Term 1 Course Description

 

Team Building 

This course provides students with tools to work as effective members of project teams. Thecourse focuses on three key areas: team building, effective professional communication skills and timemanagement.Team building is the set of processes and practices, which allow individuals to form synergistic groups – tomake a team, which is more than just the sum of its parts. It also addresses conflict resolution techniques to ensure that personal, working, and creative conflicts do not derail successful relationships. Time management enables students to not only manage multiple assignments and projects, but also balance other aspects of their life in order to produce a more healthy approach to work. Professional Communicationskills focuses on the process which makes a team strong from two angles: the first is getting the most out of fellow team members and strengthening your connection to and value within a team; the second is getting your ideas across in a the way will most likely to allow you to contribute to and to facilitate or lead a team to accomplish its purpose or goal.

 

Classical Animation 1 

The principles of animation are universal, no matter what media is used to create it. In this course, students will learn the principles classical animation that will serve as a foundation for creating animation in any media. Students will gain a firm understanding of the principles of motion and theanimation process and will animate using industry-standard techniques.

 

Design 1

This class will focus on the process of shot design as a team experience. Building on a solidfoundation of research, this class will teach students how to work within a brief and create designs forcharacters, props and locations. Through a combination of lectures,demonstrations and reviews studentswill gain firsthand experience of how to visualize,communicate an idea and create design documents.

 

History of Animation & VFX

This course develops a natural understanding of animation in its historicalcontext. Topics will examine the pioneers, innovators, adapters, and the followers of animation as theyexplored the limits of this evolving art form. The student will see the technological advancements as well as the stylistic and cultural developments as the animation art form grew and the industry (i.e. Disney Studios) likewise evolved. While laying a chronological foundation in the history of the art form of the American cartoon there will be indepth examinations of animation from around the world including Western European,Eastern European and Asia. The many varied styles and techniques of animation will also be considered.Students will be required to attend the lectures and screenings.

 

Lighting 1

This course will provide students with a foundation on the principles and techniques of illumination using Maya and MentalRay. The course emphasisesthe use of light to create the illusion of shape and depth within a 2D medium. Students will analyze techniques used by Renaissance artists andsee how those same techniques are used today in computer graphics. Students will also explore different lighting scenarios for different times of day as well as interior illumination with varying sources ofillumination.

 

Modeling 1 

In this course students will learn fundamental tools and techniques for prop modeling inAutodesk Maya. Following a general introduction to the modeling interface and tools students will examinethe process of how to create models for a variety of applications. They will learn the importance of matching reference, and how to leverage reference to convey story ideas and contexts. Students will also learn hard surface modeling techniques and how to model accurately and to scale. A full production style “pipeline” will be applied to each model, taking the reference from design to proxy and then on to the final model. In other modeling courses, students will further explore areas of production using the models created in this course.Students’ projects will be evaluated through a series of modeling exercises and assignments culminating inone large final project, a still life. The course will consist ofdemonstrations, discussions, in-class exercisesand out of class assignments.

 

Surfacing 1 

This course will demonstrate the interaction of light on surfaces in the real world and how to recreate this phenomenon in a CG environment. The creation of realistic surface shaders in combination with effective texturing techniques will allow for the creation of high quality inorganic surfaced models.

 

Visual Effects 1 

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the fundamental skills used in the Visual Effects (VFX) industry. Students will learn basic compositing and how the VFX field integratescomputer graphics and 3D components with live action plates.

This is a hands-on class where students will learn through practical experience. Visual Effects 1 includescomprehensive practical exercises which simulate current industry pipelines. Students will have access toexperienced mentorship for discussion and feedback. This practical experience and mentorship will furtherstudents’ knowledge and help them apply what they have learned, in later terms, to their reels.

 

Intro to Rigging

Character rigging is an elaborate process that requires a lot of knowledge of the basicoperations of Maya. These 2 workshop style classes will give the students more knowledge regarding theinner workings of Maya. In these workshops we will look into the nature of Maya’s Node network and theattributes that connect them. The classes will also elaborate on the ideas of Grouping, Parenting and ways to create further connections between nodes in Maya.

 

Animation 1

This course will cover the basic principles of animation and provide students with the basicunderstanding of timing. Students will learn the basics of weight and its direct relation to timing and they will learn to animate basic bouncing, wave motion and a simple jump.Students will be introduced to theanimation toolsets in Motionbuilder, Maya and XSI.

 

 

Term 2 Course Description

 

Animation 2

In this course students will expand on the techniques learned in Animation 1.Students willlearn how to cycle animation in Maya and use various skills and functions to view their Silhouette (“7”key), arcs (Tracking markers) and line of action (Paint overs).Students will also begin to analyze the effect that outside weight can have on a character and how they can use it to create the illusion of life.

 

Classical Animation 2

In this course students will continue to explore the principles of hand drawn animation as well as reference gathering. In the second term the focus will shift to character based methods. In hand drawn planning students will learn the basics of creating cycles (Walk, run) and character/mass interactions. The principles of silhouette and line of action will be introduced. Studentswill also learn how to gather reference for character motion.

 

Sculpture 

This course is designed to teach students how to move their ideas from a 2D state (i.e. drawing) to a 3D state (i.e. sculpture). This skill will be useful for all facets of film and television. All ideas will begin as sketches and blueprints that will have to be realized by a sculptor. Students will learn the secrets of transferring 2D images into 3D by using graphs and grids. They will build armatures to size and scale, learnthe techniques of blocking with Super Sculpy, and be taught the uses and functions of the traditional tools.

 

Lighting 2 

This course will expand on the principles and techniques of illumination using Maya and MentalRay, with an emphasis on using light to create mood. Students will gain an understanding of how to simulate indirect illumination as well as how to separate a render into different layers, to be composited back together in Nuke. Students will be exposed to different lighting scenarios and will lighta complex animated shot.

 

Modeling 2

This course covers the fundamental tools and techniques of character and hard body modeling within XSI and Maya. Following a general introduction to the interface and tools within themodeling module, students will examine the process of creating various characters and learn the importance of line flow for deformation and shape.Students will study modeling tools including latticedeformation, enveloping objects,character rigs, point pulling, and expressions. These tools will be applied to a series of modeling exercises and assignments culminating in a free form walk and willprepare students for the advanced modeling course and industry production.

 

Surfacing 2

This course will outline techniques to surface organic models effectively. From the application of shaders to techniques for applying textures efficiently, students will develop industryaccepted practices for surfacing characters and organic surfaces.

 

Life Drawing 1

In Life Drawing 1 students will be introduced to the principles of Life Drawing by exploring the observation of the human form. Study will focus on the principles of movement, weight,balance, shape, and anatomy through gesture drawing, long form poses, and humans in motion. Thepractice of observation and application will be the foundation from which students will practice theseprinciples. Study in shading, shadow,foreshortening, and action analysis will further allow students toexplore the importance of observing the human form and anatomy.

 

Rigging 1

Rigging a character is a time consuming process. It requires a lengthy thought process ofplanning. During this term we will be taking you through the process of rigging a proxy character.Emphasis will be on creating a solid skeletal structure, including position, freezing and orienting joints,then and building on top of this. Inverse kinematics, control structures and binding are also covered. Students will also have an introduction to MEL scripting and Maya plugin and script installation. The intent will be to show the power of these aspects not necessarily to create programmers. The entire team will culminate in the creation of a proxy rig that the students will be using for a term 3 project. It isalso the same rig that the students will use for their term 2 animation exercises and assignments.

 

Visual Effects 2

The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with the core skills used in theVisual Effects (VFX) industry. Students will continue to learn editing, composting and Visual Effects(VFX) and how the VFX field integrates computer graphics and 3D components with live action plates.This is a hands-on class where students will learn through practical experience. Visual Effects 2 includes comprehensive practical exercises that simulate a current industrypipelines. Students will have access to experienced mentorship for discussion and feedback.These core skills, experience andmentorship, will further student’s knowledge and help them apply what they have learned, in later terms, to their reels.

 

Visual Storytelling 1

Storyboarding is the art of working out story problems and determining which camera angles give the most impact to a scene. It is a visual format of the story idea and serves as a"blueprint" throughout the animation and/or film process.Students will express their ideas visually usingproper film terminology, labeling and presentation. They will study basic storytelling principles and learnto illustrate camera angles through drawing, composition and perspective in order to create a mood in ascene or emotion in a character. Students will use storyboards both as a tool to further develop and idea and as a comprehensive communication device in teamwork. The course will consist of lectures, viewing and discussion of existing storyboards and out of class assignments combines with one-on-oneevaluation and critiques.

 

Design 2 

Design 2 will focus on colour theory, as well as, introduce the students to the differentstreams and the pitching/design process for demo reel production.The colour component will consist of four classes with a classically trained colour artist.The students will learn the basics of colour theory through hands on application with paints. This class will also be anextension of Design 1 as students will create a colour concept for designs to be used in their term 2modeling class.The demo reel component will consist of three lectures introducing the students to the modeling, animation and visual effects streams. Examples of past student work will be discussed, along with anindustry overview of the different disciplines. The pitching process will also be covered in this class toprepare students for their term 3 project pitch.

 

 

 

 

Term 3 Course Description

 

Pre-Production

The objective of this course will be to prepare students for the production component oftheir studies. Through a series of lectures, demonstrations, group and individual feedback sessions, students will be guided through the different stages of pre-production for their specific project. Conceptslearned in terms 1 and 2 will be applied directly to their projects.Students will be expected to research,explore and iterate on their projects ending with a comprehensive pre-production package which will consistof: Animatic, Designs and Research An important aspect of this class will be communication with an emphasis on visual communication.Students must present their ideas in the form ofstoryboards, design documents and visual reference toreceive constructive feedback on their project development.

 

Animation 3

In Animation 3 we will for the first time go through all of the steps in creating an animated sequence for a short film. Students will work in groups to find a 10 – 15 second piece of dialogue that they will use to perform a short animated piece. The location will be “The Diner” and Van will be the star in any of his various incarnations. Feel free to add any additional geo to the character but the default shape cannot be modified, IE he has to have the big head. Students will go through thumbnailing the shots, blocking, posing, splining and then polishing the shots. Lectures will accompany all of the classes to discuss criticalconcerns or skills for each stage of the production.

 

Matte Painting

In this course students will undergo a 7 week process to create a high quality 3d mattepainting. Students will be provided with weekly feedback and demonstrations of each stage of production-starting with reference gathering and basic thumbnail sketches, and building towards a highly detailed photorealistic visualization of their concept. The final art will be integrated into Maya.

 

Modeling 3:

ZBrush In this course students will explore Z-Brush fundamentals with a focus on how to workwith imported geometry and environments. Students will start with basic sculpting and enhance theirworkflow and build up speed. Students will then look at building a specific environment asset, and explorethe tools used to damage and retopologize a model.The term will end with a look at the model outputprocess as students take their final into Maya for mapping including vector displacement, 32bit displacement, normal maps and rendering.

 

Lighting 3

This course will build upon the principles and techniques of illumination using Maya andMentalRay, with an emphasis on using light to create visual interest or focus. We will look under the hoodof the MentalRay render engine to gain an understanding of the render equation and the importance of a linear workflow. We will continue to expand our understanding of color and how to effectively use it as part of our lighting.

 

Rigging 2

Now that we have a stable foundation for a rig we will start to look at some of the more intricate ideas and techniques involved with the character set-up process. We will begin by looking at constraints tosee the ways we can create inter-object relationships. We will then look at how to start the process of setting up faces using blend shapes and facial controls.IK/FK swapping will be covered as will stretchy IKmethodology. We round the term off with several classes devoted to binding your characters for the mostefficient deformations and wrap it all up on the last day. At the end of this term you will have a solid rig bipedal rig that you can use for your short film.We will also introduce the concept of Auto rigging to make the process a bit less technical for some of the students. Most areas of the auto-rig will be covered in classso that even if students choose to rig their own character they still have the option to use an auto-rig should things out work out theway they plan.

 

Visual Effects

This is a hands-on class and students will learn through practical experience.The AdvancedVisual Effects course includes comprehensive practical exercises that simulate a current industry pipeline.This includes planning, production and effects production of a complete Visual Effects shot. Students willhave access to experienced mentorship for discussion and feedback. This will further their knowledge, andwill help apply what they have learned, to their demo reels.

 

Surfacing 3

This course introduces to the workflows and tools needed to properly surface a character. From the skin to the clothing, students will explore the shaders, unwraps and textures needed to create high detail and realistic looking character surfaces.

 

Life Drawing 2

In this course students will expand on the principles introduced in Life Drawing1 by further exploring the observation of the human form. Study will focus on the principles of movement, weight,balance, shape, and anatomy through gesture drawing, long form poses,and humans in motion. Thepractice of observation and application will be the foundation from which students will practice these principles. Study in costume, props, and action analysis will further allow students to explore the importanceof observing the human form andanatomy.

 

Compositing Digital

Compositing introduces new users to the fundamentals and power and benefits ofcompositing and Key Frame animation. Students will be using Adobe After Effects, as the tool forcompositing differenttypes ofshots and are encouraged to explore the more advanced tools. Topicscovered will be, layering, Masking, Track Matting, Effects – (Color, Distortion, Simulations, as well as other advanced techniques.) The principles covered should be transferable to other compositing programs asAfter Effects is just the beginning when it comes to the different compositing programs andutilities.

 

 

Term 4 Course Description

 

Acting for Animators 1 

In Acting for Animators 1 we will expand on the animation process and principles to create an authentic pantomime performance. Students will work on one individual assignment designed to build their knowledge and understanding of shot workflow, body mechanics, action analysis (the practice of observation and application), and performance. Students will create a foundation of research before beginning the assignment including shooting video reference and creatingthumbnail sketches. Emphasis will then be placed on blocking and posing before splining and then polishingtheirshots. Lectures will accompany all of the classes to discuss critical concerns or skills for each stage ofthe animation process,the language and fundamentalsspecifically related to acting and animation principles, as well as dedicated group reviews in the progress of theassignment.

 

Advanced Animation 

In Advanced Animation students will expand their knowledge of the animation principles with advanced levels of application. Students will work on multiple inclass exercises designed to build their understanding, proficiency, workflow speed, and critical artistic eye for mechanics of motion, timing, and staging. The mechanics of quadruped motion will also be discussed and applied. Lectures will accompany all of the classes to facilitate discussion about critical concepts, skills, and tools including the mechanics of motion, timing and staging in Maya. Furthermore, students will have opportunities to review their progress on in-class exercises and out-of-class work during dedicated group reviews.

 

Digital Sculpture 1

This Course will give students a solid foundation for building character models inZ- Brush. With an emphasis on anatomy sculpting students will explore character model proportions andanatomical forms. We will explore essential tools for character generation in Z-Brush, and explore theprocess of refining the anatomy of a model. Students will study the process of retopologization and applyit to their own models. This course will also take a look at the relation of UV’s and Z-Brush. This will preparethem with the most modern approaches to character modeling in today’s industries and explore the details needed to get the most out of their work and keep themcompetitive.

 

Advanced Compositing 1

This course introduces students to the fundamentals ofnode-based compositing using “Nuke” software. In addition to Node Based Compositing topics include Colour Correction, Keying, Tracking, Rotoscoping, Temporal Operations, and Rig & Marker Removal. In this course students apply key composting skills to their final visual effects projects.

 

Advanced Modeling 1 

Advanced Modeling 1 gives students a look at modeling through the eyes of a production studio. The main purpose of the course is to introduce the students to scheduling and planning, efficiencies in the modeling process and working with more complex 3D environment assets. A strong emphasis will be put on using more efficient modeling, shading, and render processes. Atthe completion of the course, students should have a realistic view of scheduling build and render time, and how to manage even the most complex 3D scenes in an efficient manner.

 

Advanced Visual Effects 1

This course introduces the students to the techniques and execution of Visual Effects as pertaining to the film industry and teaches them the workflow and structure of computer graphics to Live action plate integration. This is a hands-on class and students will learn through practical experience. The Advanced Visual Effects course includes comprehensive practical exercises that simulate a current industry pipeline. This includes planning, production and effects production of a complete Visual Effects shot. Students will have access to experienced mentorship for discussionand feedback. This will further their knowledge and to apply what they have learn to their demo reels. This course continues to Term 6.

 

Final Project Development 1 - Animation

Final Project Development 1 is the preproduction element of a student’s short film. Final Project Development requires students to finalize their short filmstories, create a 3D animatic from a storyboard, model proxy
character(s) and/or model final characters, rig using the re-use rig, create face shapes and a facial control panel, and have a final posed animatic that has been approved (for cameras and story line) by the end of the term. The story should be no longer than one minute maximum. As in the studio environment, students will be expected to hit the deadlines setout by the Final Project Development schedule.

 

Final Project Development 1 – Modeling

This course gives students the experience of themodeling process from design to production. By the end of the term students will be expected to have completed an environment model. This course consists of a weekly
review of modeling stream students’ projects as well as a monthly review based on the original concept development completed and approved in Term 3.

 

Final Project Development 1 – Visual Effects Stream

Final Project Development 1 is the Pre- Production element of a student’s short film. Final Project Development requires students to finalize their short film stories, create a 3D animatic from a storyboard, produce final, rigged CG character(s) and/or models, As in the studio environment, students will be expected to hit the deadlines set-out by the Final Project Development schedule. During pre-production it is a time to troubleshoot, figure out locations, do test shoots and refine the story beats. A student is expected to pro-actively seek aid in any or allareas from the available faculty and resources offered by VFS

 

 

Term 5 Course Description

 

Acting for Animators 2

In this course we will expand on the principles and theory presented in AdvancedAnimation and Acting for Animators 1 to create an authentic character dialogue performance. Students willwork on a single assignment that is designed to build their knowledge and understanding of, action analysis (the practice of observation and application), facial animation techniques and acting for animationtheory.Students will create a foundation of research before beginning each assignment including shooting videoreference and developing thumbnail sketches. Emphasis will then be placed on blocking and posing beforesplining and then polishing their shots. Lectures will accompany all of the classes to discuss criticalconcerns or skills for each stage of the process – including lectures in the language and fundamentals ofacting for animation theory,as well as technical lectures on facial animation, lip-sync techniques, anddedicated groupreviews.

 

Animation Workshop

The primary focus of the Animation Workshop will be to review work in progress animation from your short film in a ‘Dailies’ style setting. We will use this for forum to comment andconstructively criticize each other’s work. Students will learn which questions to ask oneself during theanimation process – and this is the key to becoming a good animator. You will be shown solutions toanimation problems, and also be asked to execute improvements to your work based on that day’s assessment. Studentsmustsubmitshotsforreview priorto the start of each class.Scenes must be submitted as QuickTime files- 864x486 image size.

 

Digital Sculpture 2 

This Course will pick up with the models started in Digital Sculpting 1. Students will taketheir character proxies and flesh out the details. Various tools and techniques for using Z-Brush to adddetails, and organize layers for sculpting will be applied. As they refine their character models they will alsolook at posing and sculpting detail in pose, from cloth to subtle muscle deformation. The details that separate a good model from a great model will be explored. By the end of the term students will have a finished character model.

 

Advanced Modeling 2

Advanced Modeling 2 covers the creation of production ready character models.Topics covered will include advanced subsurface scatter shading techniques as well as clothconstruction/simulation and character portrait lighting. The tools and techniques covered will allow studentsto create efficient, photorealistic characters and give them the tools to showcase the model artistically andeffectively. The term assignment will include the surfacing of a photorealistic model, including Maya haircreation and building clothing. Techniques for building simple posing rigs, and studio lighting models willalso be covered.

 

Advanced Compositing 2

This course is continuation of study from Term 4. This course introduces  studentsto the fundamentals of node-based compositing using “Nuke” software. In addition to Node Based Compositing topics include Colour Correction, Keying, Tracking, Rotoscoping, Temporal Operations, andRig & Marker Removal. In this course students apply key composting skills to their final visual effectsprojects.

 

Advanced Visual Effects 2

In this course students will be taught color space and how to manipulate andcorrect color in photographic plates. By the end of the course students will understand advanced shadingand rendering techniques, be able to create advanced, multilayer composites in a node-based compositingpackage, be able to generate particle,explosive and liquid effects, and will understand and be able to writeand edit CG programming scripts. They will also understand the workflow and theories involved in a typical VFX pipeline and be aware of the latest industry trends and opportunities, and how to position oneself totake advantage of them.

 

Final Project Development 2 – Animation Stream

Final Project Development 2 for Animation Streamis the Production element of the student’s short film and students are required to start production of theirfinal projects. Students will complete a production schedule that will outline how many seconds per weekthey are required to animate to finish the majority of their production during the 8 weeks of term 5. They will plan their strategies taking into account shot difficulty, re-uses and any changes based on critique that maybe required. A strong emphasis on shot planning and reference accumulation will be practiced during thispart of the short film production.Students will participate in dailies at the start of every lab period, receiving critique and suggestions of theirwork while learning to make comments of their own in regards to other animator’s work. This is a process ofimproving the animator’s ability to gauge what is working or not working in the animated expression ofweight, timing, motivation, shot continuity, creative acting choices, line flow, contrast, and staging.

 

Final Project Development 2 – Modeling Stream

This course gives students the experience of themodeling process from design to production. By the end of the term students will be expected to havecompleted a character model. This course consists of a weekly review of
modeling stream students’ projectsas well as a monthly review based on the original concept development completed and approved in Term 3. The weekly reviews are supervised lab periods where student work is reviewed one-to-one with an instructor in order to improve the overall quality of the work, inspire the student, and keep them on track with their goals and overall objectives. In addition, students will be required to deliver a monthly presentation that emulates a production review or ‘dailies’. This provides students with the chance to be reviewed by a panel of mentors and for the students to see each other’s work.

 

Final Project Development 2 – Visual Effects Stream

In this course students are required to startproduction on their final projects. Students will finalize their short film stories, create a first pass integrationfrom a 3D animatic, using final rigged CG character(s) and/or models. WIP lighting and color correction arealso covered in this course. As in the studio environment, students will be expected to meet the deadlines in the Final Project Development schedule. During preproduction/production it is a time for students to practice and refine the skills they’ve learned to complete a reel, finalize locations, finalize shots and refine the story beats. Students are expected to pro-actively seek aid in any or all areasfrom the available faculty and resources offered by VFS. Asset management and approval will be guided by thementor.

 

 

Term 6 Course Description

 

Career Prep

This class will review employment resources available to the students and
provide practicaltips on resume preparation and interview skills.
A list of local, national and international studios will be provided along with resume guidelines

 

Final Project Development 3 – Animation Stream

Final project Development Term 6 is the PostProduction element of the student’s short film. As in any post production, students in term 6 will findthemselves tweaking and continuing to finalize the animation in shots, working on the final lighting andlook, and the final renders and compositing.In term 6 students will find that their learning curve for animation has risen exponentially, so they maychoose to re-do a previous shot(s) they animated during the term 5 production stage. Animators will beexpected to plan carefully and consult with their mentor on the best way to fully actualize their films in the time remaining.This phase of the production is a very self-directed stage, and students should be extremely pro-active inacquiring the feedback they need to improve their quality of work. Dailies are a major component of theanimation process, and shots should be animated with the highest production quality in mind. The mentorcan offer final approval for shots. Those shots may then be put into the production pipeline where the animator then hands all of their final render pictures in for final project submission.

 

Final Project Development 3 – Modeling Stream

This course givesstudents the experience of themodeling processfrom design to production. By the end of the term students will be expected to haveorganized their work, rendered it, cleaned up the settings and prepared a final cut. Students will also beexpected to have completed building another model. This course consists of a weekly review of modelingstream students’ projects as well as a monthly review based on the original conceptdevelopment completedand approved in Term3.The weekly reviews are supervised lab periods where student work is reviewed one-to-one with an instructor in order to improve the overall quality of the work, inspire the student, and keep them on track with their goals and overall objectives. In addition, students will be required to deliver a monthly presentation thatemulates a production review or ‘dailies’. This provides students with the chance to be reviewed by a panelof mentors and for the students to see each other’s work.

 

Final Project Development 3 - Visual Effects

This course covers the finishing stages of Production whereall elements of student short films will be completed. The elements should consist of Props, CG models, andActors if required. Final live action plates will be acquired and students will complete the final ColorCorrection. Final Project Development requires students to finalize their short film stories, to turn a loose-timed 3D animatic (Soft Lock) and to finalize the hard-lock of their demo reels.During production, it is a time for the students to put into practice and refine the skills learned in Term 4 and 5 Advanced Visual Effects 1 and 2 as well as finalize all shots and complete their Demo Reels. Students are expected to pro-actively seek aid in any or all areas from the available faculty and resources offered by VFS. Asset management and approval will be guided by the mentor.