Joe -
About Animation... ...I've often given serious thought to teaching. In the old days, at the NFB, every time I thought of a "subject area" or an important point, I'd write it down. Like a naughty schoolboy, I used to write them directly on the surface of my desk. Alas, one day they gave us all new desks, and my notes vanished.

Some topics I recall: "Stretch and Squash", "Timing", "Anticipation", and "The Unseen Cameraman".

Nowadays Animation is MUCH cheaper it used to be. Just the translucent cel we used cost about $1000 per minute. Film itself cost a lot, and required pricey equipment to edit. The computer makes it cheaper, but not that cheap. You'd still need to spend (on software and hardware) the equivalent of a Vintage Martin Guitar, say, to really get going.

cheers
John