The Brief

To start, generate your unique client brief at www.randomprojectgenerator.com.

DOWNLOAD THE EXERCISE FILES

Class Project 01 - Destination Animation

This first project is just to get you used to the basics of animating in After Effects. Create at least one piece of type and include a background image. We’ll be refining this design in the next project, so feel free to keep it simple for now. This is a good time to introduce your destination and brand color, though you can interpret this however you’d like.

I’ve provided a few image options in the download, or you can download free stock images from Unsplash, Pixabay, Pexels or Adobe Stock’s Free collection.

Requirements:
- Your animation should be 1920x1080 at 30FPS. (Use the presets!)Create at least one piece of type.
- Create at least one piece of type.
- Include a background image.
- Animate the Position of at least one layer.
- Keep your animation short, though it doesn’t have to be exactly 5 seconds.
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed in the lesson).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).

Class Project 02 - Looping Promo

We’re looking for a short looping promo to help excite potential customers. Expand on your earlier project by adding additional elements, more motion, and an animated texture. Create your own design and utilize various Transform properties to create a short looping animation.

Requirements:
- Your animation should be 1920x1080 at 30FPS.
- Prominently feature the primary client color.
- You should have multiple pieces of type, including the client name from your brief.
- Must contain a background image and an animated texture element. (We’ve included multiple options for both, but feel free to find your own!)
- Must contain an image or icon - this could be a picture of your destination, a logo, or something else relevant to the promo.
- Make use of Position, Scale and Rotation somewhere in your animation.
- Your animation should loop cleanly.
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 03 - Rocket Flight

It’s time to blast off! Create a short scene of a rocket flying toward the destination, depicting the exciting journey that awaits potential customers.

Requirements:
- Your animation should be 1080x1920 (vertical format). FPS and duration are up to you.
- Use one of our supplied rocket images, or find and prepare your own. The rocket should be branded in some way - color is probably the easiest!
- Add a video clip to create a trail of exhaust behind the rocket.
- Use fast background movement to create the illusion of speed.
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 04 - Animated Infographics

Our social team would love a few short animated infographics to help educate the public about the benefits of our destination. We’re looking for at least two scenes, giving viewers appropriate time to absorb the info.

Requirements:
- Composition size and frame rate are up to you, as long as they’re social-friendly. 1920x1080, 1080x1920, 1080x1080, & 1080x1350 are all good options, at 24, 25 or 30 FPS.
- Create at least two animated infographics with different graphs. Informational accuracy is great, but not required. Your designs can be created in Photoshop or Illustrator, or directly in After Effects.
- Make sure to incorporate the primary brand color and client name.
- Create a smooth transition between scenes.
- Think about using motion to guide a viewer’s eye through your designs, and through the full animation.
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 05 - Planetary Scene

Help our customers imagine the wonders of the cosmos by creating a stylized space scene. You can try to recreate the destination accurately, or just create something fun and colorful!

Requirements:
- Composition size and frame rate are up to you.
- Create a stylized space scene with at least a planet, starry background and a sun. All elements should be created directly in After Effects, without using any imported images or videos. Explore the various effects properties and see what you can create!
- Include the primary brand color, and any additional branding cues you find opportunities for.
- Any animation should remain fairly subtle.
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 06 - Animated

Title Our marketing team has asked for an animated intro for a short video piece they’ve created. It should include the name of our destination, plus a short tagline - this text is the star, so make sure to include some engaging text animation!

Class Project 07 - Refined Promo

The creative director has asked if we can revisit that looping promo you created earlier. We love the look, but wanted to see if we could refine the motion. We trust your judgment!

Requirements:
- Reopen your earlier Looping Promo class project and revisit the animation, incorporating easing, curved motion paths, anticipation and/or overshoot. Try to add at least one of each if you can, but only if it feels appropriate!
- Keep in mind: what does this refined animation say about the messaging of your promo?
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

This project is a great opportunity for reflection on how much you’ve learned so far in the course!

Class Project 08 - Puppet Tool

Spacewalks are a great way to pass time on the long trip to the destination - please create a short animation to showcase how much fun that can be!

Requirements:
- Composition size and frame rate are up to you.
- Create a short animation (around 5 seconds or so) utilizing a character (we’ve included one, or find/create your own. It should be animated primarily using the Puppet Tool.
- Your animation should use an image or video as a background. We’ve provided an option, or you can find your own elements.
- Find a creative way to incorporate branding elements or your destination.
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 09 - Cutout Callout

We’d love a short social promo incorporating some graphics behind the hero element of a clip - I guess you’ll have to cut it out!

Requirements:
- Composition size and frame rate will be dictated by your chosen video clip.
- Create a short video promo, using Object Matte and related tools to cut out one or more elements, then place text or other graphics behind that main element.
- The bottom layer should be the original (non-isolated)
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 10 - Greenscreen Scene

Help capture the excitement of planetary exploration by creating a realistic composite scene.

Requirements:
- Composition and frame rate are up to you; they may be based on your source material, but it’s less necessary here.
- Utilize at least one greenscreen clip, one background layer and one foreground element.
- Additional atmospherics like dust and smoke are not required, but can usually be found online easily, and really help bring the scene together.
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 11 - Tracked Pop-Up Graphic

With so many details in space, it always helps to call them out with graphics! Create a short animation highlighting some specific details by using graphics elements tracked accurately into the shot.

Requirements:
- Composition length, size and frame rate are up to you, and will likely be determined by your selected clip.
- Choose one video clip and use the Point Tracker to follow one specific detail.
- Add a graphic call-out, text, arrow, or similar element to call attention to your tracked object.
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 12 - Screen Replacement

Help visualize how our promotional materials will look on customers’ devices.

Requirements:
- Composition length, size and frame rate are up to you, and will be determined by your selected clip. (Your composition should match clip settings!)
- Choose one video clip containing a screen of some kind, and use Mocha AE to track that surface.
- Replace the screen with your own custom content - make sure you design for the dimensions of the screen you’re replacing!
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 13 - Tracked Camera

We’d love some dynamic shots in our upcoming promo, but the director also wants to make sure we have the proper messaging included. Do you think you could make that text feel like it moves along with the rest of the footage?

Requirements:
- Composition length, size and frame rate are up to you, and will be determined by your selected clip. (Your composition should match clip settings!)
- Choose one video clip containing a dynamic camera move, and use the 3D Camera Tracker to extract tracking data.
- Add at least one piece of text or other graphic element into the shot, in a way that moves correctly and feels properly integrated.
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 14 - 3D Camera Moves

We have an upcoming presentation with a handful of static images - is there anything you can do to make those feel more interesting?

Requirements:
- Composition length, size and frame rate are up to you, though I’d suggest a 1920x1080 frame size.
- Collect 3 images relevant to your destination - it’s ideal if you can save them at a larger size.
- Create a short, dynamic camera move for each image, and assemble those together into a single video.
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 15 - 3D Parallax Scene

We’re putting together a proposal for future space colony developments, and would love you to create a short visualization of the possibilities we’ll have!

Requirements:
- Composition length, size and frame rate are up to you.
- Create or assemble a scene with at least 5 layers, arranged in Z-space to create depth.
- Animate a one-node camera moving across the scene to create a parallax effect.
Deliverables:
- Export your animation as an .mp4 video file (use the preset I showed earlier).
- Upload your exported video to a video-hosting site like Vimeo, YouTube, Behance, or similar. Share the link to your video to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
  DO NOT SUBMIT ANY DRIVE/CLOUD LINKS (i.e. Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Share on social media:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Nick Tasioulas

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