Making a short animated video for stand-up, sketch, and improv performers

This class is full.

If you would like to be notified when the next cartoon class is available, please drop an email to rocketimprov@gmail.com and express your interest. Maybe put “Cartoon Class” in the subject line?

Six Wednesdays from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
First class: Wednesday, September 23rd

In this six-week class, students will learn about the different styles of animation, the tools used to create an animated short movie, pitfalls and best practices, and the workflow to get from an idea to a finished piece.

Even if you have never held a pencil before, you can create an animation. Each student will create an animated cartoon that expresses their unique comedic voice. Following the final class an online screening of all the student’s animated shorts will be held.

The classes will be over Zoom and the only requirement for the class is to have a reasonably modern Mac or P.C. with a webcam, microphone, and high-speed internet. (So basically what you’ve been using for all those zoom meetings.) It is recommended that you have at least 8 gigabytes of free hard disk space to hold the programs we will use, as well as the assets you will use or create. Although 8 GB of ram is the minimum, 16 GB is recommended.

Again, you don’t need to be an artist (or even like to draw) to participate in this class. We’ll show you ways you can use freely available public domain art and free-to-use rigged characters to create your mini-masterpiece.

Tickets are $90 for the 6 weeks and the screening of the finished shorts will be completely free. Although the class is just an hour-and-a-half, there is an hour or two required between classes to draft, write, plan, and acquire the needed pieces. So, yeah, there is a bit of homework. But it is hoped that it will be FUN homework.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Jerry Witt has been working in digital media for over 35 years. He is a member of the Art Director’s Guild and currently creates animated screens for numerous television series. (Credits include: Bones, The Orville, NCIS: Orleans, This is Us, and FBI: Most Wanted.) He is an improviser on the Westside Comedy Theater house team, Forever Team. Jerry has created 2D and 3D animation for Capitol Records, Baskin Robbins, comedian Adam Ray, Shout! Factory, and Electronic Gaming Magazine.

Questions about this class? Please contact Jerry Witt: email rocketimprov@gmail.com