It’s SOMtember, our month to celebrate motion design with a weekly community animation challenge! It’s a great way to hone your 2D and 3D mograph chops - and as a bonus, you can even win some free classes! The goal is to challenge yourself, have fun, learn something new and get some practice. SOMtember ends September 27, 2024.
Get early access each week! Enter your email address below and we’ll send you all the info you need two days before we officially drop each new prompt:
This is also a great time to remind you that if you want to level up your design and animation skills, our Fall Session begins on Monday, October 7, 2024! Check out our classes and register now to save your spot!
THIS WEEK'S PROMPT
September 15, 2024 to September 20, 2024
Week 3: Follow Through & Overlapping Action
Entry Deadline: 9/20/24 at 12 PM ET
Follow Through and Overlapping Action refer to the secondary movements that occur after the main action has taken place. For example, a character's hair may continue to move after they have stopped walking. These subtle movements add realism to animations and create a sense of weight and momentum.
Use the 2D or 3D assets provided or animate your own! When you're ready to share, make sure you tag @schoolofmotion and #somtember! We will be resharing lots of work on our social too!
How SOMtember Works
- Every Monday we’ll share a prompt to guide you in your 15-minute project. We’ll also share 2D and 3D project files for you to use in your work. You can also generate your own assets. It’s up to you.
- Take 15 minutes to animate your version of the prompt. Or take as much time as you want!
- When you are done with it, post it online and share it with us (See rules below).
Don’t worry, your 15-minute result isn’t supposed to be perfect. We’re all having fun practicing our skills, sharing our progress and inspiring each other. If you take longer than 15 just let us know. It won’t effect prize selection, but it will help people who are still learning not to be discouraged.
The Prizes
There are two types of prizes and two ways to win:
- Free SOM Course (4) - Each week, one person (chosen randomly) will win the free SOM course of their choice.
- SOM All-Access (1) - at the end of the month one person (chosen randomly) who has completed all 4-challenges will win a full year of access to every class we make.
IMPORTANT: If you already registered for a Fall 2024 course at SOM and win a SOMtember prize, we will refund your payment!
The Rules
- Sign up below to get an early notification for each week's prompt. This will also register you for the contest.
- Each week, read the creative brief for the current challenge.
- Animate stuff!
- Post to Instagram and tag @schoolofmotion and use the hashtag #SOMtember.
- To be eligible for the weekly prize, you must complete the weekly challenge by Friday @ 12 PM ET.
- To be eligible for the All-Access prize, you must complete all 4 challenges by 9/27/24 @ 12 PM ET.
If you miss a weekly deadline, don’t sweat it! You are still eligible for the SOM All-Access prize as long as you complete all 4 challenges by 9/27/24.
Let's Do It!
If you didn't above, enter your email address below and we’ll send you all the info you need two days before we officially drop each new prompt:
We’ll continue to post right here for the community each week on Monday, but we’ll email YOU ahead of time on Friday so you have the weekend to get started.
UPCOMING PROMPTS
PROMPTS WILL BE REVEALED EACH WEEK
Enter your email in the form above to be the first to know when each new prompt drops.
Week 4:
Entry Deadline: 9/27/24
PREVIOUS PROMPTS
Week 1: Arcs
Arcs refer to the curved paths that objects naturally follow when they move. Imagine you’re swinging your arm. Notice that your hand naturally moves in an arc. A leaf falling will naturally follow a series of arc movements. By following natural, curved trajectories, movements can feel more realistic and visually appealing.
Week 2: Slow In and Slow Out (aka Easing)
Arcs refer to the curved paths that objects naturally follow when they move. Imagine you’re swinging your arm. Notice that your hand naturally moves in an arc. A leaf falling will naturally follow a series of arc movements. By following natural, curved trajectories, movements can feel more realistic and visually appealing.