Course catalogue

Work on a career focused project suitable for professional presentation under the guidance of your instructor. You will determine the focus of your project, and in consultation with you instructor, establish a schedule for individual meetings and deliverables to stay on track and produce a strong portfolio worthy project.

Work on a career focused project suitable for professional presentation under the guidance of your instructor. You will determine the focus of your project, and in consultation with you instructor, establish a schedule for individual meetings and deliverables to stay on track and produce a strong portfolio worthy project.

Learn the fundamentals of After Effects and how to create simple animation techniques using the software. You will be introduced to the basic interface, and gain an understanding of how to create compositions, import assets, in addition to learning compositing and colour grading principles. You will also learn basic motion graphics techniques by animating shapes and text, and how to create movement and keyframes alongside an audio track. Work on several small projects that teach both technical and creative aspects of the software that demonstrates suitable use of animated motion to support narrative goals. Projects will be critiqued for technical understanding and creativity.

You will examine professional issues and responsibilities you may face in your animation practice, including creating a curriculum vitae and portfolio, grant writing and project budgeting, and pitch packages. You will also discuss festival submissions, contracts, and concerns associated with starting an artistic practice in animation. Project selection and component deadlines are mostly student directed.   
All course work will be considered as first draft components for the capstone project for either the 2D or 3D Animation Certificate Programs. 
 

Learn the basics of digital video production as you work through the full cycle from preproduction to postproduction and delivery. You will work in a team to create a short video production, addressing all aspects including cinematography, lighting, sound, music, editing and visual storytelling in a specific genre. Understand the various roles and responsibilities as you become producers, director, writers, production managers and production crew. And discuss rights and legal issues; budgeting and scheduling and how to work with acting talent and documentary subjects.

You will use advanced tools to help you create 3D animated scenes with a focus on character and animated storytelling. Learn advance modeling techniques, advanced rigging tools, 3D effects and simulation tools, advanced lighting and materials, and how to export render layers for compositing software. Animate scenes using more complex character rigs proved for you, including a single character monologue and a two-character interaction both using dialogue audio. Learn steps professional animators use to build their animation from blocking to polish as you discover how to create lip sync and depict emotion in a scene. Work on several projects to be critiqued by the instructor and your peers.

Focus on building a strong set of drawings to include in your portfolio for submission to AUArts or any other visual arts institution. Your instructor will guide you through a series of drawings including still life, landscape, the human figure, self-portraiture, and collage – all aimed at increasing your observational drawing skills. In addition to weekly critiques of your work, you will also discuss how to select work to include in your portfolio, write an essay, and learn how to effectively document and upload your work as part of the online application to AUArts. Please see your course supply list online. Be sure to come prepared for the first class.

Translate your idea or script into moving visuals through storyboarding. You will consider frame composition, camera moves and angles, character blocking, and layout drawings. Discover the full potential of storyboarding through completion of an animatic to evaluate the flow of your narrative and sound design. Projects are student directed, you will work on an original idea or adapt an existing source. Individual and group critiques provide feedback and guidance.

Learn the all the details of contracts and how to use them to conduct good business. Discuss different types of contracts and when to use them in addition to understanding key roles and responsibilities in contract management, administration, procurement, and negotiation basics.

Production Designers help tell visual stories through visual exploration, research and by working closely with the Director to create the overall look of a production. Focus on the creative aspects of visual production development for animation as it applies to short form projects, feature films, television, and gaming. Project selection is mostly student directed, you chose to develop an original idea or work on adapting an existing source. Individual and group critiques provide feedback and guidance.