3D Animation

3D Animation

About

3D animation

Plan of Study: 2019-20 Plan of Study

 

The 3D Animation concentration gives students experience in all aspects of 3D animation production: modeling, lighting, rendering, animation, simulations and visualizations, rigging and compositing for visual effects. Our courses focus on the core principles of 3D animation, which then can be applied to any industry standard application. Acknowledging that the field of 3D animation is broad and diverse, our students gain comprehensive knowledge of 3D animation production, and in addition, have the ability to customize their education to focus on their personal area of interest.

All courses focus on experiential learning through personal and group projects employing problem-solving methods, critical thinking, and analysis, research and reflection. Facilities include a brand new 688 ft Motion Capture studio, render farm and high-powered Cintiq computer lab.

Potential Career paths:

  • 3D Generalist
  • Medical/Scientific Visualization
  • Pre-Visualization for Film and TV
  • Character Modeler
  • Environment Artist
  • Character Animator
  • Effects TD
  • Visual Effects Compositor
  • Texture Painter
  • Lighter / Lighting TD
  • Hard Surface Modeler
  • Animation Producer
  • VFX Editor
  • Shading TD
  • Virtual Cinematographer
  • Visual Effects Artist

Curriculum

3D Motion I

DMD 2230

Introduction to techniques of 3D motion such as modeling, lighting and texturing 3D forms; keyframes and keyframe interpolations; and motion graphics effectors and simulations.

3D Animation I

DMD 2300

Introduction to 3D Animation techniques including key framing, curve editing, timing, squash and stretch, walk cycles, and the 12 principles of animation.

3D Modeling I

DMD 2310

Introduction to creating polygonal 3D models using industry standard modeling tools, focusing on geometry construction based on reference images, edge flow, clean topology, and polygon density.

3D Lighting & Rendering I

DMD 2320

Introduction to dramatic lighting, 3-point lighting, shadows, materials, procedural textures, bump maps, displacement maps, ambient occlusion, ray tracing, and global illumination.

3D Animation II

DMD 3300

Continuation of the core animation principles to explore advanced animation techniques including character animation, deformations, and non-linear animation.

History of Computer Graphics

DMD 3305

The history of computer-generated imagery (CG) from its beginnings to the present.

3D Modeling, Lighting and Rendering II

DMD 3310

Instruction and guidance in the techniques and critical understanding of modeling, including texturing the model, lighting, and rendering in animation specific to a 3D environment.

3D Simulations

DMD 3350

Offers students an intermediate understanding of the art and science of creating physical simulations, using particle systems and collision detection. Creation of complicated rendering and compositing setups that make animations both easier to render and more flexible within the bounds of any animation or VFX sequence.

3D Rigging

DMD 4310

Concepts of rigging, with emphasis on animated props and characters. Techniques for using and creating bones, constraints, skeletons, skinning and weight painting.

Advanced Compositing for Visual Effects

DMD 4340

Takes the students further into the art of visual effects, combining computer generated animation together and with live action footage.

Advanced 3D Research and Production

DMD 4350

Explores, develops and evaluates the research and skills in 3D animation production, focusing on each student’s own path of study.