Animation Coursework
The 2D Animation Program concentrates on traditional drawing skills to create perspective and character, with the computer taking a secondary production role. In the 3D Animation Program, computers take center stage. While you'll still be drawing your characters and scene, your pen will actually be a stylus, mouse and keyboard.
Animation Core – 27 Credits
Sample Course - Creative Visualization
The emphasis of this course is on developing imaginative concepts, using the language of film and animation through the storyboard process. Students illustrate animated story ideas, focusing on expressive character development, layout and set design. At the conclusion of this course, students will be capable of using the storyboard process to write animated story ideas, utilizing elements of composition, camera angles, continuity, character and motion dynamics.
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2D Animation: 24 Credits
Sample Course – Stop Motion Animation
Using clay figures or wire armature puppets, students will explore the world of stop motion animation in this senior-level filmmaking course. Application of fundamental animation principles in a stop motion setting is emphasized, along with expression of personality through movement. Students will analyze outstanding examples of stop motion animation, and will gain experience with techniques and concepts for lighting dimensional characters and sets. Green screen shooting, lip sync animation, and post-production techniques such as keying and tracking will also be a part of this class. At the conclusion of this course, students will have built a puppet suitable for animation, created a simple set for shooting their puppet and completed a short stop motion film.
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3D Animation: 24 Credits
Sample Course – Advanced Dynamics + SFX
Explosions, waterfalls, and flocking birds are just a few of the effects students will learn to create using 3D dynamics and special effects. Harnessing the power of physics and mathematics to control the creation and motion of particles, students will learn to simulate and recreate forces of nature. Once the motion is created, light, color, and texture are applied through software and hardware rendering. These effects are then rendered and combined to create state-of-the-art digital effects composites. At the conclusion of this course students are able to manipulate forces, light, particles, materials, cloth, hair and fluids to solve visual problems in SFX.
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Studio Electives: 6 Credits
Sample Course - Advanced Character Animation + Motion Studies
In this senior-level course, students will further develop their skills, insights,
and knowledge of character animation through more advanced assignments.
Studies will involve animal movement such as advanced
bipedal walks, runs and other forms of locomotion. Quadruped motion
will be covered, as well as aviary flight. More emphasis will be
placed on acting and performance, with dialogue or lip-sync, combined
with characters in a specific activity or conflict. Students may
be directed to environmental motion studies such as wind, water, fire,
smoke, etc. At the conclusion of this course, students will have completed
a series of animation exercises, which will be presented as a
collection of finished, animation pencil tests.
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