ANIMATION

IT'S ALIVE!: The art of bringing animation to life

Name: IT'S ALIVE!: The art of bringing animation to life
Brand: Jeff Collins
Price: 675.0 CAD
Availability: InStock

Learn how live-action performance, body language and timing translate into believable animation, then use those skills to create a short original character acting scene. Across eight hands-on classes, you’ll study performance, gesture, staging and camera language, work from live models and recorded reference, and build movement through key poses, breakdowns, spacing, arcs and timing. The course focuses on making characters feel intentional and alive, ending with a finished animated performance you can present in the student showcase.

All Materials Included

Bring your own drawing or animation setup, plus a smartphone or camera for recording short live-action reference footage.

ART HUB

Hands-on classes at the Urban Art Collective Art Hub.

Small Class Size

6 minimum · 12 maximum

SKILL LEVEL

No Experience Needed

COURSE RUNDOWN

Week 1: What Makes A Great Performance?

Analyze acting choices, staging, body language and emotional clarity in live-action and animated scenes. Explore the difference between movement and intention, then sketch key story poses that communicate character without relying on dialogue.

Week 2: Body Language Speaks First

Explore how posture, weight, gesture, silhouette and physical tension reveal personality and intent. Work from live models and film references to create expressive gesture drawings that communicate a clear story in a single pose.

Week 3: The Language Of The Camera

Learn how composition, shot size, eye lines, the 180-degree rule and camera placement guide audience attention. Translate a short script into simple storyboard thumbnails that establish clear staging and visual direction.

Week 4: Emotion & Subtext

Study how actors communicate thoughts and feelings beneath the dialogue through timing, expression and subtle movement. Use reference as a starting point rather than something to copy, then develop expressive character poses and breakdown sheets.

Week 5: Acting For Animation

Explore how animators simplify and exaggerate live-action performance into clear, readable key poses. Compare reference footage with finished animated scenes and refine your own poses for stronger clarity, personality and appeal.

Week 6: Building The Scene

Break a performance into emotional beats, objectives and transitions. Record yourself performing a short 5–8 second reference clip, then begin planning and animating your final character acting scene using that footage as a guide.

Week 7: Timing & Breakdowns

Connect key poses using breakdowns, spacing, arcs and timing to create movement with believable weight and clarity. Refine the performance by adjusting timing and transitions to strengthen the emotional impact of the scene.

Week 8: Bringing It To Life

Apply final polish to your animated performance and review how acting choices have translated from live reference into animation. Finish with a student showcase where you present the scene and discuss the creative decisions behind it.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

By The End Of This Course, You Will:

Understand how live-action performance, emotion and timing translate into animation.
Analyze body language, weight, balance, silhouette and staging to communicate character intent.
Use camera placement, shot composition and staging to strengthen visual storytelling.
Record and use live-action reference footage to plan animated performances.
Develop strong key poses and expressive character acting.
Use breakdowns, spacing, arcs and timing to create believable movement.
Complete a short original animated acting scene.
Leave with a finished piece suitable for a portfolio or demo reel.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Jeff Collins

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.

VIEW FULL BIO →

Drawing or Animation Setup: Bring a tablet or laptop with your preferred 2D animation or drawing software, or use a traditional sketchbook setup.
Recording Device: Bring a smartphone or camera capable of recording a short 5–8 second live-action reference clip.

Have a question about the course or need to discuss accessibility or accommodations before class? Contact us at learn@urbanartcollective.ca.

Parking is available at 1088 Somerset St W at the UAC Art Gallery, as well as at 50 Bayswater Ave. The parking area at 50 Bayswater is accessed from Somerset St W, not from Bayswater Avenue.

Cancellation Policy

14+ days before the first class: Full refund to your original payment method.
7–13 days before: Full-value UAC LAB credit.
Less than 7 days before: No refund or credit.

Registrations can be transferred to another person at no charge before the class begins. Missed classes or sessions are not eligible for refunds, credits or individual make-up classes.

If UAC LAB cancels a class, you can choose a full refund or full-value UAC LAB credit. If we reschedule and the new date does not work for you, you may also request a refund or credit.

UAC LAB Class Registration, Cancellation & Refund Policy