“The Animation Academy” takes students on a journey through the history of animation, from pre-film animation devices to the computer generated animated films of today.
Discover the men and women who have contributed to animation through the ages and learn what films, tools, or characters they introduced to the world.
Take a behind-the-scenes look into the making of your favorite animated shows and movies, and view old drawings, sets, and notes used in these productions. You can even try your own hand at animating!
What to Expect:
- Discover untold stories of the animators and studios that brought your favorite characters to life.
- Learn to draw or trace famous characters.
- Explore the extensive collection of preserved sketches, sets, and frames from famous films and animators
What you will learn:
- The exacting, revision-filled process animators are tasked with, and how this process has changed overtime with new technologies and animation styles.
- How voice actors add an extra element to bring animated characters to life.
- How music and sound effects can influence the tone of an animation.
- How your favorite animated characters have influenced (and were influenced by) the animation genre.
Real-Life Animators
Discover the inspiring stories of famous and groundbreaking animators throughout the years as they pioneered new animating techniques and created memorable animated masterpieces. Throughout the exhibit, stop and read to see what inspired these animators to such great success.
Tools of Animation
View tools, machines, sets, and props used to create animation throughout history, such as the multiplane camera and clay models used in Claymation films.
Origins of Animation
As you enter the exhibit, discover some of the earliest animation techniques and the first successful animated films that contributed to the rise of animation in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Classic Cartoons
Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Tom and Jerry, Tweety Bird…These classic characters helped popularize cartoons. Learn about these characters and more from Warner Bros. Studios.
Stop-Motion Animation
From clay figures, to models, to puppets, stop-motion animation makes use of physical characters rather than ones drawn on paper. Take a look at sets and figures from famous stop-motion films from animators like Tim Burton.
Be the Animator!
Using various 3-D models, create a stop-motion scene one frame at a time. Take a picture, move the figure slightly, and take another picture to create the illusion of movement. Once you are finished with a scene, you can view it, edit it, and share it!
Animation University Learn how to draw your favorite characters by following the lead of an animation instructor, or use a light table to trace a character on your own.
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Explore the world of Saturday Morning Cartoons! Learn the tricks animators from Hanna-Barbera and Nickelodeon used to save money on these low-budget, just-for-kids shows.
Computer Animation
Watch how animation has left the drawing board and entered the computer world in films like “Shrek” and “How to Train your Dragon 2”.
Zoetrope
Watch stationary models come to life as this device spins, creating the illusion of movement.
Build Your Own Set! Use Keva Planks to replicate any of the sets on display in “Get Animated!” or build your own unique setting.
