Course Catalog

This course introduces the mechanics of animation and explores foundational principles of motion using hand drawn techniques. Techniques such as pose to pose planning, inbetweening, timing and spacing, and classic actions are covered.

This course explores design, movement, and mechanics of full body animation while incorporating personality and attitude.

This course will cover the basics of creating and manipulating 3D assets using industry standard tools. The course is an introduction to basic modeling, rigging, animating, texturing, lighting, and rendering. It is designed to prepare students for further exposure to 3D work in Animation, visual effects, and motion design.

This course is constructed to give animation and film students the ability to effectively communicate ideas in a preproduction setting. Presentation quality and clarity are emphasized. The course will also cover traditional and experimental plot and structure issues.

This course focuses on the fundamentals of animation through the exploration of body attitudes, classic actions, and facial expressions. The course will give students a better sense of what is needed to communicate thought and emotion.

This course furthers the animation student's skills with the addition of dialog based performances. The course seeks to combine the principles of facial expression and dialogue timing to create believable characters.

This course develops the creative process through the designing of characters, environments, and props for animation or film production. Students will learn to research and observe as well as explore various approaches in visual concept development using traditional and digital tools.

This course teaches students the process of designing characters through the development of personas, character packs, modeling, texturing, and rigging. Character development includes extensive research, drawing matrices of character elements, settings, and accessories. Special emphasis will be placed on modeling for effective body and facial rigging for animation.

This course deals with product modeling which describes most mechanical or generally non-deformable objects. This course will cover all surface types, their uses, and a complete understanding of modeling and the relationship between geometry, shading, and lighting technologies.

This course focuses on the tools required to create production ready environments. Students will explore the process of environmental design and develop techniques to build original environments in CG. Topics include lighting and rendering methods, texture creation, matte painting, and shader creation.

This course is designed to be an access point to a broad variety of subjects in animation. May be repeated with permission.

Professional work experience in an animation production environment for a minimum of 100 clock hours per credit hour with supervisor evaluation. This experience can come from customary employment in the field or significant non-coursework projects in the visual arts. Must be approved by a faculty adviser in the program. Students will maintain a log sheet and samples of work. May be repeated.

This course involves individual or group work adjusted to meet particular needs in Animation. Content is chosen by the faculty adviser and the student. May be repeated.

Motion design incorporates the fundamentals of design and animation principles with dynamic visual storytelling. This course explores the creative and technical aspects of the form, enabling students to use flat or dimensional graphics in the areas of animation, film, graphic design, and the fine arts.

In this course students work together as a team to create a finished animation production. Students are encouraged to work in roles that will help them generate portfolio material in line with their career goals. Issues in effective project management, personal discipline, and working together are explored.

In this course students work together as a team to create a finished animation production. Students are encouraged to work in roles that will help them generate portfolio material in line with their career goals. Issues in effective project management, personal discipline, and working together are explored.

Procedural animation for effects focuses on creating and rendering dynamic non-character movements such as cloth, hair, particles systems, and fluid simulations. This course also covers concepts in node-based shader networks and introductory embedded scripting.

Node-based compositing for live action and animated films enhances source material via time based image manipulation. Concepts in tracking, retouching, color correction, stabilization, keying, layering, and effects generation are addressed.

In this course students will refine their motion design practice through research, presentation, and portfolio development. Visual elements from traditional media, computer generated imagery, and filmed elements will be explored. Students with an emphasis in graphic design will explore 3D animation, particle systems, and information visualization. Students with an emphasis in animation or illustration will learn techniques to bring their characters and illustrations to life.

In this course final year students will have the opportunity to produce a significant project needed to complete their portfolio. Class time features structured labs, regular presentations, professor/student meetings, and group discussions concerning each students work.