3D Animation

Full-time (Day): 2 terms | Part-time (Night): 4 terms Learn the skills necessary to become a 3D artist and animator with the 3D Animation & Interactive Media Certificate. This cross-curriculum program integrates multiple aspects of 2D and 3D art, interactive media and animation with professional experiences and employer expectations. You’ll get hands-on training in modeling, design, texturing, animation, lighting and rendering for 3D design. Using Autodesk Maya, the leading 3D software tool for professionals, and web applications such as Adobe Flash, you’ll work on a variety of projects from product illustration and architectural visualization to character animation and web media presentation. When you finish the program, you’ll leave with a portfolio and demo reel complete with 3D models, textures and animations to showcase your new skills.

Full-time (Day): 1 term | Part-time (Night): 2 terms Take your 3D animation skills to the next level with additional training in video game and entertainment production. The Game Art and Character Animation Certificate prepares you for a career in these exciting fields with in-depth, hands-on experience in economic modeling, texturing, animation and game engine limitations. You’ll use 3D software to create projects and assets for your demo reel and portfolio to lay the groundwork for your entry into a game studio career.

* Prerequisite: Successful completion of the 3D Animation + Interactive Media Certificate required. Also open to qualified newcomers.

3D101 Introduction:
3D Art and Design

This module plunges into the fundamental principles of three-dimensional computer-generated animation. Concepts, theory and history of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) are discussed and explored as well as both the technical and conceptual practice of Autodesk Maya’s user interface. Discussion topics include objects, hierarchy, materials, navigation, work flow, lighting, sculpting and shading.

3D201 Modeling: Mechanical

Students learn how to use Maya’s modeling tools to create mechanical objects for industrial design, advertising and prototyping projects using blueprints and reference images. Product design and 3D development are discussed through a series of lectures and exercises, with an emphasis on product modeling for objects such as vehicles.

3D301 Rendering: Intro to Lighting, Rendering, and Materials

This module deals with the importance of proper lighting and the technical skills necessary to obtain the highest quality product from your work in an efficient manner. Emphasis is placed on three-point lighting systems and the study of how light affects 3D surfaces. Students learn how to set up and adjust lighting properties to create desired effects, generate realistic shadows and simulate different types of light reflections. Through demonstration and hands-on practice, students are shown how to use lights to enhance the output quality of their images.

3D202 Modeling: Environmental

Whether you are designing architectural layouts or the next great video game dungeon, environment creation is an important part of a 3D artist’s arsenal. This module focuses on the challenges and obstacles of creating geometry and lighting for environments. Site planning and navigation are implemented into the technical pipeline as well as the placement of both natural and man-made elements including terrain, foliage, vegetation, buildings, signs and roads. The many reasons and methods for creating virtual environments are discussed, as well as their implications.

3D401 Animation: Basics Principles

This module teaches the basic principles of animation. Students learn different methods of animating the motion of synthetic objects through structured exercises including key framing and motion paths. Students are exposed to semi-automated methods for generating motion through various procedural techniques such as creating and implementing expressions and set driven keys. Students will create animations blending different techniques and principles for animation to 3D models.

3D302 Rendering: Basic Principles

This module introduces the final process of outputting and exporting 3D projects. Lectures on file management and rendering procedures are discussed as students get hands-on experience with Maya’s software render system and render viewing tools.

3D501 Intro to Editing and Postproduction

Understanding the techniques and tools of the editing software can save a lot of time and effort. In this module students piece together their final rendered shots and experience the effect that good editing, compositing, composition and transitions can have on a product. A series of demonstrations and exercises with Adobe After Effects allow the students to achieve and implement the basic theories and practices of editing and exporting for various formats such as film, television and web.

3D601 Rigging: Intro to Animation and Rigging

Before animation can begin, a model must be properly prepared. This module introduces the concept of character rigging and the importance it plays in using animation data to create motion. Students learn how to ready a model for animation by creating an internal skeletal structure and how to control their 3D model with it. Students also learn how to apply bone weighting, behavioral expressions and setup morph targets in preparation for animation.

3D402 Animation: Intro to Body Motion

In this module students run through a series of exercises to develop a better understanding and sense of timing, action, balance, body language and character animation. Topics such as line of action, emotion, exaggeration and realistic movement are discussed. Students create a series of short animations such as a walk cycles, run cycles and pose to pose actions that demonstrate clean and clear character motion.

3D602 Rigging: Bipedal Rigging

In this module students get a more in-depth and advanced lesson in creating a rig and controls for 3D animated characters. Emphasis is placed on creating functional bipedal rigs for animations, consisting of complex deformation systems with a simple control setup that can be implemented into a 3D production pipeline.

3D203 Modeling: Interior Modeling and Set Creation

This module concentrates on set design and interior architecture. Students use reference materials to create models of an interior space and the elements within it to scale. Hands-on demonstrations, exercises and lectures on modeling techniques such as nurbs and subDs with emphasis on clean geometry helps students gain a greater understanding of the set creation process. The student models will later be used to produce realistic lighting and textures that can be used for architectural visualization presentations.

3D303 Rendering: Mental Ray Rendering and Materials

This course builds a working knowledge of rendering and lighting techniques for three- dimensional models and the resulting effects of projected light sources on shade, shadow, color, texture and atmospheric effects in architecture and product illustration. Integrating and exploring Maya’s Mental Ray render system for accurate surface representation and rendering. Emphasis is placed on lighting design, analysis and simulation accuracy.

3D204 Modeling: Character Modeling I

This module introduces the concepts needed to design and model organic shapes and characters. Students will learn about anatomy and 3D sculpting. This module concentrates on the form and structure of the human face. Students learn the important role anatomy plays in modeling the 3D form. Character development is also discussed through lectures and exercises. Students create character designs and prepare their concepts for 3D modeling.

3D205 Modeling: Character Modeling II

Building on the model and material from Character Modeling I, students learn about more advanced aspects of human anatomy, character development and modeling for animation. Students continue the process of character modeling through the development of modeling the character’s body, clothing and other details that add to the character’s appeal and quality. Modeling tips and tricks of the trade are introduced to create a more efficient workflow.

3D304 Texturing: Texturing and UV Mapping

This module shows students how to apply and adjust the 3D models surface for texturing. Different methods and technologies will be examined to make two-dimensional paintings conform to a 3D surface. Through a combination of exercises and lectures students work with the concepts and tools for laying out their models in a two-dimensional form for better control of material and texture placement. Paintings and textures are then applied to the 3D models through Maya’s UV editor.

3D305 Texturing: Photoshop Texture Painting

Using the layouts created in the previous module, students learn advanced techniques for integrating Photoshop and other two-dimensional painting programs into the 3D texturing workflow. Students learn how to create digital paintings that will be attached to Maya materials and geometry. Digital painting exercises and lectures help enhance student work with emphasis on concepts for adding texture, color and detail to their 3D models.

3D603 Rigging: Advanced Techniques

In this module students learn more advanced character rigging techniques. Students build a unique character rig that fits their character’s concept and designed movement. Advanced skeletal systems such as stretch joints and quadruped structures are practiced and discussed. Iconic representation and controls that make animating quicker are discussed further as well as naming and node management in a character animation project.

3D604 Rigging: Skinning

This module continues with setting up students’ advanced character rig and controls. The skeleton system is bonded to the character model, and techniques for testing the characters deformation and rig system are explored. Advanced facial rigging, corrective blendshapes and secondary motion controls are executed. The students also get into character as audio is recorded for a future animation.

3D403 Animation: Creating Personality

In this module, art is merged with technique as students are shown the secrets of bringing characters to life with personality and creating believable motion. The importance of timing and small touches such as squash and stretch, secondary and overlap motion, moving holds, exaggeration and anticipation are added to the animation repertoire. The subtleties of facial animation to express emotion are also examined.

3D404 Animation: Facial Animation and Lip-sync

This module concentrates on the various methods for creating expressions and lip-sync animation. A series of tools, with an emphasis on morph targets and facial rig control systems, are used to allow the character to talk and show emotion. Students become acquainted with the concepts of facial animation and lip-syncing used in the entertainment industry, applying what they have learned about imparting personality to characters. Technical proficiency and accuracy creating key frames and animation curves are examined.

3D405 Animation: Advanced Techniques

Students work hands-on to create more advanced projects that show off professional aspects of animation for their demo reels. An emphasis on career direction and animation quality is explored. Further lectures, resources and tips and tricks on behavioral characteristics in animated characters, creating personality, emotion and believable content for animation are added to students’ work.

3D306 Rendering: Advanced Techniques

This module explores advanced render options and high quality render outputs for both film and print, with an emphasis on image quality. Stylistic imagery, lighting, effects and mental ray are discussed and practiced further through hands-on techniques and demos. Lectures on tips and tricks and professional practices are also provided.

3D701 3D Animation Portfolio

Using the projects and exercises from the course, students learn how to put together a professional package of their best work, consisting of a demo reel, résumé, website and other essential elements needed to document and organize their work for job placement in the 3D industry. Industry tips and tricks all well as portfolio design for specific areas of the industry are discussed.

3D901 Previsualization

This module concentrates on the preproduction of an animation project. An emphasis on research development, storyboarding, animatics, asset library creation and project management is implemented. Students work in a cooperative environment to plan and introduce themselves to project planning in an animation pipeline assignment.

3D999 Production Practicum

Practicum gives students who have completed the certificate program practical experience in working on a real-world project. Under the direction of a faculty member students will produce a media project for a nonprofit organization and learn to manage the constraints of a fixed timeframe and well-defined client deliverables. Students will gain confidence and better understand the professional expectations of the position they hold on a project. Practicum allows students to gain professional experience while refining their new skills in a real production environment.

3D801 Special Topics

3D801 Special Topics Students learn about aesthetics, history, technical trends in software, business issues and career planning in special topic presentations taught by local academics, professionals and entrepreneurs. These presentations help students place new skills in context and provide perspectives on how they might apply their skills after the program.

Topics may include:
•Principles of art and design
• Drawing from the imagination
• Concept design
• Creating simulations
• Photoshop tips
• 2D vs. 3D Animation
• Mel scripting
• Third-party plug-ins
• Building your reel
• Professional successes in 3D
• 3D Studio Max
• Other related software

3DA301 Drawing for 3D Artists and Preproduction

Throughout the course, in a series of lectures, demonstrations and exercises, students will learn about the importance of traditional art, research and development and the preproduction process. This module also introduces students to both traditional and digital art tools and techniques for creating digital images, with an emphasis on drawing for three-dimensional design and animation.

3DA302 Web and Interactive Media Sessions

Interactive media sessions throughout the program allow students to explore how 3D and Flash can be used to create dynamic, interactive web applications such as websites, ads and games. Students use their knowledge of Maya and Flash to develop multimedia projects that can be viewed and interacted with online. Maya’s Shockwave render system, action scripting, exporting and importing across applications and web publishing are discussed.

GA101 History and Development of Video Games

This module introduces students to video game development and its impact on the entertainment and animation industry. Lectures and exercises help students explore different types of games, learn how and why games do or don’t work, and the art involved in their creation. This module also introduces various methods of interactive storytelling and game play interaction.

GA102 Modeling Techniques for Games: Environment Modeling

Students use Autodesk Maya to model, texture and light virtual environments that would be suitable for gaming concepts. The module is an introduction to the challenges and obstacles of creating geometry and lighting for gaming environments. Students conclude this module with completed props and items suitable for game interaction.

GA103 Character Modeling I: Interactive Character Modeling

This module concentrates on character modeling and design for video game development while recognizing character styles and popular trends in the video game industry. Projects focus on developing higher-level skill and speed in modeling with an emphasis on implementing those assets in a game engine environment. With their character, students create turntable animations with visible wireframes showing economics of poly modeling, triangulation, normals and edge normals.

GA104 Character Modeling II: Character Modeling—LOD Creation

This module explores the advanced modeling techniques used in production, such as the level of detail method, to increase the efficiency of rendering by decreasing the workload. Other methods such as normal and displacement mapping are introduced with a series of lectures and hands-on exercises.

GA105 Character Modeling III: Character Modeling—Normal Mapping

Lectures discuss high resolution modeling techniques for gaming. Students use Autodesk Mudbox to create very detailed models and learn normal mapping to apply a high level of detail to their low resolution models for efficient and accurate game development.

GA106 Texturing I: Texturing Procedures and Limitations

Students learn how to implement various texture maps to 3D objects in game production pipeline. Training for technical accuracy and game engine limitations for creating and applying textures to game models through 3D software is experienced in a series of demonstrations and lectures.

GA107 Texturing II: Character Texturing

Learn how to texture a character model from start to finish, properly aligning UVs for character texture mapping and generating Mipmaps for lower LOD models. Tools and techniques on surface quality and image map size for all aspects of game creation will be explored.

GA108 Texturing III: Advanced Texturing Techniques

Using professional techniques, students learn how to bake textures, adding 3D scene information, bake lighting, ambient occlusion, bump, alpha channels, vertex lighting and other methods for creating high-end assets used in game creation.

GA109 Character Animation I: Game Rigging and Posing

In this module students learn rigging, deforming and posing for animating a character as well as LOD rigging, creating a game ready skeleton and skinning a game model for accurate mesh deformation. Students create character poses with prerigged characters to focus their skills of appeal and expression.

GA110 Character Animation II: Animating Bi-Pedal Characters

The module emphasizes the principles of designing and producing three-dimensional computer-generated animation through the creation of advanced motion studies. Students learn how to animate for a video game pipeline and techniques such as animation cycles—breathing, running, jumping and idling.

GA111 Character Animation III: Animating Non-Bipedal Characters

Explore the movement of non-bipedal characters and discuss advanced rigging and animating techniques for animals such as dogs, spiders and snakes. Students receive hands-on training as well as demonstrations by the instructor for various methods and professional practices to improve on and add to their animation demo reel.

GA112 Game Engine for Game Creation

Students learn the software that brings games to life as they experience and gain insight into working with an interactive multimedia tool for game development. Using a game engine editor, students build a playable level that combines their assets and knowledge of video game development.