Republic Polytechnic School of Information and Communications Technology C391 Animation and Visual Effect Automation Module Curriculum This document addresses the content related abilities, with reference to the module. Abilities of thinking, learning, problem solving, teamwork, communication, debating and defending are addressed by the system wide curricular practices at the institute. Module Description This module will provides the foundation for advanced animation construction, incorporation of and integration with external media, techniques to automate and optimize development processes. Students will learn advanced modelling, surfacing and rigging techniques such as specularity and sequenced mapping to create professional quality imagery and motion. In addition, students will be introduced to productivity and optimization techniques such as scripting and expressions. Students will also be introduced to a variety of compositing methods with advanced animation technique and special effects including controllers, effectors, dynamics, and multiple emitters. After completion of this module student will be able to produce a complete 3D production: merging 3D and Video, modeling, object animation, camera animation, animation lighting and textures. Module Assessment This module is assessed as follows: Daily Grade 50% Understanding Tests - 50 % Module Objectives: Week Key Concepts Learning Objectives Problem 1 Principles of animation and 2 physics of force and motion Theories of Motion, Timing, Squash & Stretch, Anticipation, Overshoot, Follow-through Understand the physics of force and motion in order to represent gravity, balance & weight, mass, changing speed & direction, going up and down slopes, jumping, lifting, dancing, fighting, 3 Introduction to Rigging building a skeleton for a model and attaching Focuses on traditional animation tricks to learn
("skinning") it software techniques. creating interface controls for the animator to use, as well as creating IK solvers to control limbs 4 Intermediate Rigging understanding how characters will stand, sit, or walk in relation to the camera. Poses and staging 5 6 7 8 Character animation Animation with Biped - learn several ways of creating walk cycles and lip synchs, and explores the processes of expressing acting, emotion, and dialogue through facial animation techniques, including phonemes, facial posing, sliders, basic and complex expressions, asymmetry, and reading and noting dialogue tracks. Other Characters - Creating skeletons for and animate the motions of animals that are not human, and even out of inanimate objects. And finally, animating within the restrictions of game software, including limited detail, shared animation cycles, standard game moves, and dealing with platform limitations 9 Animation Automation(Scripting) 10 3D Scripting - Introduces students to the basic concepts of scripting within a 3D application. How industry-standard scripting
techniques are incorporated in the major 3D graphics software applications and allow the artist to achieve production efficiencies through automation. Students will explore the powerful and diverse capabilities of 3D scripting. 11 12 3D Special Effects Special Effects - Developing particles systems from use in animated scenes and to enhance story points as outlined in the script or project concept. Emphasis will be placed upon how to utilize compositing to integrate particles and dynamic simulations into animated projects. In addition attention will be paid to matching particle lighting with simulated and real world lighting. 13 Motion capture Technology Effects Compositing - Introducing the industrial pipeline in integrating virtual CG scenes with real video footages, as well as various other important but unnoticed effects compositing techniques. Important elements of effects compositing with CG films or live footage will also be covered. 14 3D Post Production (Compositing a 3D rendered object into Video) Effects Compositing - Introducing the industrial pipeline in integrating virtual CG scenes with real video footages, as well as various other important but unnoticed effects compositing techniques. Important elements of effects compositing with CG films or live footage will
also be covered. 15 Advance Rendering Techniques Advance Rendering Techniques: Building a working knowledge of rendering and lighting techniques for threedimensional models and the resulting effects of projected light sources on shade, shadow, color, texture and atmospheric effects in architecture and product illustration. Integrating and exploring Maya s Mental Ray render system for accurate surface representation and rendering. Emphasis is placed on lighting design, analysis and simulation accuracy
Module Syllabus: Contrast the effectiveness of the scripting and programming languages common to 3D animation automation. Apply a systems approach in structured programming to automate 3D modeling and animation. Animate cameras and lighting through the use of scripted controls. Conceive and implement a database to control 3D animation production assets. Visual effects (VFX) - incorporate fog, smoke, fire, water, atmospheres, weather and explosions into your animation Motion capture technology working with motion capture assisted animation Module Coverage Principles of animation and physics of force and motion Introduction to Discussions in Study Cluster Allocated time per day (One day-one problem PBL pedagogy) Resource gathering and team work Formal Lab Experiment 4 4 4 2 2 2 Rigging Intermediate Rigging 2 2 2 Character animation 8 8 8 Animation Automation(Scripting) 4 4 4 3D Special Effects 4 4 4 Motion capture Technology 4 2 3D Post Production 2 2 2 Advance Rendering Techniques 2 2 2 Total = 15 Problems = 90 hours 32 30 28