Course Descriptions
Animation
ANI 100
Drawing for Animation
3 credits
This course introduces students to understanding human and animal physiology, proportion, balance, weight and pose essential for an animator. An emphasis is placed on the development of characters from observation; students explore issues of human and animal pose, motion relevance and aesthetic sensitivity to animation.
ANI 200
2D Animation I
3 credits
Students explore the fundamental principles of animation to develop an understanding of character and performance. Emphasis is placed on the study of movement, expression and behaviors.
Prerequisite(s): ANI 100 and DSN 210
ANI 201
Fundamentals of Motion Graphics
3 credits
This introductory course covers the history and evolution of animation, as well as the theory and principles behind it. Students will practice timing, rhythm, and movement while exploring their design implications. Digital technology and basic computer animation software will be introduced through demonstration and practice. This course is equivalent to VMG 201.
Prerequisite(s): CTA210 and DSN210
ANI 300
3D Animation I
3 credits
Students will build on the principles studied in 2-D Animation I, students are introduced to animating in 3-D, with an emphasis on the mechanics of character movement, weight and pose. Students use their 2-D animation skills to produce rough animations that help push their 3-D poses.
Prerequisite(s): ANI 321 and DSN 210
ANI 301
History of Animation
3 credits
In this course students will focus on the history and aesthetics of animation, with references to the related arts for example; live-action cinema, comics and puppetry. Media includes a wide range of commercial, experimental work and short films produced around the world. Students will produce projects and written work pertaining to course topics.
ANI 310
Advanced Motion Graphics
3 credits
This course is an extension of ANI 201, Fundamentals of Motion Graphics. The student will manipulate text, computer animation, and motion graphics to create visual effects seen in commercial video. Students learn about composition, rendering, lighting direction, and time management. Projects allow for creativity as well as ability to adhere to guidelines and follow instructions. This course is equivalent to VMG 310.
Prerequisite(s): ANI201
ANI 321
Introduction to 3D
3 credits
This course demonstrates the critical concepts of 3D time and space, and helps explain the principles of 3D modeling, animation, dynamics and rendering. This course is equivalent to VMG 321.
Prerequisite(s): ANI201
ANI 322
3D Modeling Techniques
3 credits
This course focuses on creating structures and objects in three dimensional space, working with polygons, planes, spheres, and hypernurb objects. This course is equivalent to VMG 322.
Prerequisite(s): ANI321
ANI 323
3D Texture, Rendering and Lighting Techniques
3 credits
Applying realistic textures to objects, lighting objects, scenes and individual channels, as well as rendering those objects/scenes out to still images for use on the web, print and animated scenes for video are covered in this course. This course is equivalent to VMG 323.
Prerequisite(s): ANI322
ANI 324
Character Creation and Texturing
3 credits
Building upon the basics of the Introduction to 3D, this course focuses on the creation of humanoid and non-humanoid characters. Good structuring techniques and modeling are emphasized. Students will create mapped textures using DI tools (like Photoshop) and include the assets into the 3D application. This course is equivalent to VMG 324.
Prerequisite(s): ANI323
ANI 325
Character Rigging
3 credits
This course focuses on the underlying skeleton structure of the characters created in the previous course, or samples provided. In addition to being applied to animation of characters, it also sets up the structure for integration into 3D game engines. Inverse Kinematics, Bones, and Meshes will be the core topics of this course. Students will develop their creation's motion capabilities by learning the character rigs and skeletal structures used in 3D computer animation. This course is equivalent to VMG 325.
Prerequisite(s): ANI324
ANI 326
Dynamics and Particles for 3D
3 credits
Students will explore the complex world of using dynamics and particles for simulation of realistic animations and function systems. Creating weather effects, springs, motors, and complex rigs for various applications for Visual Effects and Game engines. This course is equivalent to VMG 326.
ANI 327
Introduction to 3D Digital Sculpting
3 credits
Students will be introduced to the creative world of digital sculpting in 3D space with programs like zBrush and Cinema4D. An overview of the software used and integration into other 3D software packages will be discussed. Projects will range from character creation techniques to other uses like Organics and Vehicles. This course is equivalent to VMG 327.
Prerequisite(s): ANI321 and ANI323
ANI 400
2D Animation II
3 credits
Students will use perspective and other traditional design features to produce a variety of shot compositions. Students will study the business of staging, posing and animating action in a sequential layout to generate successful visual narratives and develop the ability to rough, block and animate 2-D shots in sequence to meet the objectives of the script to tell the story.
Prerequisite(s): ANI 200
ANI 430
Logo Animation
3 credits
In this course students will create animated sequences and manipulate and refine them, using industry standard programs and techniques to create bumpers for television, web, and podcasts. (If you don’t know what a bumper is, you need this course.) This course is equivalent to VMG 430.
Prerequisite(s): ANI201
ANI 450
3D Animation II
3 credits
This course introduces students to the process of assembling the components necessary to allow for efficient workflow in getting animated storytelling on the screen. This course focus on pre-visualization, designing and texturing assets for the camera, animating for camera, lighting and rendering in passes and compiling shots in sequence to create successful storytelling.
Prerequisite(s): ANI 300
ANI 487
Animation and 3D Senior Project
3 credits
This course is designed to allow senior year students the opportunity to complete a portfolio piece before finishing their degree program. At the start of the project, students will identify a realistic project in their main competency area(s) with the instructor of their section. Having agreed on a timetable for their project’s completion, the students will then begin a required/flexible workshop where they must prepare a clear and comprehensive pre-production plan. A student will then complete their animation-based project (2D or 3D) based on the goals and timetable established at the beginning of the semester. Students will be expected to complete and present their animation based project by the end of the semester.
Prerequisite(s): ANI 450
ANI 490
Internship in Animation and 3D
3 credits
This course will provide students with real-world experience in the field of animation or 3D creation, where they will become acquainted with daily operations, while enhancing their professional skills and interacting with other communication professionals. College of Technology students wishing to complete their internship requirements should review procedures at http://www.wilmu.edu/coel/work-integrated-learning.aspx.
Prerequisite(s): ANI 450