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Animation & VFX · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Voice Acting for Animators

Animators are actors with a pencil, but understanding the voice is crucial to the performance. This course is designed for animators who want to direct voice talent or perform scratch tracks themselves. Students will learn the physiology of speech, how to break down audio tracks for phonemes and beats, and the vocabulary needed to get the best performance out of a voice actor in the recording booth.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Analyze audio tracks to identify "Acting Beats" and subtext
  2. Master the "Phoneme" chart for accurate Lip-Syncing
  3. Direct Voice Talent: Using the language of actors (Verbs/Intentions)
  4. Perform "Scratch Tracks" to guide timing in the animatic phase
  5. Understand the technical recording workflow: Microphones, Pop Filters, & Acoustics
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Marriage of Sound & Image
  2. 02Physiology of Speech: Vowels & Consonants
  3. 03Reading the Waveform: Timing & Volume
  4. 04Phonemes Breakdown: A, E, O, M, B, P
  5. 05Acting Beats: Pauses & Breaths
  6. 06The Scratch Track: Placeholder Performance
  7. 07Accents & Dialects: Shaping the Mouth
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Recording Techniques: The Booth Setup
  10. 10Directing I: The Language of Actors
  11. 11Directing II: Getting the "Take"
  12. 12Editing Dialogue: Choosing the Best Take
  13. 13Character Voices: Pitch, Timbre, & Tempo
  14. 14ADR: Automated Dialogue Replacement
  15. 15Sound Design: Foley & Atmosphere
  16. 16Final Project: The Audio-Driven Animation Test

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Audio-Driven Animation Test

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Voice-Over Voice Actor by Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt
  2. Acting for Animators by Ed Hooks
  3. There's Money Where Your Mouth Is by Elaine A. Clark
  4. Voiceover for Animation by Jean Ann Wright and M.J. Lallo
  5. The Art of Voice Acting by James R. Alburger
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