3D Animation and Character Design Ontario College Graduate Certificate
ObjectivesThis graduate certificate program will build upon the students' prior technical knowledge. Successful graduates of the program will learn every skill used in the creation of 3D animated characters and animated short films including: life drawing and storyboarding, 3D modeling and animation, shaders, texture mapping and lighting, character design, video editing and audio effects. Concept development, team work, strategic planning, and project management will be integral components of the program.
Academic title3D Animation and Character Design Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Course descriptionLevel 1 Credits
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
MMED-6010 Life Drawing & Character Studies 3.00
MMED-6011 Modeling Foundation 3.00
MMED-6012 Animation for Characters-Intro 3.00
MMED-6013 Motion Capture 1 3.00
MMED-6014 Texture, Lighting & Rendering 1 3.00
Level 2 Credits
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
MMED-6015 Anatomy & Character Study 3.00
MMED-6016 Modeling-Adv 3.00
MMED-6017 Animation for Characters 2 3.00
MMED-6018 Project Development Thesis 3.00
MMED-6019 Digital Character Project/Thesis 3.00
MMED-6010 - Life Drawing & Character Studies
In this course students will be introduced to thefundamentals of life drawing and the human form. Avariety of techniques will be covered in class.Emphasis will be placed on the technical side oflife drawing with the goal of understandingcomposition, proportion and structure.Observational drawing techniques will includeline, gesture, contour, shape, form, perspectiveand colour. In addition to traditional drawingtechniques, students will analyze and explorecurrent trends in the industry with relation todigital character creation and design.
MMED-6011 - Modeling Foundation
In this class students will explore the basicfoundation principles of 3D modeling. Studentswill learn about 3D geometry including design ofwireframe characters. This course will alsoaddress various modeling techniques and how theyrelate to different applications such as digitalcharacters, video game architecture, etc.
MMED-6012 - Animation for Characters-Intro
In this class students will explore the basicfoundation principles of 2D and 3D animation andmovement. Animation topics will include stretchand squash, action, anticipation, timing andmotion, exaggeration, etc. Students will utilizetheir life drawing expertise by adding realisticmotion and emotion to digital characters.Traditional and digital techniques will beexplored.
MMED-6013 - Motion Capture 1
In this course, students will be introduced to amotion capture set-up, specifically the VICON 8camera system. Students will learn the basics ofthe system including: the software initialization,(IQ & Blade), camera installation and calibration,proper suit and marker placement. Theoretical andhistorical issues will be discussed in classincluding motion capture for gaming, military,film, medical and educational applications.
MMED-6014 - Texture, Lighting & Rendering 1
This course will concentrate on using 3D Maxcombined with Photoshop, to introduce theessential elements and concepts for 3D texturing,lighting and rendering. The goal of this course isto have students understand the core principles oflighting theory and texture design with the endproduct of simulating realistic characters andenvironments.
MMED-6015 - Anatomy & Character Study
This course will build on the foundation of LifeDrawing & Character Study 1 (LDCS1). Emphasis willbe on developing technical ability. Humanmovement, expression, point of view, costume,emotion and acting fundamentals will also beaddressed.
MMED-6016 - Modeling-Adv
This class will be a continuation of the 3Dtheories and principles learned in the previousclass Modeling Foundation 1 (MF1). Students willstrengthen their modeling animation skills withthe addition of learning facial expression,lip-sync & dialogue techniques. Projects willinclude basic animation of objects and charactersto detailed character animations.
MMED-6017 - Animation for Characters 2
In this course students will use 3D Max to set upa technical rig for a 3D character. Variousoptions and tools will be discussed in class. Thegoal will be to create realistic, effective andintuitive movement and manageable control systemsfor humanoid, organic, in-organic and bi-pedalcharacters. Students will explore building andrigging a character from scratch, using bones,forward & inverse kinematics, the graph editor,constraints, etc.
MMED-6018 - Project Development Thesis
This class will focus on planning the finalportfolio project. It will be integrated withDigital Character Thesis. Emphasis will be on theplanning for the production pipeline. Thisincludes concept pitch, storyboard, 3D - CGI tofinal output.
MMED-6019 - Digital Character Project/Thesis
In this class students will propose and worktowards a final portfolio thesis project. Emphasiswill be placed on planning the project fromconcept through to final completion. A final demoreel, output to various media (DVD, web, VHS etc.)including full audio soundtrack, will be the endgoal.