Overview

In our newest exhibit, Animation, it’s all about exploring, questioning and experimenting with the science behind the art of animation in a way that makes learning fun engaging for people of all ages. In this stimulating and fun environment, you’ll explore animation from concept to finished product — from storyboarding, character design, and drawing techniques to movement, timing, filming, and sound. Larger-than-life graphics of popular Cartoon Network characters provide a colorful backdrop to the exhibit, which also explores the history of animation and features a screening room and a cartoon museum.

Get an in-depth look at science concepts such as perception, illusion, geometry, and measurement though voice-acting and recording to computer programming and scoring, from screenwriting and storyboarding to sound-effects and editing. There truly is a science to this colorful, engaging art form. This is a rare behind-the-scenes experience that whole family will enjoy.

On view October 1 – March 4.

Animation Studio

Explore the process of animation, story creation, animator techniques and tools. Develop your own storyboard from a series of picture cards, draw characters, enlarge drawings with a pantograph, and create scenes using layered cels and moving backgrounds.

Art in Motion and Science Laboratory

With help from Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, discover why art and math are important allies when creating characters, motion, and change. The illusion of movement will come alive as you magically “move” around a room.

In Dexter’s Laboratory, delve into the science and technology that make animation possible. Create the illusion of a bouncing ball with the technique of “squash and stretch” and find out how the action slows down or speeds up with time-lapse videos. See yourself “hover” while exploring visual effects in a full-body interactive experience.

Sound and Stage

Discover the principles of sound and phonetics with characters from Chowder, Ben 10: Alien Force, and Kids Next Door. Explore the complexity of matching phrases to different mouth shapes, add your own voice to a silent animation and set the mood of a film by selecting background music from a variety of soundtracks.

Cartoon Museum & History

Take a seat in this intimate theater setting and view clips of popular animations while learning the secrets behind their production. They will examine artifacts such as cels, models, and storyboard drawings from classic and favorite animations such as Scooby-Doo, The Powerpuff Girls, and The Flintstones.

Learn about early animation and apparent motionusing a praxinoscope, manipulating and spinning three-dimensional objects to see them morph into a single animation. “Crank” out animations with an old-fashioned mutoscope at the Penny Arcade.