Basic walk-cycle in Flash (Frame by Frame animation) :: Curriculum

Animation Model

Units:

Basic walk-cycle in Flash (Frame by Frame animation)

Part of Unit: Animation Process

Lesson Plan Overview / Details

This lesson describes the basic steps and concepts to create a simple stick-figure animated walk-cycle in Flash Software, using a frame-by-frame approach (not tweening).

Lesson Time - Lab Period

Standards

California Career and Technical Education Standards

AME.FS.5.1 Apply appropriate problem-solving strategies and critical thinking skills to wor...
AME.FS.7.7 Develop a personal commitment to and apply high-quality craftsmanship to a produ...

California Academic Content Standards (Reinforced)

ELA.9-10.R.CAGT.2.6 Demonstrate use of sophisticated learning tools by following technical direction...2

Objectives and Goals

Students will learn and demonstrate the skills to animate a simple walk-cycle using 15 Frames on a blank stage (in Flash).
Students will understand the physics and mechanics of the motion involved in walking

Activities in this Lesson

Activating Prior Knowledge - Task 1 (10 minutes) - Hooks / Set
1. Use think-pair-share to elicit FAVORITE movie or cartoon scenes of a walk cycle
2. Have students demonstrate a ‘walk’ at the front of the class and point out Opposing leg-to-arm, motion of the head up/down
3. Review youtube animation on Walk-cycle basics
- YouTube: Animating the Walk Cycle [ Watch Video ] [ Download Original Video ] Creating a walking animation is a foundational exercise, but it is also one of the most difficult to master as a beginning animator. Learn how to understand the body's movements while walking with helpful information from a writer, director and animator in this free video on cartoon animation.
Lecture - Task 2 (15 minutes) - Lecture
This lesson will guide the students through the process of frame-by-frame animation of the walk-cycle
- Lecture Script [ Download ] Script and Whiteboard images
- Starting Point image [ View Image ] [ Download Original ]
- Head movement [ View Image ] [ Download Original ]
- Body movement [ View Image ] [ Download Original ]
- Walking [ View Image ] [ Download Original ]
- Walk cycle [ View Image ] [ Download Original ]
- Analyzing the stride [ View Image ] [ Download Original ]
- Adding Arms [ View Image ] [ Download Original ]
- Animated GIF demonstrating 15-frame walk-cycle [ View Image ] [ Download Original ]
Guided Activity (20 minutes) - Guided Practice
Students have an opportunity to use Flash software to create their own frame-by-frame animation of the walk cycle.
- Student Example: .fla file [ Download ]
- Student Example: .swf file [ View Flash ] [ Download ]
Closure - Share out (5 minutes) - Closure
Students are reminded to save files (in the proper location) and invited to share their work with the rest of the class.

Teacher guides the class through informal evaluation pointing out Good/Bad aspects of student-volunteer work.

Teacher prefaces the next class work: Illusion of motion by moving the background objects

Assessment - Authentic

Assessment Types:: Rubrics, Portfolios,

Teacher will monitor student work for comprehensive understanding of ideas, including the physics & mechanics of the walk cycle, during the class period.

Each student will produce a 15-frame animation demonstrating the walk-cycle and self-grade against a rubric.

This project will become part of larger student-portfolio project, later in the semester.