Animation

Share / assign

Why it works

Animation, the art of creating movement from sequential images (2D, 3D, stop-motion, digital), combines artistic skill (drawing, design, character), storytelling and visual communication, understanding of movement, timing, and the principles of animation, and substantial technical craft (software, frame-by-frame or rigged processes, rendering), along with enormous patience and precision (animation is painstaking). Teaching it develops creative and technical skills, visual storytelling, understanding of motion and timing, and the persistence the medium demands, and it connects to careers in film, games, media, and design. Strong teaching balances the creative and storytelling side with the technical craft and the principles of animation (how to make movement believable), treating animation as the serious, demanding art-and-technology discipline it is, not just making things wiggle.

The research: CTE and arts/media education standards.

The run-of-show

Choose your slot. The agenda, timings, and length update to match.

The core activity: teach art, movement, and craft

Teachers leave with a project across art, movement principles, and craft.

Pick an animation project or technique (2D, 3D, stop-motion, digital).
Develop artistic skill and storytelling.
Teach the principles of animation (movement, timing, making it believable) and technical craft.
Cultivate the patience and precision animation demands, and connect to careers.

Art, movement, and painstaking craftAnimation combines artistic skill and storytelling with the principles of movement and timing and demanding technical craft. Teach all three, plus the patience bringing images to life requires.

Facilitator notes

Develop artistic skill and storytelling, and teach principles of movement and timing.
Teach technical craft, and cultivate patience.
Connect to careers.

Making things wiggle without principles or craft is not animationAnimation requires the principles of movement and timing, technical craft, and patience, not just motion. Teach art, storytelling, principles, and craft together.

Adapt it

Elementary: movement, timing, simple techniques, story.
Secondary: principles, software, craft, storytelling, careers.
All settings: art, movement principles, craft, patience.

Participant handout

One page for every teacher. Print it, or save it as a PDF.

K12 Academics · Professional Learning

Animation: art, movement, craft

Bring images to life: artistic skill and storytelling, the principles of movement and timing, and technical craft.

The animation project or technique (2D, 3D, stop-motion, digital):
How I develop artistic skill and storytelling:
The principles of animation and technical craft I teach:
How I cultivate patience and precision:
A career connection to make:

Make it stick

Art, movement, craft:

Teach art, movement, and craft.
Cultivate patience.
Bring an animation lesson to the next PLC.

Common questions

Isn't animation just making drawings move?

It combines artistic skill, storytelling, understanding of movement and timing (the principles of animation), and technical craft (software, frame-by-frame or rigged processes), plus patience and precision. It is serious art and technology.

What does teaching animation build?

Creative and technical skills, visual storytelling, understanding of motion and timing, software and production craft, and the patience and persistence the painstaking medium demands. It connects to film, games, media, and design careers.

How do I keep it rigorous?

Teach the principles of animation (making movement believable) and the technical craft alongside creativity and storytelling. The timing, movement, and persistence are where the real skill lies.