PROGRAMS
Computer Animation Courses 1
3D FOUNDATIONS
The 3D Foundations Course familiarizes students with the fundamentals of creating 2D and 3D computer graphics using Alias Maya and Adobe Photoshop. Students learn the interface and controls of both programs as they learn basic animation skills that prepare them for the more advanced courses later in the Computer Animation Associate of Science Degree Program.
ANIMATION PREPRODUCTION
The Animation Preproduction Course develops students’ ability to plan, coordinate, and execute a game or feature film idea. Working from a preconceived story line, students design characters, environments, and camera action. Successful completion of this course arms students with the knowledge of how to develop ideas into production blueprints.
ART CREATION FOR GAMES
The Art Creation for Games Course provides students with a strong knowledge of the way real time 3D content is modeled and textured. Students develop gaming models of props, vehicles, and characters while studying various environment and game levels. Once completed, students learn how to light their assets and export them, allowing game developers to implement them into a video game.
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
The Behavioral Science Course is designed to introduce students to the psychology of self-evaluation, self-motivation, self-awareness, and self-focus. This course provides proven methods in adapting to new environments and reducing anxiety. Students are also introduced to techniques of time management, organizational skills, active listening, and producing effective presentations.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
This course iis designed to give our students a head start towards getting ‘a foot-in-the-door’ of the industry. The course introduces professional practices for finding and maintaining employment in the entertainment industry. Topics include resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills, networking, industry events, time management, and other aspects of a professional approach to career management.
CHARACTER ANIMATION
The Character Animation Course develops students’ skills in character animation, knowledge of character motion and emotion, while demonstrating how an animator can express and imply emotion through motion. Students gain valuable insight into methods of designing characters that meet animators’ required movements. This class also expands students’ ability to read and understand body language, thereby sharpening all of the skills and techniques necessary to effectively tell a story through visuals. This course works in conjunction with the Character Design and Creation and Character Rigging courses to help students develop the skills necessary to create characters ready for motion animation.
CHARACTER DESIGN AND CREATION
The Character Design and Creation Course builds on the concepts introduced in the Model Creation course. In this course, students develop their modeling skills while learning to utilize software modeling tools to build organic character models. Students then learn how to deform those models to follow the motion prescribed by storyboards and character actions.
