Great animation isn't created by great drawings. it's created by great performances. In this hands-on course, you will study film, live-action acting, and animation principles to understand why certain characters feel believable while others fall flat.

Through scene analysis, gesture drawing exercises, live model sessions, and performance studies, you will learn how actors communicate emotion, intention, and story—and how animators translate those nuances onto the page. Combining acting theory with practical execution, you will plan, record, and animate an original character acting scene. No prior animation experience is required.

About Your Instructor

Jeff Collins is an animator, artist and educator who has made a career out of drawing the same character over and over again until it starts moving. Animation is a perfectly normal profession.

Learn more about Jeff

Course Rundown

Week 1: What Makes a Great Performance?

Analyze acting choices, staging, body language, and emotional clarity in live-action and animated classics. Explore the illusion of life and intent versus movement, sketching key story poses that communicate character without dialogue.

Week 2: Body Language Speaks First

Discover how posture, weight, gesture, silhouette, and physical tension reveal personality before words are spoken. Work from live models and film references to capture expressive gesture drawings that tell a story in a single frame.

Week 3: The Language of the Camera

Explore how directors guide audience attention through shot composition, close-ups, wide angles, the 180-degree rule, the rule of thirds, and eye lines. Translate a short script into simple storyboard thumbnails that establish visual staging.

Week 4: Emotion & Subtext

Uncover how actors communicate thoughts beneath dialogue through subtle movement, timing, and expression. Learn how to translate reference without copying, producing a sequence of expressive character poses and breakdown sheets.

Week 5: Acting for Animation

Learn how professional animators simplify and exaggerate live-action performance into clear, readable key poses. Compare live reference footage to finished animated scenes, pushing your character poses for maximum clarity and appeal.

Week 6: Building the Scene

Study emotional beats, objectives, and performance transitions. Record yourself performing a 5 to 8 second reference clip, then begin planning and executing your final animated acting scene based on your footage.

Week 7: Timing & Breakdowns

Connect key poses through breakdowns, spacing, arcs, and timing to create believable movement with weight and clarity. Refine your animated sequence, adjusting timing and wipes to heighten emotional impact.

Week 8: Bringing It to Life

Explore the art and philosophy of acting in animation. Apply final polish to your animated scene, culminating in a student showcase where you present your creative choices and finished performance.

By The End Of This Course, You Will:

• Understand the relationship between live-action acting, emotion, timing, and animation.
• Analyze body language, weight, balance, silhouette, and staging to convey character intent.
• Translate scripts into cinematic storyboard thumbnails using camera mechanics and staging rules.
• Record and utilize video reference footage to plan and execute character performances.
• Apply key posing, breakdowns, spacing, and timing to animate believable movement.
• Complete a short animated acting scene suitable for your portfolio or demo reel.

What To Bring & Requirements

• Drawing / Animation Setup: A tablet or laptop equipped with your preferred 2D animation or drawing software (or a traditional sketchbook setup).
• Recording Device: A smartphone or camera to record 5–8 second live-action reference footage of yourself.
• Prerequisites: No prior animation experience required—open to all skill levels.

Event Details

• Location: Urban Art Collective Art Hub, 50 Bayswater Avenue, Ottawa
• Instructor: Jeff Collins
• Level: All Levels (No prior experience required)
• Maximum Capacity: 12 students
• Minimum Enrolment: 6 students required