Anim 14 – Animation Through Carburation Winter 2026
Animation Through Carburation is for students at an advanced level of skill.
Have you ever wanted to work on a car? Now’s your chance! Learn about animation through lessons in car building—a unique experience that gets you away from the computer and into the shop.
“How am I supposed to learn animation through a engine rebuild?” you may ask. Well, all arts share lots in common, and you can learn more by getting out of one art and into another. Besides learning mechanical skills, we will have lectures on how each part of the build corresponds with building animation. Its a 2 for 1!
Curriculum: Animation Through Carburation
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1. Introduction & Project Overview (Week 1)
- Overview of
- animation and engine rebuilding
- The engine block we’ll be working on (history, purpose, specs)
- How animation principles relate to mechanical function
- Breakdown of the course structure and final project expectations
2. Understanding Motion & Mechanics (Weeks 2-3)- Animation: Principles of motion (timing, weight, force)
- Engine: How an engine moves (piston strokes, crankshaft motion)
- Project Task:
- Create an animated diagram of the chosen engine’s cycle
- Begin engine disassembly (document each step for reference)
3. Engine Disassembly & Digital Representation (Weeks 4-5)- Hands-on: Fully disassemble the engine block
- Digital Work: Create a 3D model or frame-by-frame animation of how parts fit together
- Troubleshooting: Identify wear, damage, and discuss potential repairs
- Project Task:
- Label and document parts for animation
- Begin animating engine breakdown
4. Engine Reassembly & Animation Refinement (Weeks 6-7)- Hands-on: Begin cleaning, replacing, and preparing parts
- Animation:
- Smooth out timing and accuracy in digital motion
- Animate the reassembly process
- Project Task:
- Compare animated motion to real-world engine movement
5. Tuning, Testing, & Animation Finalization (Weeks 8-9)- Hands-on:
- Finish assembling the engine
- Ensure all moving parts function properly
- Digital Work:
- Add final details to animation (textures, shading, labels)
- Project Task:
- Side-by-side comparison of animated vs. real engine motion
6. Final Presentation & Review (Week 10)- Live demonstration: The working engine and its function
- Showcase animation: How the engine moves and works internally
- Discussion: Challenges, takeaways, and how both disciplines connect
- Wrap-up: Future applications in mechanical animation or automotive engineering
Attendee Information :
Workshop meets every Tuesday from 7pm to 10pm PST, for 10 weeks. Starting January 12th, 2026 - Ending March 21st, 2026.
Tuition for this course is $1,600.00, which includes a $200.00 non-refundable registration fee.
We offer the option to register and pay your deposit, and set up a payment plan. To Register for a course and pay the deposit, go here: https://animationcollaborative.com/workshop-registration/ For information on how to make a payment for a Payment Plan, go here: https://animationcollaborative.com/make-a-payment/ You can break your tuition into four easy payments with a Payment Plan. Here are the details of the payment plan. Payment 1: $200, deposit due with registration. Payment 2: $466.67 due on the Monday of the 1st week of the Session. Payment 3: $466.67 due on the Monday of the 4th week of the Session. Payment 4: $466.66 due on the Monday of the 7th week of the Session. *Note: payments are not automatically scheduled. You must schedule them individually. Note: Animation Collaborative accepts Paypal and Checks. To pay by check, just send us an email at with the information below, and mail your check by priority mail, or expedited shipping with tracking to: Animation Collaborative PO BOX 5261 Walnut Creek CA 94596 Information to Include in your email is as follows: Tell us you are interested in registering and are sending a check (for Deposit, Payment Plan, or full Tuition). Please provide the Student's Name, Email, Workshop Selection and Link to your portfolio, or samples of your work. Thanks!