3D Graphics and Animation Program Curriculum

Courses in the 3D Graphics and Animation Program use Autodesk’s MAYA as the primary software application for training.

Year 1

FA1420. Digital Animation Foundations: Intro to 3D.

A lecture/lab course that explores the foundations of creating digital 3D content. Primary focus is an introduction to current 3D software. Class lectures, demonstrations and hands-on application will expose the student to the expectations for commercial high-end 3D animation production.

Note: Because of the requirement for special high-end equipment and technology a $400 lab fee is required. Acceptance to the College of Arts and Media Digital Animation Center (DAC) beginning in year 2 of the program is competitive and will be by CAM faculty review at the end of year 1. A total of 28 students will be selected for continuation in the DAC.

FA1425. Digital Animation Foundations: Preproduction.

A lecture/lab course that explores the theory, practices and fundamentals of the 3D animation preproduction/previsualization process. Students will explore the foundations of the animation process including the production pipeline, studio organization, traditional animation techniques, foundational cinematography, storyboarding and character development.

Year 2

FA2710. Digital Animation Techniques: Surface Modeling.

A lecture/lab course focused on mastery of creating surface models for digital 3D content. Students will develop skills/knowledge about the processes and techniques for building complex 3D objects with an emphasis on artistic excellence through application of current 3D technologies.

FA2720. Digital Animation Techniques: Surface Properties.

A lecture/lab course focused on mastery of creating surface textures/materials for digital 3D content. Students will develop skills/knowledge about the processes and techniques for creating realistic 3D textures/materials with an emphasis on artistic excellence through application of current 3D technologies.

FA2730. Digital Animation Techniques: Lighting

A lecture/lab course focused on mastery of lighting the digital 3D environment. Students will develop skills/knowledge about the processes and techniques for creating realistic 3D lighting/lighting effects with an emphasis on artistic excellence through application of current 3D technologies.

FA2740. Digital Animation Techniques: Character Animation.

A lecture/lab course focused on mastery of skills for creating digital 3D characters. Students will develop skills/knowledge to shape, mold, transform/articulate, deform digital 3D shapes creating digital characters with an emphasis on artistic excellence through application of current 3D technologies.

Year 3

FA3429. Digital Animation Studio: Set/Environment Production

A mid-program capstone studio course focused on developing a project from preproduction through final product using a standard production pipeline model within a collaborative work environment. Students will design and create high-production value CG set/environment utilizing current 3D technologies.

FA3431. Digital Animation Technique: Character Animation

A lecture/lab course focused on mastery of skills for animating digital 3D objects/characters. Students explore the processes/techniques of key frame/pose-to-pose animating considering character performance, thought, constraints and velocity with an emphasis on artistic excellence through application of current 3D technologies.

FA3433. Digital Animation Techniques: Rigging

A lecture/lab course focused on mastery of skills for rigging and animating digital 3D objects/characters. Students explore the processes/techniques of animation rigging, its relationship to the skeletal/muscular systems, articulated joints for manipulating character bones, muscle deformations, clothes, and facial features.

FA3436. Digital Animation Technique Dynamic Simulation

A lecture/lab course exploring the theory/techniques of dynamic and particle simulations for 3D content. Students explore how to develop effects, (smoke, fire, steam, explosions) and dynamics materials (cloth), with an emphasis on artistic excellence through application of current 3D technologies.

Year 4

FA4460. Digital Animation Studio: Animation Production I

This year-long capstone course series occurs in an internal DAC production studio environment. Working as a team, students assume key management and production roles to organize, produce and complete a high-production value animated short within a real-world production pipeline.

FA4465. Digital Animation Studio: Animation Production II

The continuation of the two-course capstone production experience preparing DAC students for their animation career. Students will work in a one-on-one mentorship environment focused on the development of a “Demo Reel” used for self-promotion and for their BFA thesis presentation.