Students will learn the entire production pipeline from story idea and development to recording animations to tape. The language, processes and equipment of digital animation and its production environment are discussed. The focus of this course is on titling, image processing, compositing and 3D animation.

Cinematics focuses on language and techniques of filmmaking particularly how it relates to Animation and Visual Effects. The course covers such areas as story, shooting, editing as well as how to critically analyze film content as an education tool. Students will board, shoot, and edit a film as well as analyze examples of film production to understand why choices in filmmaking are made.

Explore the fundamentals of 3D production, including modeling, texturing, animation, lighting, and rendering. Experiment with procedural tools and AI-driven workflows to streamline repetitive tasks while focusing on technical mastery and creative problem-solving. Build a strong foundation in industry-standard processes to prepare for advanced production challenges.

An introduction to the essential principles of perspective used in the creation of artistic imagery. Students will apply perspective principles and develop skills in quick sketches, completed drawings and storyboards. Students will learn how to integrate figures into scenes and plot light, shadows and reflections to create believable environments.

Learn to create basic 3D models through hard surface modeling, organic sculpting, and topology optimization. Explore workflows for UV mapping and detailing while experimenting with procedural tools and AI for efficiency. Build precise, pipeline-ready assets that balance technical expertise and creative design.

Develop animation skills with a focus on timing, motion, and storytelling. Create believable performances through keyframing while exploring tools like AI-driven motion capture for refinement. Build engaging, dynamic animations that emphasize narrative and demonstrate strong technical foundations.

In this course, students will learn Character Animation in subjects such as pose thumbnailing prior to filming references, and how to build constraints. They will also learn how to determine the difference between COG and gravity-driven movements, and how to use smears to bridge wide spacing. Additional refinements to arcs while maintaining energy will be explored, in addition to picking great pivot points, and the setup of scenes. The final assignment for the term is completing a short animation from start to finish, which must integrate great timing and spline movements.

This course will discuss elements of UV, mapping, and materials. Students will work with basic types of map and texture in both 2D and 3D software and environments. Real-time texturing will also be included in the course to give students the opportunity to work with these elements.

Students have an opportunity to step back and survey the body of their work. The student and faculty analyze and identify strengths, weaknesses and interests to set a course towards a clear and committed emphasis. This class is the first step in portfolio development to meet current standards in the industry.

Focus on animation that incorporates character interaction with environments and props. Explore how weight, timing, and movement affect believability in scenes where characters engage with physical objects or navigate complex settings. Experiment with workflows that combine animation fundamentals and real-time tools to create dynamic, context-rich sequences.

This course emphasizes the creation of detailed, production-ready 3D assets that enhance visual storytelling, incorporating sculpting techniques to add intricate detail and character to designs. Students learn advanced modeling, surfacing, and lighting workflows, including hard surface and organic modeling, while focusing on optimizing assets for industry pipelines. Sculpting methods are explored to create expressive forms and fine details. Procedural shading tools, AI-driven material generation, and real-time lighting workflows are used to streamline asset creation and refine visual quality, enabling students to craft dynamic and engaging scenes ready for professional production.

In this course, students will start by studying anatomy with traditional drawing and sculpting mediums. As the course progresses, students will transition this knowledge to digital sculpting in Z-Brush.

Students gain foundational skills in rigging by creating functional skeletons for characters and props, focusing on joint systems, weight painting, and deformation workflows. This course emphasizes technical precision and efficiency by integrating AI-driven rigging tools and procedural automation workflows, preparing students for advanced rigging and character effects in later stages of production.

This course expands on previously taught animation principles and introduces new advanced animation techniques. Students will learn how to properly utilize facial controls, become masters at filming reference, and have a firm understanding of body mechanics.

This course grounds students in the artistic and technical fundamentals of texturing and lighting, providing a solid foundation for further study in the field.

Students refine animation skills by exploring pantomime performance and simple dialogue-driven acting, focusing on posing, rhythm, staging, and acting beats to create expressive and believable character animations. By combining manual animation techniques with AI-assisted motion blending and secondary motion tools, students efficiently iterate and refine their work to deliver compelling performances that enhance storytelling in 3D environments.

Students master performance-driven animation techniques, focusing on facial acting, dialogue, and micro-expressions to deliver emotionally compelling storytelling. This course emphasizes refining timing, acting choices, and subtle character behaviors to create animations that resonate with audiences. AI-assisted tools for motion refinement, facial animation, and timing adjustments streamline workflows, enabling nuanced, high-quality results.

Students combine traditional and generative workflows to create detailed characters, props, and environments that meet professional standards. Focus is placed on optimizing textures, surfaces, and lighting setups for seamless production integration. Procedural tools and generative design software are leveraged to create intricate details efficiently, ensuring production-ready assets with high visual impact.

In this course, students gain a strong understanding of how to use Substance, understand how to create clean renders in Maya & become more familiar with the concept of CG lighting. This class aims to improve the artistic eye, as well as demonstrating & navigating through helpful tools to push their art further.

In this course, students will explore characters and creatures and their topology in relation to being animation-ready. This course will build upon the Introduction to Rigging and Sculpting I courses. Techniques will be reviewed to enhance models and speed up the modelling process.

Description: Students present near-complete Capstone projects, demo reels, and portfolios to peers and industry mentors for initial critique. This course simulates a professional studio pitch, emphasizing storytelling, technical execution, and alignment with industry expectations.

This course is connected to all courses in term 6 of the ANMO program and all marks will be connected.

Building on feedback from the initial critique, students refine their Capstone projects and portfolios to meet professional standards. Focus is placed on storytelling, technical polish, and aligning work with specific career goals.
This course is connected to all courses in term 6 of the ANMO program and all marks will be connected.

Students present updated Capstone projects and demo reels in iterative critique sessions with industry mentors. Feedback focuses on technical precision, storytelling, and alignment with real-world studio workflows.

This course is connected to all courses in term 6 of the ANMO program and all marks will be connected.

Students finalize polished demo reels and portfolios, preparing for professional presentations and interviews. The course emphasizes personal branding, promotional materials, and career strategies to help students transition confidently into the industry.

This course is connected to all courses in term 6 of the ANMO program and all marks will be connected.