3D Animation

Credit: .5
Course Preface
Core Code:
Printable Version: 3D Animation (pdf)

Course Description
3D Animation is a one semester using 3D graphics software to produce 3D models and animations. This course will introduce students to 2D and 3D, animation planning, storyboard development, and the animation process.

Core Standards of the Course

Standard 01
Students will identify the applications of 3D graphics and animation through exploring the career opportunities and the relevant history of the industry.

• Entertainment
• Health Sciences
• Architecture and Engineering
• Aerospace
• Advertising

• Identify personal interests and abilities related to 3D Graphics careers
• Identify personal creative talents
• Identify organizational and leadership skills
• Identify special interest areas
• Identify 3D graphics and animation job titles, such as: Animator, Technical Director, Rigger, 3D Modeler, Lighter, Texture Artist, Special Effects
• Investigate career opportunities, trends, and requirements related to 3D graphics and animation careers
• Identify the members of a 3D graphics and animation team
• Investigate trends associated with 3D graphics and animation careers
• Develop a realistic Student Education Occupation Plan (SEOP) to help guide further educational pursuits
• Identify factors for employability and advancement in 3D careers
• Survey existing 3D graphics and animation businesses to determine what training is required
• Survey universities and colleges to determine programs, degrees and training availability
• Develop employability competencies/characteristics: responsibility, dependability, ethics, respect, and cooperation
• Achieve high standards of personal performance with a positive work ethic and attitude

• Early 2D animations on film
• Key mile markers in animation
• Key figures and animators in animation history

Standard 02
Students will create a basic 3D model as an introduction to the 3D development process. (Covered in 3D Modeling)

Standard 03
Students will model 3D objects. (Covered in 3D Modeling)

Standard 04
Students will apply surface materials to 3D models. (Covered in 3D Modeling)

Standard 05
Students will apply lighting and camera techniques to achieve intended effects.

• Basic three point lighting for artistic effect: key, fill, rim
• Other realistic lighting: indoor, outdoor, mood, artistic, etc.
• 3D specific lighting sources
• Global/Image Based
• Directional
• Spot Lights
• Shadows/Shading
• Point Light

• Aspect Ratio/Film Back
• Setting and modifying camera views
• Staging and Manipulating
• Truck
• Pan
• Zoom
• Dolly

Standard 06
Students will animate 3D models.

• Frame Rate
• Keyframing
• Path Animation
• Cycle Animation
• Pivot/Origin Points
• Forward Kinematics Inverse Kinematics (FKIK) Constraints
• Editing Timeline
• Rigging

• Particle Systems
• Environmental Simulation: Wind, Gravity, Time
• Other software specific effects.

• Concept drawing
• Character Appeal
• Anticipation: Action/Reaction
• Exaggeration
• Squash and Stretch
• Timing/Spacing
• “Straight Ahead” and “Pose to Pose”: Keyframes, In betweens, Break downs
• Staging: How to set up a scene, Camera placement, How to tell the story
• Overlap, drag and follow through
• Arcs
• Slow in, Slow out
• Secondary Actions: Things happening on peripherals

Standard 07
Students will render 3D models. (Covered in 3D Modeling)

Standard 08
Students will demonstrate the process of creating 3D animation.

• Project Brief
• Story
• Script writing
• Style
• Story Conceptualization
• Character, Set and Prop Design: Genre, Color/Value, Mood (light), Clothing, Vehicles, Architecture
• Storyboards
• Dialog Recording
• Animatic/Story Reel
• Scene Blocking
• Modeling
• Rigging
• Mapping/Texturing
• Lighting
• Animating
• Rendering
• Effects
• Compositing