepts with professional-level design techniques! This course focuses on silhouette, gesture, anatomy, and storytelling through design. Using Photoshop, students will create scary creatures that stand out and feel alive. Traditional drawing techniques and Adobe Photoshop will be employed in this Halloween-themed workshop.

Students will be exposed to rigging and animating 2D characters using Adobe After Effects.
Using puppet pins or the DUIK system, students will animate individual body motions.
Characters will then be placed in a motion graphics environment to give students the complete animation experience.

Design and animate characters and environments using Adobe Animate. Beginners will learn how to utilize the program to make their own simple animations and bring ideas to life. This popular class provides an overview of Adobe Animate and the animation process, giving students a foundation in animation principles, timing, movement, and storytelling.

This workshop introduces students to the exciting world of 3D animation using Blender, a powerful open-source software widely used in the animation and visual effects industry. Through guided, hands-on instruction, participants will learn the fundamentals of 3D modeling and keyframe animation while developing their own short animated sequence. Each session builds on practical skills—from navigating Blender’s interface to animating objects and cameras—encouraging creativity and technical confidence. This workshop is recommended for students experienced in 2D animation.

This introductory workshop explores the ethical use of artificial intelligence in the creative process across digital media fields, including animation, VFX, and game design. Participants will learn how new tools can inform creative ideas and streamline post-production. This workshop is an entry point for young minds into the evolving world of AI in media production.

Attendees will learn essential storytelling principles, including structure, character development, dialogue, and pacing, with a focus on the unique constraints and opportunities of short-form narratives. The session covers brainstorming techniques, formatting guidelines, and script analysis to help writers refine their ideas into engaging short screenplays. Through hands-on exercises and feedback, participants will develop a first draft short script for an impactful and visually driven short animated or live action project.

This introductory workshop explores the ethical use of artificial intelligence in the creative process across digital media fields, including animation, VFX, and game design. Participants will learn how new tools can inform creative ideas and streamline post-production. This workshop is an entry point for young minds into the evolving world of AI in media production.

This workshop will give you the powers you’ve always dreamed of. Students will add visual effects to footage like those seen in movies and television shows. This includes entities such as glows, laser blasts, and swinging sabers. Students will utilize the Saber plugin and After Effects tracking system to complete several short assignments showing understanding of these visual effects techniques.

This workshop explores how to use various video clips to convey a story or message of your choice. It is great for beginners, as it focuses on the fundamentals of Adobe Premiere, but can also serve as a platform for intermediate creation.

Find your voice! This workshop explores voice acting techniques, script interpretation, and performance styles for animated characters. Students will record and edit their own voice lines using Adobe Audition, learning how to bring personality and emotion into their performances. A great course for aspiring voice actors and animators alike!

Find your voice in this special *4-hour session (including a lunch break)! This workshop explores voice acting techniques, script interpretation, and performance styles for animated characters. Students will record and edit their own voice lines using Adobe Audition, learning how to bring personality and emotion into their performances. A great course for aspiring voice actors and animators alike!