Summer

Animation Lab

Entering Grades 9-12, up to age 17

Discover the magic of animation in this hands-on workshop exploring 3D stop-motion. Students will create original characters and stories while experimenting with programs such as Stop Motion Studio and Dragon Frame. Designed for beginners and experienced young artists alike, the workshop combines creative play, cinematic techniques, and collaboration. Come defy time, make something cool, and create alongside a group of new friends.

*This is a Teen program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

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Overview

What if you could make a drawing walk, give an everyday object a personality, or build an entire world one frame at a time?

In this hands-on animation workshop, students will explore the principles of 3D stop-motion animation while creating original characters, stories, and short animated projects. Students will learn how animators create the illusion of movement through timing, spacing, sequencing, and frame-by-frame experimentation.

The workshop will introduce students to animation tools and programs such as Stop Motion Studio and Dragon Frame. Students will also explore lighting, framing, composition, character performance, sound, and a variety of cinematic storytelling techniques.

The primary goal is to experiment, collaborate, and have fun. Students will work independently and in groups to solve creative problems, exchange ideas, and discover their own animation styles. Whether they are making their first animation or already have experience, students will receive instruction and support appropriate to their skill level.

By the end of the workshop, students will have created original animated work to share with family, friends, and the larger creative community. Come prepared to defy time, bring impossible ideas to life, and make something cool with a group of new friends.

Additional Information

No previous animation experience or portfolio is required. This workshop is designed for students at all skill levels, from beginners creating their first animation to experienced students interested in strengthening their technical and storytelling abilities. The instructor will work with each student at their current level and help them develop new creative and technical skills.

A refillable water bottle
Sturdy, closed-toed shoes
A sketchbook
Pencils and an eraser
Any drawings, character ideas, small objects, or materials they may want to animate

All required animation equipment and software will be provided unless otherwise noted.

Class begins at 9:00 a.m. with a demonstration, animation exercise, or screening of inspiring work. Students then move into individual or collaborative studio time, where they develop characters, construct sets, draw animation frames, record performances, or photograph stop-motion sequences.

Lunch is from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. During the afternoon session, students continue developing their projects while receiving individual instruction and feedback. Class concludes at 4:00 p.m., when students are released for afternoon and evening activities.

Throughout the week, students will alternate between short creative exercises and the production of more developed animated projects.

Students will explore:

The fundamental principles of animation
Character design and performance
Visual storytelling and storyboarding
Lighting, framing, and composition
Camera placement and cinematic techniques
Collaborative filmmaking and creative problem-solving

The workshop will culminate in a screening of student-created animations. Students will have an opportunity to share their work with family, friends, and members of the creative community.

Isaac Webb is committed to mastering the craft of storytelling in all its forms. He is a member of the Writers Guild of America and has written screenplays for Universal, Miramax, and HBONYC. Isaac wrote and directed “First Born,” a feature-length psychological thriller starring Elisabeth Shue. He was a producer on “Burning Cane,” which won the Tribeca Film Festival Founders Award, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography.

Isaac has had the honor of being the recipient of the Sundance Writer and Director Fellowship, the Rockefeller Fellowship, and the Louisiana Division of the Arts Fellowship. He is an alumnus of Northwestern University and Teach for America.

Isaac has a passion for helping young people find themselves through their stories. He was Co-Director of “DESIRE: THE TEENAGE GIRL DOCUMENTARY PROJECT,” which chronicled the lives of six teenage girls in New Orleans and empowered them to tell their own stories through film. The project was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ford Foundation, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

He currently serves as the InterArts Department Chair at Idyllwild Arts Academy and has also served as Chair of the IAA Film & Digital Media and Creative Writing Departments. Before coming to Idyllwild Arts, he served as Chair of the Media Arts Department at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts.

Check out our FAQ’s to learn more about summer programs

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