BACKGROUND DESIGN - UTD BASS SCHOOL

 

FALL 25 - Background Design Class THUR 10a - 1245p 15 Weeks

Professor Frederick Gardner (University of Texas at Dallas)

Course Information
Course Number/Section: Class 88553 / Course ANGM 3314.001.25F

Course Title: Background Design 

 Fall Term 25S 8/25/25 - 12/9/25 THUR 10A - 1245P

 

 

 

 

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions:
Some ability to draw traditionally on paper with pen or pencil and ability to draw digitally on Photoshop CC & Toon Boom Harmony using a stylus and Cintiq or graphic tablet. Drawing for Animation ANGM 2309 with a grade of B or better, and Instructor consent with Portfolio Review.

Course Description:
ANGM 3314 - Background Design (3 semester credit hours) explores the creation of
environments, architecture, interiors, set dressing, vehicles and props while using story as the
guide. Elements of design, structure, perspective, composition, color, and more will be
combined to bring to life appealing worlds for live action, animation and games. This course
explores multiple mediums, traditional and digital. Prerequisite: ANGM 2309 with a grade of B or better.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes:
Students will experience a professional studio environment, using the current software, tools
and techniques to develop architecture, interior, prop & environment concepts from traditional
pencil thumbnail through to final digital designs. Live action and animation shape language will
be studied and referenced in addition to color theory and foundational ideation skills are and
reviewed through collaboration and team discussion. Rough & Thumbnail Sketching may also
be practiced in various outdoor and off campus settings.

Required Textbooks and Materials:
- The Noble Approach (ISBN 978-1452127385) 2013 by Tod Polson
- Dream Worlds (ISBN 978-0240520933) 2007 by Hans Bacher

Required Materials:
Computer (MAC or PC) w/ Webcam, Microphone 
Photoshop CC & Toon Boom Harmony
Stylus & Tablet or WACOM Cintiq
Portable Drive or USB Drive
Moleskin Art Sketchbook (Unruled) 4.5 x 7"
Tombow Dual Brush Marker Pens Warm or Cool Gray 1 & 2
Fine Point (or Extra Fine Point) Black Sharpie
Prismacolor Verithin & Prismacolor Pencils in Indigo Blue, Sepia or Black
Handheld Pencil Sharpener
Staedtler Plastic or Kneaded Eraser
Smartphone w/ Camera
Microsoft Teams software (for phone & computer)
** You are REQUIRED to use the PC, Cintiq and Software provided in the classroom

Suggested Course Materials:
- What an Art Director Does: An Introduction to Motion Picture Design (ISBN
978-1879505186) by Ward Preston (1994)
- The Art of Book of Life (ISBN 978-1616555337) by Jorge Gutierrez (2014)
- Awaking Beauty: The Art of Eyvind Earle (ISBN 978-1681882710) by Ioan Szasz (2017)

Suggested Course Films:
Steamboat Willie (1928) Walt Disney
What’s Opera Doc? (1957) Warner Bros
A Bear For Punishment (1951) Warner Bros
Robin Hood Daffy (1958) Warner Bros
Sleeping Beauty (1959) Walt Disney
Muybridge Motion Studies (1884) Pennsylvania University
Get A Horse! (2013) Walt Disney
Mickey Mouse Series (2013-2018) Walt Disney
Primal (2019) Cartoon Network
Wall-E (2008) Pixar
Up! (2009) Pixar
Frozen (2013) Walt Disney
Gladiator 2 (2024) Ridley Scott - Paramount/DreamWorks


15 WEEK LECTURE OUTLINE (Lecture Topics may change at any time):

- SHAPE LANGUAGE - Circle, Square & Triangle/Bottle Assignment

- BACKGROUNDS w/ CHARACTER - Bottle & Bug Assignment/Charley Harper

- CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT - Bottle to Skyline Redesign, Noble & Earle

- CARICATURE - Character Props & Location Studies

- SIZE COMP, PERSPECTIVE, TONE & COLOR - Size Comp & Props w/ Characters

- TEXAS STATE FAIR - Research Concepts for State Fair Project (Photo & Sketch) https://bigtex.com/

- VEHICLES, GENRE & EXTRUDE FROM A MAP - Vehicle Exploration, Skyline Views, Extrude Terrain from a Map

- WORLD BUILDING
 (MID TERM) - Design Aerial View of Genre City

- LIGHTBOX EXPO 25 - Architecture Studies at Gamble House (Craftsman), History of Walt Disney/Disneyland, Portfolio Presentation to Studios (Pasadena/Los Angeles, CA)

- ARCHITECTURE, MOUNTAINS & FOREST - Skyline Study, Develop Genre Landscape

- HARRY POTTER: THE EXHIBITION - Research Concepts for Harry Potter Project (Photo & Sketch) https://dallas.harrypotterexhibition.com/

- CITY LAYOUT/INTERIOR DESIGN - Design Thumbnails, Interior/Cutaway

- INTERIOR DESIGN 2, LIGHTING GUIDES - Building Design Using Surfaces

- PERSONAL ARCHITECTURE - Final Design & Interior Cutaway

- FINAL PRESENTATION - Final Pitch of Background Design Portfolio to Jury Final Grade, Portfolio Assessment, Review Architecture Sketchbook

LIFE DRAWING, GESTURE & PLEIN AIR SKETCHING:

Life Drawing is available on Wednesdays in the Life Drawing Studio (4th Floor) 10-1115a at Standing Easels based on Availability. Live Model provided. Bring Newsprint (18x24") & Vine or Willow Charcoal w/ Chamois.

Gesture Sketching is always available at the Student Union Mon - Fri. Take advantage of the students lounging in the area and try capturing 2 or more students, sharing the same space. Bring Moleskin Sketchbook, Ultra Fine Point Sharpie and 20% Gray Marker (Tombow Brushpen Cool or Warm Gray 2).

 

 

Plein Air Sketching is offered several times a semester at the Texas State Fair, Tiger Refuge, Dallas Arboretum or Zoo. At these locations, you will be given the opportunity to Gesture Sketch animals in a semi-natural environment and study their motion and biomechanics. Schedule to be announced in the first weeks of the semester. Gesture Sketching done in Moleskin Sketchbook, Ultra Fine Point Sharpie, 20% Gray Marker or pencil.

ANIMATION REFERENCE -


"Steamboat Willie" (Walt Disney) 1928

"Robin Hood Daffy" (Warner Bros) 1958

"Sleeping Beauty" (Walt Disney) 1958

"A Bear for Punishment" (Warner Bros) 1951

"What is Motion - Eadweard Muybridge" (Cantor Arts Center) 2017

2D Animation Poster Annotation - Animation and/or Animation Layout by Frederick Gardner

 - Upper Left Image - "Teca Pyramid - Puma Golum Transformation A - v001" from "Maya and the Three" (Netflix Animation) 2019 

- Upper Middle Image - "Orchid Bay Street - Ming's Restaurant" from "The Life and Times of Juniper Lee" (Cartoon Network) 2004 Emmy Winner

- Upper Right Image - "London Graveyard - End of Path" from "Tom & Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes" (Warner Bros Animation) 2009

- Bottom Left Image - "London Graveyard Angel w/ Diamond" from "Tom & Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes" (Warner Bros Animation) 2009

- Bottom Upper Right Image - "Sundae Bloody Sundae" from "The Simpsons - Oh Brother Where Art Thou" Season 2 (Klasky Csupo/Fox) 1991

- Bottom Lower Right Image - "Desert Mountains (EXT) PAN" from "The Powerpuff Girls" (Cartoon Network) 2004 Emmy Winner