MADE Classroom: Animation in Games

How do game developers make things look like they're alive through movement? To find out, we'll both learn and use animation techniques!

Age Range: Around 8 to 13 years old

Description: This class is a 1.5 hour lesson that teaches students how animation techniques can be used to create the "illusion of life". Animation techniques can provide inspiration across domains outside of video game development, enabling students to convey movement, timing, interactibility, and much more.

Students will

• Discuss animation techniques with a lecturer

• Play video games to gather examples of different animation techniques

• Create their own animations through a mix of analog and digital tools

Students will learn how to

• Apply animation techniques to their own work

• Critically analyze games from an animation perspective

• Use a mix of tools to create their own moving pictures

We will be playing 4 to 5 landmark games from different eras. Students will begin by learning about animation techniques, and spend 20 minutes playing games that demonstrate a variety of animation techniques and styles. Finally, students will work on their own animations using the games they played as inspiration.