Phase 5 - The Golden Era of Cartoons - 1930s - 1960s - Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, Fred Quimby, Looney Toons, Tom & Jerry, Hanna Barbera

TASK ONE: Investigate the following KEY ANIMATORS listed below. There are TWO main tasks: Find out about the animator, watch and review their films. 

a) Look the animators up on WIKIPEDIA and the internet and find out a bit about them, including making a note of some of the films they’ve made – see below for details - Compile BRIEF research data and info for an ‘information sheet’ on each animator. Your work should be brief (about 100 words each) and be on your blog. Try to INCLUDE the following:

1. i)  Where and when were they born (if an individual) and a brief career history – don’t go on too long but include studios they worked in and key personnel they worked with. Are they still alive?
   
2. ii)  Are there any pictures of them available? If so, download some to use
   
3. iii)  What cartoons and/or characters were they responsible for?
   
4. iv)  Name/List some of their main features/cartoons and say where they were
   working when they made them
   
5. v)  Find some on YOUTUBE (as listed below) and write up a ‘FILM RESPONSE
   SHEET’, ONE for each animator (for one animator, review several films and write it all on ONE SHEET) and include your three favourite cartoons they made from the list given. For Fred Quimby you should write about your favourite three Tom & Jerry cartoons from the list.
   

TASK TWO: On YOUTUBE, watch the examples listed of their work – see Mrs T’s Animation playlist on the channel ‘Mediamonkeymovies2’ or find them in the Teaching Resources Student Drive in the Resources Library Folder. 

Key Animators for Stage One: (5)
Tex Avery
Chuck Jones
Fred Quimby – (Tom & Jerry) 

OTHER CARTOONS
TASK 3: Hanna Barbera - for help http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna-Barbera

1. When did Hanna Barbera first start? Give a VERY brief outline of the history of the company, showing who they were and who they were owned by up to the present day. This should be a mindmap or in note format but put it on your blog. Use Wikipedia for this question. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna-Barbera
   
2. Look at the shows below – see how many you can find clips for on the internet (remember there are more video sites than just Youtube!). For those shows you can find clips for, watch and make some notes on characters, storylines and style – take some screen shots (CMD + SHIFT + 4) – and for those you can’t find video for you can watch, do the same without watching!
   
3. Looking at the list, some of the cartoons ARE NOT from Hanna Barbera. Find out who made them and put them into groups accordingly.
   
4. Having watched the cartoons, answer the following questions:
   a. What are the MAIN, KEY ingredients of these cartoons? Work out what
   you think the cartoon formula is. Think about
   
   1. What makes it funny?
      
   2. What usually happens?
      
   3. Why does the audience like so much if the cartoons are so
      predictable/work to such a formula?
      
      b. Organise the cartoons into a timeline and write it down–make a Bubbl’us or Mindmap to use later. 

      5. EXTENSION–only if you’re ahead! - See if you can organise the Cartoons list into which were shown on the BBC and which were ITV – this is a hard task as you will have to do the research first. Some may be shown on Cartoon Network etc now but pre-Satellite TV (when these were first shown), there were only three channels in the UK (and four after Channel 4 started in 1982). 
      
      

Homework research task – Your own Cartoon history
A. Compile a list of your favourite cartoons from when you were younger to now B. Research them on Wikipedia to answer the following questions:

1. Who made the cartoon?
   
2. Where/on which channels could you view it?
   
3. What is the usual storyline?
   
4. Who are/were the main characters?
   
5. Is the cartoon still on TV/Satellite/Cable?
   
6. Why did you like it
   

C. Put the cartoons in order to create a kind of personal cartoon history
Prepare to put this information on your blog. You have THREE weeks to complete this section. The deadline is: Weds 22nd May 2013 (last lesson before half term).

Phase 4 - Disney

TASKS:
1. Watch “Disney talks about Fantasia and early animation (short from pt3)” (ABOVE) and answer the following questions:

1. What does Walt Disney say an animation feature could do after 1938 (Clue, it’s to do with the audience)
   
2. What does he say is the primary purpose of animation?
   
3. What does he say combine to create this effect?
   
4. Explain how they made the film images using paintbrushes. What effects
   were created? (10.1.6)
   
5. He later says that the drawings and art are only half of a successful
   animation – what does he say is the other half? (right at the end!)
   
6. How many frames make up ‘The Nutcracker Suite’?
   

2. Having watched the DISNEY films from the 30s and 40s, write a brief response to the films, exploring the following on your blog: (‘Snow White’, ‘Bambi’ and ‘Dumbo’)

1. What did you like about the films?
   
2. Which was your favourite? Why?
   
3. What did you find ‘different’ about them compared to modern animation
   films?
   
4. Do you think the audience has changed for Disney–both in terms of 1. Who
   they are targeting and 2. How the audience is different from the 1930s and now (think about sophistication, more media access, changes in how we consume media and new animation techniques)
   

3. Use the internet and the following sheets to help you compile

1. A mind map(you can use electronic aids such as Bubbl’us or Glogster)of
   the overview of Disney – who do they own? What companies are included? Remember to include theme parks and other media like video games etc. Embed this on your blog when complete. You should be able to complete this from this site alone – it is a brief overview! http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/about-disney/company-overview
   
2. Use the sites below to plot at least 5 main animated Disney film releases for the each of the following years:
   
   1. 1990 – 1995
      
   2. 1996 - 1999 
      iii. 2000 – 2005 
      i.v. 2006 – 2013

Add any other info you can find using imdb.com, boxofficemojo.com, the- numbers.com (and Wikipedia if necessary). Present this information on your blog. 

c. Look at the UK Disney websites aimed at young people and the games available and answer/address the following questions:
 – how do they link with Disney’s image? 
Who do you think their main audiences are? Why?  
LINK some pictures of games and other Disney media on your blog. 
Please write something about the Disney audience and who you think they are and why. 
Use media on your blog such as images and links. 
Don’t forget to comment on the sound, colours and images used as well as the layout and ease of use of the website

http://www.disney.co.uk/disney-junior/index.jsp http://www.disney.co.uk/disney-games/

4. Make sure you visit the following and write a few notes about how easy it was to use the site for research – also say what kind of research it is (primary? secondary?) - how reliable do you think the information is? Where else did you find where you can get this information (not websites listed here)?

Audience Figures/Box Office Research
www.imdb.com 
www.boxofficemojo.com 
www.the-numbers.com 
www.wikipedia.com 

Any others you have found or used

Phase Three - Early Animators - Fleischers and Reiniger

TASKS:
1. Investigate and then Complete a sheet on the KEY ANIMATORS below (10.1.11)

1. Look them up on WIKIPEDIA and find out a bit about them, including making a note of some of the films they’ve made. Post this on your blog, remembering to keep a copy in a WORD docx for safe keeping.
   
2. On YOUTUBE, watch as many examples as you can of their work – see Mrs Thrasher’s Animation playlist on the channel ‘Mediamonkeymovies2’ and on Teaching Resources>Student>Media>Resources Library>Videos>Animation and Cartoons
   
3. Complete an ‘ANIMATION HISTORY – KEY ANIMATORS FILMMAKERS’ sheet for EACH ANIMATOR you investigate – use an extra ‘FILM RESPONSE’ sheet if necessary.
   

2. Find out about the ROTOSCOPE (10.1.5) – it’s massively important for animation and it is still used in modern films.

1. Find a sketch of a ROTOSCOPE and an image showing the effects created by them (using Google image search)
   
2. What does the Rotoscope do? How does it work? Look on YOUTUBE as well as Google – there are may videos showing Rotoscopes and how they work.
   
3. Find out about some films that have used a ROTOSCOPE – add some images and information about them – a minimum of TWO films please.
   

Key Animators for Stage One: (Phase 3) 

Lotte REINIGER The FLEISCHER brothers Make sure you watch the following as a MINIMUM:
LOTTE REINIGER 
Cinderella The little chimney sweep
Hansel & Greta 
The adventures of Prince Achmed 
The three wishes

THE FLEISCHERS   
KoKo the clown 
Noah’s Lark 
Out of the inkwell 
Betty Boop

SOME OF THESE ARE ‘STARS’ OF VIDEOS AND YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF VIDEOS WITH THE CHARACTER IN so CHECK THEM OUT! Especially Betty Boop

STOP and CHECK!

So we don't go on forever doing research, we need to stop and check how we're doing.

You may need to come back and get some extra details later in the term to add to your presentation on animation history, but for now we need to move on to phase 4.

This means you need to check you've done the KEY parts of the worksheets and then start phase 4 on DISNEY. 

You MUST have done:

1. A Flip/Flick book - phase 1, q3-4
2. A Zoetrope - phase 2, qs 4-7
3. A Kinetiscope - phase 2, q13
4. A Rotoscope - phase 3, q2

You must start DISNEY by the end of this week, in the lesson on Wednesday 24/3/13

BTEC Phase Two Tasks

Btec ANIMATION UNIT – Phase TWO (10.1.1) (10.1.2) (10.1.11)

AIM – to complete in FOUR lessons maximum – two weeks

TASKS:

1.    Using the sheet ‘How to make a Spinning Card (THAUMATROPE)’ – Make a spinning image using card and string (10.1.1)

2.    Using the sheet  – Make a SPINDLE VIEWER STRIP  - draw your own pictures for a Spindle Viewer (PHENAKISTOSCOPE)

3.    Who invented the spindle viewer and when? (PHENAKISTOSCOPE) (10.1.2)

4.    Who invented the Zoetrope and when?

5.    Draw a sketch of a ZOETROPE (you can use Google image search to help you!)

6.    What did the Zoetrope do? How did it work?

7.    Using the sheet  –‘Zoetrope Strip Example’ - Draw your own pictures for a Zoetrope

8.    Who created the KINEMATOSCOPE and when?

9.    Draw a sketch of a Kinematoscope – again use Google images

10.  What is a PRAXINOSCOPE?

11.  Draw a brief sketch of a Praxinoscope and show who invented it and when.

12.  What was the difference between the following:

a.    A Praxinoscope and a Zoetrope?

b.    The ‘Theatre Optique’ and Praxinoscope

13.  What is a KINETISCOPE? What year was it invented and who by? How is this a development of the inventions in questions 8 à 13?

14. How do all these animations work? In your answer, make sure you explain what PERSISTENCE OF VISION is, including who ‘discovered’ this and how it makes animation work. This is a VERY IMPORTANT question to answer well.

15. Finally, using YOUTUBE, find and watch as many old fashioned animations that use these techniques – you should be able to just put the names of the techniques straight into YOUTUBE and videos will appear. Of those you watch, CHOOSE 3 you like and explain them roughly – for example ‘I especially liked the Praxinoscope video where a horse runs across a field. In it……’

16. Complete ONE evaluation sheet for activity numbers 1, 2 and 7 above – keep as a copy and post on your blog

17. Scan and upload the pictures and drawings from the above questions (2, 5, 7, 9, 11) to your blog (or photograph on your phone and upload)

18. Watch ‘Disneyland – the story of animated drawing part 2’ on TEACHING RESOURCES (CGSTORE3) in Media

19. Complete the sheets on the following KEY ANIMATORS (10.1.11)  (Blackton and McCay)– again – keep copies and post on your blog and KEEP A RECORD of ALL the sites you visit during your research – remember to SHOW your SOURCES – e.g. ‘From Wikipedia – followed by page ref (copy from address bar) and date accessed

a.    Look them up on WIKIPEDIA and find out a bit about them, including making a note of some of the films they’ve made – keep a record of pages visited as this is research (and date accessed).

b.    On YOUTUBE, watch as many examples as you can of their work – see Mrs Thrasher’s Animation playlist on the channel ‘Mediamonkeymovies2’

c.     Complete an ‘ANIMATION HISTORY – KEY ANIMATORS INVENTIONS’ sheet for EACH ANIMATOR you investigate – 1 for Blackton, 1 for McCay

d.    Include a FILM RESPONSE sheet to record your thoughts on their ‘films’ and how and why they were important to animation history and development.

Key Animators for Stage One:

James Stuart BLACKTON

WINSOR McCAY

Make sure you watch the following:

MATCHES on appeal   The enchanted drawing Homourous phases of funny faces The haunted hotel – (BLACKTON) Fantasmagorie Little Nemo – (BLACKTON) Dreams of a rarebit fiend Gertie the Dinosaur

When you have finished looking into those first animators and early techniques, you need to show that you know what happened next – move on to Phase 3.

Btec Phase 1 - Fantasia 2000

 

Btec ANIMATION UNIT – Phase ONE

This work counts towards ‘Know about influential animators’ 10.1.11

It also covers 10.1.3 (Flick Book)

TASKS:

1.    Watch ‘Disneyland – the story of animated drawing part 1’ on TEACHING RESOURCES (CGSTORE3) in Media

2.    Using the sheet ‘The Easiest Animation’ – Make a changing drawing using A4 paper (10.1.3)

3.    Using the sheet ‘Create a flip book’ – Make a flip book using 24 10cm by 10cm pieces of paper. Cut these from A4 paper and staple together. (10.1.3)

4.    Complete ONE evaluation sheet for these TWO activities.

BEFORE doing the next activities - please do activities TWO, FIVE and EIGHT (c,d,e,f,g) on your 'Your Qualification and Research Skills' sheet.

               2. Complete the sections about yourself pages 17-22

               5. Skills Building p93-100 (Don’t cheat – the answers are in the back!)

               8.  Research – Learn how to research effectively – read and work through

                   the pages as follows:

c.     Resource Lists pps 44-46

d.     How to research pps 47-50

e.     Researching from experts and the audience pps 50-52

f.      Keeping a log pps 52-54 (We will use blogs too)

g.     Reading, selecting and keeping your research-h pps 55-63

You also need to: SET UP YOUR BLOG :)

5.    Complete the sheets on the following KEY ANIMATORS (10.1.11)

a.    Look them up on WIKIPEDIA and find out a bit about their inventions, including making a note of some biographic details (about their life)

b.    Complete an ‘ANIMATION HISTORY – KEY ANIMATORS INVENTIONS’ sheet for EACH INVENTION you investigate

Key Animators for Phase One: look them up on Wikipedia – check links on Wikipedia to make sure the information is correct!

PAUL ROGET - Thaumatrope

JOSEPH PLATEAU - Phenakistoscope

EMILE REYNAUD – Praxinoscope

FLIP BOOK

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid - 1989
Directed by Ron Clements & John Musker
Studio - Walt Disney

Having watched the film, undertake the tasks in the booklet, using the guide task sheet to help you through. BOOKLET    GUIDE SHEET

The tasks are (very briefly) as follows:
1. Identify all the creatures you saw in the film
2. Draw a new creature
3. Find out about Calypso - write about the music used in 'Kiss the Girl' (about 1 hour into the film)
4. Draw different mouths for the characters and identify the effects changing just one aspect of a drawing can have on meaning
5. DRAMA activity - imagine you can't talk - how do you communicate?
6. Casting Tasks - analyse the effects of the different voices and then choose people you would cast for various characters
7. Editing Tasks - re-writing some of the 'text' and re-ordering the images
8. Interview some of the characters - what might they say?
EXTENSION - make a fish puppet using two dowel sticks