MART 430 – 3D Character Creation & Animation
Fall 2010
Tuesdays 6:30-9:35 p.m.
Instructor: Paul Naas
Welcome to 3D Character Creation & Animation. In this course, we'll be learning the fundamentals of character animation and animation technique using Maya 3D software.
Class Description:
Character animation concepts including character thinking, changes of emotion, speaking (lip-sync animation) and walking cycles. Cartooning effects such as squash and stretch as well as using Autodesk Maya's controls to create a more humanistic character animation. Basic concepts dealing with character planning and character sheets. The effect of weight and gravity when animating biped, quadruped or any anthropomorphic character.
Required Textbook:
How To Cheat In Maya 2010 by Eric Luhta
Required Supplies:
USB drive (1gig minimum)
Attendance:
Regular attendance is vital to your success in this class. The assignments build on one another, becoming increasingly involved as the semester progresses, and missing class sessions will make it harder to complete the assigned tasks. Excessive absences may result in you being dropped from the class.
Trade email addresses and/or phone numbers with another student on the first night, and contact each other to find out about assignments and class activity if you're absent.
By Arrangement Hours:
In addition to class attendance, this course requires two "by arrangement" hours per week. Check the studio hours link on the Multimedia home page for open hours. By arrangement hours can also be completed at home or work, provided you complete an "Off-Campus Lab Hours" form and turn it in to me at the end of the semester.
Assignments:
There will be several assignments throughout the semester. Many are multi-week assignments. There will be time during class to work on some or all of the assignments. Students will show their work-in-progress and completed work in class and participate in constructive critiques of other student's work.
BACK UP YOUR WORK! One more time: BACK UP YOUR WORK! Do iterative saves, and make sure you copy your latest versions onto your USB drive. Lost or corrupted files will not be an acceptable excuse for missing a deadline.
Assignments include:
Bouncing ball animation - three types
Ball with tail animation
Inanimate object animation
Walk cycle
Acting exercise with emotion change
Lip synch exercise with personality
Final project: all above assignments cut together into a "demo reel."
Grading:
Grading will be based on assignments, tests, and class participation.
Multimedia jobs are all about meeting deadlines. For full credit on assignments, you must turn in your assignment no later than the due date. Many assignments will have "in progress" due dates, where you will share your work to date with the rest of the class for comment and critique. Late assignments will be downgraded one half grade for every class session they are late (so if your project gets a B- and it's one class late, your grade for that project will be a C). However, life happens, and if you have problems meeting the assignment due dates, please do not hesitate to talk with me. Due dates will be announced when the assignment is given. There will be class time set aside to work on projects in the lab.
There will be a mid-term exam and final that will include questions on Maya tools, technique, and animation theory.
Grading:
Assignments (cumulative) 50%
Midterm 10%
Final 15%
Class participation (including Acme website critiques) 25%
Academic Integrity:
Nothing will bring a creative career to a halt faster than passing off someone else's work as your own. Not only is it unprofessional, it will affect your reputation for the rest of your career. I take issues of academic integrity very seriously. Only turn in work that is your own. If you have any questions, please review the section on academic integrity in the Cañada catalog or talk to me.
Main Class Topics:
12 principles of animation
Weight, gravity, action and reaction
Wave motion and "s" curves
Mass, movement, and personality
Walk cycles
Emotions and transitions
Lip synch
Important dates:
Aug. 31 - last day to add the class.
Aug. 31 - last day to drop class and be eligible for a refund.
Sept. 6 - Labor Day (no class).
Sept. 10 - Last day to drop without class appearing on transcript.
Nov. 16 - Last day to drop (a "W" will appear on transcript).
Tentative class breakdown:
The class introduces several topics important to good character animation
Bouncing balls, three types
Wave patterns and follow-through
Emotion in inanimate objects
Walk cycles
Changes in emotional states
Lip synch and acting
It's going to be a great semester, and a great introduction to the study and practice of bringing characters to life. I'm here to help you in any way I can, so don't hesitate to ask!
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