Initially there was only a single introductory course offered in the 3D Computer Animation Lab. More courses were added as the need for them was articulated and the necessary support found. A general sequence was developed to provide for as logical a progression as possible. There is no Program in Computer Graphic Animation within the CalArts School of Film/Video. Students taking courses in the Lab come from throughout the Institute. The majority of students come from the Program in Experimental Animation or the Program in Character Animation. The core curricula in the individual student's programs provide the knowledge they need to fully benefit from the courses offered in the 3D Computer Animation Lab.

In addition to the general sequence of the 3D CG curriculum we have structured one designed specifically for a CGI track in the Program in Character Animation. In order to avoid unecessary redundancy, there is an overlap of courses from the CGI track and those of the original curriculum. Both path structures are listed below.

 

The General 3D CG Curriculum

The following list indicates possible course sequence for our original 3D CG curriculum. It is not intended to be a fully structured or mandatory curriculum. The semester order is based upon the number of semesters taking courses in the Lab, not upon the number of semesters at CalArts. Students may opt to repeat particular courses.

First Semester
· FE338 INTRODUCTION TO 3D COMPUTER GRAPHIC ANIMATION (Scroggins)
· FC320 3D COMPUTER GRAPHIC CHARACTER ANIMATION (Kelly)

Second Semester
· FE350 INTERMEDIATE 3D COMPUTER GRAPHIC ANIMATION (Bac)
· FE520 ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES IN 3D CG ANIMATION (Scroggins)

Third Semester
· FC320 3D COMPUTER GRAPHIC CHARACTER ANIMATION (Kelly)
· FE420 ADVANCED 3D CG CHARACTER CONSTRUCTION I [modeling] (Platt)

Fourth Semester
· FC316 ADVANCED 3D CG SHADING AND LIGHTING (Bac)
· FE421 ADVANCED 3D CG CHARACTER CONSTRUCTION II [rigging] (Hanner)

Fifth Semester
· FC372A 3D COMPUTER GRAPHIC ANIMATION WORKSHOP (Hofstedt/Scroggins)

Sixth Semester
· FC372B 3D COMPUTER GRAPHIC ANIMATION WORKSHOP (Hofstedt/Scroggins)

 

 

The Program in Character Animation CGI Track Curriculum

The following list indicates the required course sequence for our Program in Character Animation CGI Track. In the first two years of the Program in Character Animation students are divided into two groups. Each group alternates between taking a traditional hand drawn animation class on one day of the week, and a 3D computer animation class on another day of the week. The following two years include advanced classes in modeling, rigging, shading, and production.

 

First Year: Fall Semester
· FC100A BEGINNING TRADITIONAL ANIMATION (Nguyen)
· FC101A BEGINNING COMPUTER ANIMATION (Aquino)

First Year: Spring Semester
· FC100B BEGINNING TRADITIONAL ANIMATION (Nguyen)
· FC101B BEGINNING COMPUTER ANIMATION (Aquino)

 

Second Year: Fall Semester
· FC200A INTERMEDIATE TRADITIONAL ANIMATION (Zikry)
· FC201A INTERMEDIATE COMPUTER ANIMATION (Jones)

Second Year: Spring Semester
· FC200B INTERMEDIATE TRADITIONAL ANIMATION (Zikry)
· FC201B INTERMEDIATE COMPUTER ANIMATION (Jones)

 

Third Year: Fall Semester
· FC320 3D COMPUTER GRAPHIC CHARACTER ANIMATION (Kelly)
· FE420 ADVANCED 3D CG CHARACTER CONSTRUCTION I [modeling] (Platt)

Third Year: Spring Semester
· FC320 3D COMPUTER GRAPHIC CHARACTER ANIMATION (Kelly)
· FE421 ADVANCED 3D CG CHARACTER CONSTRUCTION II [rigging] (Hanner)

 

Fourth Year: Fall Semester
· FC372A 3D COMPUTER GRAPHIC ANIMATION WORKSHOP (Hofstedt/Scroggins)
· FC425 ADVANCED MAYA (Bac)

Fourth Year:Spring Semester
· FC372B 3D COMPUTER GRAPHIC ANIMATION WORKSHOP (Hofstedt/Scroggins)
· FC425 ADVANCED MAYA (Bac)

 

 

FC316 ADVANCED 3D SHADING AND LIGHTING (Bac), semester 2
An exploration of the aesthetic and technical aspects involved in rendering the look of a scene in 3D computer graphic animation. Various approaches to the effective creation and assignment of material definitions, textures, and lighting will be covered.
* Open to the Institute by permission of instructor.
* Pre-requisite: FE350

FC320 3D CG CHARACTER ANIMATION (Kelly), semester 1
This class will cover various techniques used to animate characters within Maya. We will review the basics of animation early on and apply those principles to increasingly complex models as the class progresses. Students will learn how to approach character animation using a methodology that will work for any character. This methodology will help students tackle any assignment with a greater degree of control of the medium.
* Open to the Institute by permission of instructor.
* Co-requisite: FE338

FE338 INTRODUCTION TO 3D CG ANIMATION (Scroggins), semester 1
An introduction to the general principles of 3D of computer graphic animation. Students will work with Maya software to learn the basic processes of creating and animating synthetic objects, materials, lights, and cameras.
* Open to the Institute by permission of instructor.
* Enrollment limited to 24

FE350 INTERMEDIATE 3D COMPUTER ANIMATION (Bac), semester 2
An intermediate course in computer graphic animation principles and practice utilizing Maya software. Students will expand upon the material learned in the introductory course through realizing a set of structured exercises and individual projects.
* Open to the Institute by permission of instructor.
* Prerequisite: FE338

FC372AB 3D CG ANIMATION WORKSHOP (Hofstedt/Scroggins), semester 1, 2
A yearlong course designed to guide students through the process of producing an individual 3D computer graphic animation project. The production pipeline from initial concept through final output will be covered. There will be a focus on strategies for realizing concepts in practical terms given the available resources of time and equipment. Weekly group presentation and analysis of projects will be balanced with individual problem solving sessions.
* Open to the Institute by permission of instructor
* Strongly Recommended Prerequisites: FE420, FE421, and FC320

FE420 ADVANCED 3D CG CHARACTER CONSTRUCTION I (Platt), semester 1
This course provides a focused exploration of 3D character modeling in Maya. Production techniques and aesthetic considerations are examined in detail. Students learn the finer points of constructing clean, deformable surfaces, which can be rigged for animation in Advanced 3D CG Character Construction II the following semester.
* Open to the Institute by permission of instructor
* Prerequisites: FE338, FE350

FE421 ADVANCED 3D CG CHARACTER CONSTRUCTION II (Hanner), semester 2
This course provides a focused exploration of 3D character rigging and animation setup techniques in Maya. Building on the previous semester's work in Advanced 3D CG Character Construction I, students learn how to rig the model as an appealing, animatable character with intuitive controls.
* Open to the Institute by permission of instructor.
* Prerequisites: FE338, FE350, (Recommended: FE420)

FE520 ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES IN 3D CG ANIMATION (Scroggins), semester 2
A collaborative workshop investigating options to prevalent approaches in 3D computer graphic animation. Areas explored will include algorithmic composition, real-time performance, and non-representational imagery.
* Prerequisite: FE338
* Enrollment limited to 12 by permission of instructor

FC100A&B BEGINNING TRADITIONAL ANIMATION (Nguyen), semester 1&2
Beginning to advanced animation, working with the very basic movements to the very complex. This is a foundation course of the Program in Character Animation.

FC101A&B BEGINNING COMPUTER ANIMATION (Aquino), semester 1&2
Beginning to advanced computer animation. This is in conjunction with FC100A&B and is taken simultaneously.This is a foundation course of the Program in Character Animation.

FC200A&B INTERMEDIATE TRADITIONAL ANIMATION (Zikry), semester 1&2
Advanced study of animation with assignments involving scenes animated in continuity and incorporating recorded dialogue and sound effects.

FC201A&B INTERMEDIATE COMPUTER ANIMATION (Jones), semester 1&2
Advanced study of animation with assignments involving scenes animated in continuity and incorporating recorded dialogue and sound effects.

FC425 ADVANCED MAYA (bac), semester 1&2
The continuation of the various disciplines found in Maya, including production, pipeline, animation
& advanced modeling.