COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course present a focused study of advanced 3D character and non-character animation mainly using Maya as our platform, although 2D animation is also supported. As is ART4940 students are allowed to use provided pre-rigged characters, or create their own. Similar to the 4940 class, students are expected to complete animation specific assignments on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. In this class, however, the assignments are both more challenging and conceptually based. Students are expected to already posses a foundational strength in locomotion and timing and principles of 2D and 3D animation. In this class, the student will not only be challenged and pushed further in their skill and ability in the techniques of animation, they will be expected to give highly creative, expressive and unique solutions to assignments. The solutions students create and the effectiveness of their communication as animation is the center of their success in this class

New tools, techniques, efficient ways of creating high-quality animated content, will be given in the form of lectures demonstration and illustrations on this web site. Examples of professional work, and sample of successful animated pieces from all over the world will be shown on a regular basis.

Tutorials and demonstrations may come in the for of short demos and divulging of tips and workflows, including an extensive array of tools and uses. blend-shape creation for facial animation, animating various attributes, set driven keys, FX animation, writing scripts and expressions.

After this class is successfully completed, the student will be technically and conceptually prepared to begin the Capstone Animation process, where they will have the ability to create their own character or content into the short-film story process or be prepared for the thesis level work.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

Class lectures, in-class assignments, and project related demonstrations will be provided from original or researched content. Supplemental homework assignments, specific tutorials from published sources will be given. Most of these assignments are, of course, to be done exclusively outside the hours of class time.

The expectation is aproximately 8 hours per week working outside of class on project assignments and homework. Lab hours will be posted.
There are numerous books and online tutorials on 3D and classic animation. I have listed recommendations of texts and URLs for further study. I will also distribute, handouts, images, and other reference materials to supplement your studies.

GRADING and ASSIGNMENTS

Attendance %20

Projects #1-4 %30

Projects #5-7 %50

Midterm and Final Compliations are required

Missing more than 5 classes, consecutively or not, is an AUTOMATIC FAILURE.

PREREQUISITES

ART 4940, 3D Animation

(login CSULA account first)

UNIVERSITY POLICY

Information on student rights and responsibilities, academic honesty, standards of conduct, etc., can be found in Schedule of Classes (http://www.calstatela.edu/classschedule/) under Policies and Procedures.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Reasonable accommodation will be provided to any student who is registered with the Office of Students with Disabilities and requests needed accommodation.

Any student with any learning disabilities (i.e., reading, speaking, and/or writing impediments) that might affect his/her performance in this class is encouraged to notify me in writing at the beginning of the SEMESTER identifying the specific nature of such disability.

dropbox instructions

Maya Tutorials on LYNDA.COM

EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

Demonstrate knowledge and proficiency at timing, weight, and locomotion of lifelike animated content.-Create a high-quality, expressive, short animated projects, ready for broadcast, the web or short presentation. Have a deep understanding of essential animation concepts and appreciation of the underpinnings of the craft and art form through exposure to historical and contemporary examples; which will broaden their experience, thus, approach to the animated form.

RECOMMENDED TEXTS

Timing for Animation, by Harold Whitaker and John Halas, Focal Press ISBN 0-240-51714-8

-The Illusion of Life, Disney Animation Walt Disney Productions ISBN 0-7868-6070-7

-The Animator’s Reference Book , Les Pardew & Ross WolfleyThompson Course Technology, USBN 1-59200-675-2

-The Animators Survival Kit, by Richard Williams, Faber, ISBN 0-571-20228-4

-Cartoon Animation, by Preston Blair, Walter Foster, ISBN 1-56010-084-2

-Understanding Comics, Scott McCould, ISBN 0-06-097625-X

-Character Animation in 3D, Steve Roberts, Focal Press Visual Effects and Animation ISBN 0-240-51665-6

REQUIRED SUPPLIES

4 Gig Flash Drive

100-200 Gig External Drive

10x14" Sketchbook

Drawing supplies, pencils, pens

dry erase markers

small mirror

Welcome, Professor Intro

animation production flowchart

Ovelmen at Klasky Cuspo

Ovelmen on VIMEO

Character Animation Refresher

Intro PROJECT#1 Olympic Action (8sec) Due wk2, 7pts

student examples

Basic Concepts of Skeleton Control

Skeletons and Skinning,Kinematics, Joints and Bones, IK solvers, Pole Vectors

ZOOTOPIA: character study

-creating expressions, create a Reverse Foot Lock, IK/FK switching

acting flowchart

 

DUE: PROJECT#1 Olympic Action (8sec)

critique

Intro PROJECT#2 Futility (15sec) Due wk6, 7pts

student examples

3D-RIG CHOICES

 

 

 

Basic Kinetics in CGI

Utility Nodes, Squash and Stretch Expressions, MEL scripting a sample setup, Facial Blend-shapes, Wrap Deformers, Expressions for a Flapping Wing, Set Driven Keys

dive, lift_2D, lift_3D, pull, push, animating a lift

ZOOTOPIA: character study

Rigid and Smooth Binds

Skeletons and Skinning, Kinematics, Joints and Bones, IK solvers, Painting Weights

TIPS

 

CONTINUE TO WORK ON PROJECT#1The Loser

IK and FK, joint orientation, joint axes

Joints and Bones, IK solvers, Pole Vectors

animator roundtable

Continued Rigging Study:

-creating expressions, create a Reverse Foot Lock, IK/FK switching

acting flowchart

 

 

DUE: PROJECT#2 The Loser (15sec)

critique

Intro PROJECT#3 A True Sacrifice (15sec) Due wk4, 8pts

This project's subject is new to this semester, there are no past student examples yet.

3D-RIG CHOICES , 2D CHOICES

 

 

TRAX

good basic intro to TRAX

creating Character Sets in TRAX

ANIMATIONS relating to class topics.

RATATOUILLE Progession Reel

TANGLED blocking, animation polishing (Kyle Balda)

Walk Cycle Refresher

angry walk, cool walk, depressed walk, dreamy walk, happy walk, macho walk, run, run_away, run_toward, skip, sneak, tip toe

 

CONTINUE TO WORK ON PROJECT#3 Futility

DREAMWORKS

studio pipeline

Continued Rigging Study

creating expressions, create a Reverse Foot Lock, IK/FK switching

acting flowchart

 

 

DUE: PROJECT#3 FUTILITY (15sec)

critique

Intro PROJECT#4 Time's Arrow (15sec) Due wk8, 8pts

student examples

3D-RIG CHOICES , 2D CHOICES

 

 

RIGGING DEMO (for those interested)

BUILDING AND RIGGING A SIMPLE CHARACTER by creating the Skeleton first, and using Sud-div to "grow" out the body. The Convert to Polys. SMOOTH BIND to Skeleton, and Look At weighting issues.

Emphasize the Difference between Rigid and Smooth Binds

Utility Nodes, Squash and Stretch Expressions, MEL scripting a sample setup, Facial Blend-shapes, Wrap Deformers, Expressions for a Flapping Wing, Set Driven Keys

Skeletons and Skinning, Kinematics, Joints and Bones, IK solvers,

 

 

 

CONTINUE TO WORK ON PROJECT#4 Time's Arrow

 

RIGGING STUDY

-creating expressions, create a Reverse Foot Lock, IK/FK switching

acting flowchart

 

DUE: PROJECT#4 TIME'S ARROW (15sec)

MIDTERM COMPILATION is DUE (Proj.s 1-4)

(1)Olypmic Action, (2)The Loser, (3)Futility, and (4)Time's Arrow

-upload a QT MOV compilation of1-4 edited one after another)

-put project title each before it plays with 3 seconds of black between each.

-List credits for any pre-rigs that you have at end

critique

INTRO PROJECT#5 Deus Ex Machina (15sec) Due wk10, 15pts

-this project's subject is new to this semester, so there are no past student examples yet.

3D-RIG CHOICES , 2D CHOICES

RIGGING DEMO continued (specific topics)

create a Reverse Foot Lock

IK/FK switching

Demo Reel TIPS:

what to put on a TD reel

creating blend shapes

sample rigging reels: HsuangWei-Liang

 

CONTINUE TO WORK ON PROJECT#5 DEUS EX MACHINA

DANCING INSPIRE

SING "Shake it Off", Auditions

"Thought of You","Duet" GLEN KEANE

DUMBO "Pink Elephants on Parade"

SILLY SYMPHONIES: "The Skeleton Dance"

CHICO and RITA excerpts

Billy Jean, MJ-dance

TIPS

DUE: PROJECT #5 GRACE UNDER PRESSURE (15sec)

critique

INTRO PROJECT#6 DANCING (25 sec) Due wk12

student examples

3D-RIG CHOICES , 2D CHOICES

PIXAR

Inside Out, Making Of

CONTINUE TO WORK ON PROJECT#6 DANCING

INTRO TO FACIAL ANIMATION and ACTING

· if you have a character with a facial rig already set-up, or even if you don't, you can convey emotion through a character's body language and timing. Animate a pre-rigged character in an emotional event: rage, disappointment, happiness, boredom, etc. Use any combination of FK or IK whatever suits your situation best. make sure you Animation is at least 15 seconds.

Creature Comforts

What is Art?, Zoo Interview, Being a Bird

Animation Mentor

Toad/Frog/Lobster , Erroneous, ooops, water shortage, Generi hates Beets, Feelings Not Important, Tangled BLOCKING, ANIMATION-POLISHING, ACTING-TUTORIAL(Kyle Balda)

Other

the truth, FartyAndBloated, the Argument Clinic

Vocal Emphasis

I have nothing to say_v1, I have nothing to say_v2, I have nothing to say_v3

DUE: PROJECT#6 DANCING (25sec)

PROJECT #7 THE ARGUMENT (25sec) Due wk15

student examples

critique

CONTINUE TO WORK ON PROJECT#7 The Argument

CONTINUE TO WORK ON PROJECT#7 The Argument

DUE: PROJECT#7 The Argument (25 sec)

critique

work on improvements to all animations and Final Compilation

FINAL COMPILATION (Proj.s 5-7) is DUE

PROJECTS #5-7 (5) GRACE UNDER PRESSURE, (6) DANCING, (7) The ARGUMENT

upload a Final QUICKTIME MOV including projects 5-7 edited one after another.

Give project title each before it plays with 3 seconds of black between.