This Is Animation​

This Is Animation - Course Summary

Course Overview

This Is Animation is a comprehensive online course from Sony Pictures Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and Yellowbrick that provides unprecedented access to the animation production process. The course demystifies one of the most creative and collaborative forms of storytelling in entertainment, offering both creative and business-minded individuals insight into animation careers.

Course Structure

The course consists of five comprehensive modules designed to take learners through the entire animation pipeline:

• Module 1: The Pipeline - Understanding the complete process to bring a Sony Pictures Animation feature to life
• Module 2: The Idea - Taking concepts from initial idea stage through studio green light approval
• Module 3: The Hero - Studying great animated character development and core animation principles
• Module 4: The World - Exploring the creation of immersive environments for animated characters
• Module 5: Pulling It All Together - Combining hundreds of artists’ work into final films and career preparation

Key Learning Elements

Pipeline Understanding

• Complete workflow: From initial concept through final theatrical release
• Team collaboration: Understanding how hundreds of artists work together over 3-5 years
• Phase breakdown: Concept, pre-production, production, and post-production stages
• Asset management: Over 25,000 digital assets per average CG animated feature

Idea Development

• Concept sources: Ideas can come from anywhere - dreams, books, existing properties, original concepts
• Emotional foundation: “For a successful story, it really needs to speak to you on an emotional level, on a human level”
• Green light process: Studios can approve projects at concept stage without completed scripts
• Market evaluation: Understanding profit/loss analysis and audience appeal factors

Character Creation

• Hero development: Main characters require extensive iteration and specificity
• Animation principles: Squash & stretch, timing, spacing are fundamental to believable animation
• Design process: Character designers create hundreds of versions before final look
• Performance integration: Voice actors and animators collaborate to bring characters to life

World Building

• Complete creation: “In animation, we have to build Brooklyn from scratch, from the sky to the ground, and everything in between”
• Emotional design: “Show me what that feeling looks like” - environments must support story emotions
• Technical process: Modeling, texturing, lighting, and effects all contribute to world creation
• Style development: Each film requires unique visual approach and technical solutions

Production Integration

• Team coordination: “You’re corralling hundreds of people, hundreds of artists in the same direction”
• Quality control: Multiple review stages ensure artistic vision and technical excellence
• Marketing collaboration: Teams work together to communicate filmmaker’s vision to audiences
• Career opportunities: Roles available for both artistic and non-artistic skill sets

Hands-On Exercises

Creating one-sentence film descriptions that capture story essence Developing simple blob characters with personality and emotion ranges Building settings that reflect character personality and story needs Six-panel storytelling exercise combining all previous elements

Industry Insights

Animation Community

• Special environment: “The animation community is such a special community. It’s small, everyone knows and cares about each other and cares so deeply about the craft”
• Collaborative nature: “Animation is a collaborative sport. You have to work well with others”
• Passion-driven: “The folks who end up working in this field are the ones who are driven by an intense passion”

Career Preparation

• Portfolio importance: “A portfolio is the most important tool that an artist will have when they’re trying to get work”
• Multiple entry points: Opportunities exist for artists, coordinators, managers, marketers, and technical roles
• Networking value: Building relationships through internships, festivals, and professional connections
• Continuous learning: “All great artists remain students their entire career”

Universal Challenges

• Imposter syndrome: “Everybody has imposter syndrome. Nobody thinks they’re good enough”
• Iterative process: “If you have to scrap everything and go back to the drawing board. Well you’re doing what I do everyday”
• Creative contribution: Non-artists can provide valuable creative input and ideas

This comprehensive course provides both theoretical understanding and practical experience in animation production, emphasizing collaboration, creativity, and the diverse career opportunities available in the animation industry. Students complete the program with hands-on projects and industry knowledge that can serve as foundation for animation careers.