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Course Description

Artwork by Meghan D.

With increasing expansion, animation serves as a vital tool to highlight injustices, explain data and essential information, and bring new understanding to critical issues. This course focuses on communication, problem solving, and reflection upon global and local issues through the medium of animation. The fundamental principles are introduced through a variety of methods and materials, which may include flipbooks, storyboards, collage, cutouts, and stop-motion techniques. Students think and learn about the roles of artist-as-communicator and artist-as-educator with the ability to create content that is impactful, dynamic and effective. Independent research of political and socioeconomic areas of interest provides students with the content to develop their unique vision.

Notes

  • In this intensive course and Visual + Critical Language, students should expect to spend a combined minimum of 20 hours per week engaging in coursework across both courses. Students should plan their schedule accordingly to keep up with class.
  • In conjunction with your Featured Topics course(s), you are also required to enroll in Visual + Critical Language. When you register for this Featured Topics course, you will also be charged for the tuition of Visual + Critical Language. You will see this enrollment reflected in your Student Portal before the start date of the course. Visual + Critical Language will meet live two times: during the first and final live sessions of your Featured Topics course.
  • This course requires access to Adobe Animate and the free DaVinci Resolve software or equivalent software and digital drawing tools (e.g., iPad and Procreate). Before registering, please visit the Adobe Animate and DaVinci Resolve websites to check your computer's "minimum system requirements."

Prerequisites

This course is part of RISD's Advanced Program Online, a pre-collegiate program for students ages 15–18 in grades 10–12.

Students who have completed or are currently enrolled in a prerequisite Essential Fundamentals course are eligible to enroll in the Advanced Program Concentration, which includes a Featured Topics course. If you have not yet completed an Essential Fundamentals course, you will receive an Enrollment Warning at checkout, and will be required to submit a Prerequisite Override Request for review.

Instructors

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

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Type
Online, Asynchronous
Dates
Jul 13, 2025 to Aug 10, 2025
Type
Online, Live Sessions
Days
M, Th
Time
9:00AM to 12:00PM
Dates
Jul 14, 2025 to Aug 07, 2025
Schedule and Location
Contact Hours
60.0
Delivery Options
Course Fee(s)
Tuition non-credit $2,760.00 Click here to get more information
Drop Request Deadline
Aug 03, 2025
Transfer Request Deadline
Nov 06, 2024 to Jul 10, 2025
Withdrawal Request Deadline
Jul 13, 2025 to Aug 10, 2025
Instructors
Necessary Supplies

This course requires a digital drawing tablet or Apple iPad and an Apple Pencil. You can expect to spend up to $200 (estimate) on supplies, equipment, software subscriptions, and/or books for this course. A supply list will be available on the course site in Canvas at least 30 days before the first day of class.

The instructor will create instructional content using a digital drawing tablet with Adobe Photoshop and Animate on a Mac. Students may choose to use an iPad with Procreate and Procreate Dreams; however, the instructor will not offer instructional content on using the iPad.

Once you have received your enrollment confirmation and logged in to Canvas, navigate to Upcoming Courses on the left-hand side of your dashboard. Supplies will be listed on your course homepage under the supplies heading. Some or all of your course supplies are available at the RISD Store.

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