Educational offer - University of Padova

Syllabus

Prerequisites:	It is advisable, for students of History of Animation, to be familiar with the history of cinema and the language of film theory and film analysis. It is even more advisable, though, to be accustomed to watching films (with a critical attitude). Knowing a meaningful "repertoire" of films and being ready to expand it are very good credentials for this course. Finally, proficiency in English is recommended, as the course will be taught in this language.
Target skills and knowledge:	At the end of the course, the student: - will know the methods and the production models behind the main techniques of animation; - will be able to identify the different techniques of animation in audio-visual media, as well as to give a critical appreciation of their use; - will know the history and the essential features of the main schools and traditions of animation.
Examination methods:	The final exam will be an oral test, both for attending and not attending students. For attenders, the exam will focus on the course and on textbooks. Moreover, at the beginning of the course the students will receive a list of films, of which 15 have to be selected and integrally watched. Some of those films could be discussed during the exam. The students can freely choose to talk in Italian or in English during the exam. However, the use of English will be obligatory during one small section of the test: all students (attending and not attending) are required to prepare a five minute talk in English, to be illustrated with a Powerpoint file. The talk and the Powerpoint need to focus on a general topic or a film discussed during the course (or included in the above mentioned list of films). In case of a different topic choice, please contact the teacher in advance. The students can use the Powerpoint files provided by the teacher during the course as a model for their work. To take the exam as attenders, it is advised to be present for at least 38 hours out of 42. Students have to make up for the missed lessons by getting informed about them from fellow students, through written notes and the like. All attending students are supposed to know 100% of the contents of the course. A missed lesson cannot be used as an excuse for an error during the exam. It is recommendable to attend the course, as not attending students will not receive teaching materials such as videoclips and handouts; they will be required to study two complete books written in English. Moreover they will have to watch 15 films chosen from the list mentioned above and to prepare a five minute talk aided by a Powerpoint file, just like the attending students. As it is expected that each session will see only a few students taking the test, the teacher kindly asks to be informed about eventual absences in a timely manner (at least one day before the test). The exam registration will close three days before the test.
Assessment criteria:	The test will evaluate: - ability to give a correct historical contextualization of artists, film works and schools; - knowledge of the techniques and aesthetics of animation; - critical and analytical ability in commenting films and audio-visual works.
Course unit contents:	1) Definition of animation 2) Animation styles and techniques 3) Origins of animation: pioneers, early schools 4) Animation in the USA. Special focus: Fleischer Brothers; Pixar 5) Animation in Europe. Special focus: Jiří Trnka 6) Animation in Italy. Special focus: Bruno Bozzetto 7) Animation in Asia. Special focus: Studio Ghibli 8) Special focus: animated series
Planned learning activities and teaching methods:	The course will be based on the lessons of the teacher, supported by appropriate audio-visual materials. Discussion and active participation of the students in the course will be encouraged. At least one lesson will be guest-taught by a relevant professional in the animation industry.
Additional notes about suggested reading:	Attending students will have to study their notes (with the aid of the Powerpoint files the teacher will share through the Moodle system). The reference books are available (for consultation only) as part of the book collections of the University; they are not required to be studied in full. The portions to be studied will be specified in class and also listed on the teacher's webpage; the film list will be available there as well. Not attending students will have to study the whole books by Crafton and Selby, as well as all the other materials listed on the teacher's webpage. The teacher recommends all the students to regularly check his webpage for updates: https://didattica.unipd.it/off/docente/447A59C2C7D7C7CDCEE5FEDD4843D2F8
Textbooks (and optional supplementary readings)	Giannalberto Bendazzi, Animation. A World History. 3 voll.. Waltham, Massachusetts: Focal Press, 2015. See https://didattica.unipd.it/off/docente/447A59C2C7D7C7CDCEE5FEDD4843D2F8 Andrew Selby, Animation. London: Laurence King Publishing, 2013. See http://didattica.unipd.it/offerta/docente/447A59C2C7D7C7CDCEE5FEDD4843D2F8 Carol A. Stabile, Mark Harrison (eds.), Prime Time Animation. Television Animation and American Culture. London: Routledge, 2003. See http://didattica.unipd.it/offerta/docente/447A59C2C7D7C7CDCEE5FEDD4843D2F8 Rayna Denison, Anime: A Critical Introduction. New York: Bloomsbury, 2015. See http://didattica.unipd.it/offerta/docente/447A59C2C7D7C7CDCEE5FEDD4843D2F8 Donald Crafton, Before Mickey. The Animated Film 1898-1928. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993. See http://didattica.unipd.it/offerta/docente/447A59C2C7D7C7CDCEE5FEDD4843D2F8 Marco Bellano, Giannalberto Bendazzi (eds.), Animation Journal, Vol. 25. Santa Clarita, CA, USA: AJ Press, 2017. See http://didattica.unipd.it/offerta/docente/447A59C2C7D7C7CDCEE5FEDD4843D2F8 Susan Smith, Noel Brown, Sam Summers (eds.), Toy Story. How Pixar Reinvented the Animated Feature. London, Oxford: Bloomsbury, 2018. See http://didattica.unipd.it/offerta/docente/447A59C2C7D7C7CDCEE5FEDD4843D2F8 Raz Greenberg, Hayao Miyazaki. Exploring the Early Work of Japan's Greatest Animator. London, Oxford: Bloomsbury, 2018. See http://didattica.unipd.it/offerta/docente/447A59C2C7D7C7CDCEE5FEDD4843D2F8