Project Description

Our Disney Animator will instruct the students “The Disney Way” of Animation. Walt Disney was an artist and animator before he started the the theme parks and to carry on his legacy we will draw the way it all started !Two decades of experience in the feature animation industry will be ‘drawn’ upon in teaching the Tradional Animation class. Basic drawing fundamentals will be taught- volumes, proportions, perspective, construction lines, etc. Animated discussions will take place- favorite shows/movies/characters/industry related topics- the good, bad, and the ugly! Students will learn the process and evolution of animation and how to bring their drawings to life and infuse them with personality. Basic 12 Principals of Animation are instructed first then the basic fundamentals of Animation will be re-enforced and combined (for example- squash and stretch principles combined with overlapping actions)

Mediums & Media/Programs Used

  • Pencils
  • Paper
  • Drawing Board
  • Flip-book Animation
Subjects Covered
  • Beginners Drawing
  • Concept Creation
  • Design Basics

INSTRUCTORS

Thomas Thorspecken

PORTFOLIO LINK

Thomas Thorspecken

Traditional Animation / Sketching / Foundational Drawing / Figure Drawing Instructor

Thomas Thorspecken, also known as Thor, attended the school of Visual Arts and Design in New York City.  In his 10 years as a freelance illustrator in the city, one of his assignments for the Daily News included sketching historic buildings throughout the city for a column called “Undiscovered Manhattan”.  Thor relocated to Orlando in 1993 to work for Disney Feature Animation.

After 10 years the studio closed, and he continued to pursue his passion for art through teaching and sketching.  His blog “Analog Artist Digital World” began in 2009 as a resolution to post a sketch every day.  He describes it as “his way to finally put down roots, to be part of the community, one sketch at a time.”  Thor has also been teaching Traditional Animation at Full Sail University and now is part of a great team of instructors at Elite Animation Academy.  Thor will continue his passion to teach and now will include Middle and High School students.  Some of the classes he will teach include Traditional Animation, Drawing Fundamental and Urban Sketching.