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ANI 300/430 3D Character Animation
Fall 2009 | Th 6:00 - 9:15. | LPC STDCT 364
Instructor: Josh Jones
Office: CST 462
Email: jjones@cti.depaul.edu (best way to reach me)
Phone: (312)362-5876
Office hours : Tue: 4:00 - 5:30 (Rm 722)
Thurs: 9:15 - 10:45 (LPC, STDCT 364)
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ANI 300/430
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Course Description
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In this course, students will be introduced to the art of animating in 3D through the use of traditional animation principles. Topics will include: principles of animation, storyboarding, transformations and deformations of 3D objects, rigging, camera and light animation. Emphasis will be placed on using the computer as a tool to create animation for cinema and game applications, as well as an instrument of experimentation. PREREQUISITE(S): ANI 231 or
GPH 338
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Course Objectives
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After completing this course, students will have:
1. An extensive knowledge of Maya's animation tools.
2. A broad understanding of all animation styles and techniques, and how they
apply to and can aid animation in 3D.
3. A solid base in animation fundamentals.
4. Professional demo reel quality work.
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Texts and Materials
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REQUIRED TEXTS:
"The Animators Survival Kit"
Richard Williams, Publisher: Faber and Faber Inc. 2001, Cost $30.00.
RECOMMENDED TEXTS:
"The Art of Rigging. Vol. 1/Vol. 2"
Publisher: CG Toolkit 2005.
www.cgtookit.com
"Stop Staring"
By Jason Osipa
Mel Scripting:
"Mel Scripting for Maya Animators"
By Mark Welkins
Reference Websites
www.aliaswavefront.com
www.highend3d.com
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Attendance
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Student absences are not expected to exceed more than 1 absence during the quarter. A 3rd absence will result in the lowering of your final grade one full letter. Any student missing 4 classes will be given a grade of "F" for the semester.
The student is responsible for any lectures or assignments missed. If an assignment is due a week that you are absent, it is your responsibility to make sure it still arrives on time. This is for your benefit. A good portion of our class time will be spent doing hands on tutorials, screening films, and critiquing work. Lecture notes will not make up for these missed learning experiences.
You may not miss the midterm or final class date. Doing so will equal an automatic two letter grade reduction of your final grade. If for some reason you cannot make one of these dates you must contact your instructor BEFORE the class that you must miss. Excuses given after the fact will not be accepted.
No incompletes will be given without documented proof of circumstances beyond your control.
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Participation
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One of the best ways to learn in a classroom environment is through active participation in discussions and critiques. In general, we will be following a pattern of creating animation and then discussing it in critique in the following week. When I open up the floor for you to speak, please make the effort to voice your honest and constructive opinion. This more than anything will help you learn from your mistakes and progress in your animation skills.
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Class Work
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Assignments
- Must be handed in on time. Late assignments will not be accepted on teacher discretion only. On time is submitted through COLWeb one hour BEFORE class starts. Students who use class time to finish assignments the day they are due will forfeit the right to hand in that assignment. Class time is for working with the material at hand, not finishing late assignments.
- Late work:
- o Late work will not be accepted unless approved of PRIOR to the class in which it is due or accompanied by a valid medical excuse.
- o You are allotted one "freebie" per term that allows you to turn ONE assignment late for full credit (up until the 10th week of the term). You only get one of these per term. All other late assignments are forfeited.
- Written Assignments: Must be typed.
- Digital Assignments: All assignments handed in digitally must be in the following format (please note upper and lower case usage)
- o lastnameFirstname_projectname.extension
- o example: jonesJosh_projectOne.mb
* Special Accommodations: If you have any special considerations please see the instructor.
* BACK UP YOUR WORK: Failure of computer software and or Hardware will not be accepted as an extenuating circumstance for late projects or incomplete grades so back up your work daily.
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Critiques
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Unless I tell you otherwise, assigned work must be completed and submitted through COLweb one hour BEFORE class starts. This will keep us from wasting valuable class time. In most cases (I'll let you know the exceptions) I request that you use QuickTime format unless discussed with me previously. AVI's are difficult to watch frame by frame (something we will be doing a lot of). Handing in something unfinished is always better than nothing at all. Due to the large size of our class, and the limited class time, not everyone's work will get a full review during class. If you'd like more feedback, arrange to discuss your work with me during my office hours. We will view and discuss everyone's final project during the last class.
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Grading
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Assignments 55% of grade
Midterm 15% of grade
Final Project 30% of grade
Total 100%
A = 100-93 A- = 92-90
B+ = 89-88 B = 87-83 B- = 82-80
C+ = 79-78 C = 77-73 C- = 72-70
D+ = 69-68 D = 67-63 D- = 62-60 F = 59-0
Standards for Achievement:
Grade A:
Student performs in an outstanding way. Student exhibits achievement and craftsmanship in all work. Design criteria is exceeded and student challenges him/herself in project design. Student exhibits commitment to expanding ideas, vocabulary and performance.
Grade B:
Student performs beyond the requirement of the project. Student exhibits above average progress and craftsmanship. A design criterion is exceeded. Student exhibits above average interest in expanding idea, vocabulary, and performance.
Grade C:
Criteria of assignment is met, and all requirements are fulfilled. Student shows average quality work and minimum time and effort on projects. Student shows moderate interest.
Grade D:
Student performance is uneven and below average. Requirements for projects are only partially fulfilled. Minimal interest is shown and attendance, participation and involvement are inadequate.
Grade F
Student fails to meet minimum course requirements and shows no interest. Levels of participation and craftsmanship are extremely poor. Student's attendance is inadequate.
Requesting an incomplete grade:
An incomplete grade may only be assigned to a student if the student has experienced an extenuating circumstance near the end of the term, the student is in good standing in the class, and the request is made before
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Cell Phones
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Use of cell phones in the class and the lab is prohibited. Please turn your phone off before entering class. Mistakes will happen (to me too), but repeated failure to turn your phone off will result in a lowered grade for the class. All phone conversations should be conducted outside the class - don't disturb those working in the lab and put others in an uncomfortable situation.
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Headphones
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Whether working with sound in your project, or simply listening to music while working, you need to be considerate of others and wear headphones. Be aware that if the volume is high enough, others can still hear what you're listening to despite the headphones. Inconsiderate behavior will result in a lowered grade.
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Academic Integrity
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Work done for this course must adhere to the DePaul University Academic Integrity Policy, which you can review in the Student Handbook or by visiting http://studentaffairs.depaul.edu/homehandbook.html.
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Plagiarism
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The university and school policy on plagiarism can be summarized as follows: Students in this course, as well as all other courses in which independent research or writing play a vital part in the course requirements, should be aware of the strong sanctions that can be imposed against someone guilty of plagiarism. If proven, a charge of plagiarism could result in an automatic F in the course and possible expulsion. The strongest of sanctions will be imposed on anyone who submits as his/her own work a report, examination paper, computer file, lab report, or other assignment which has been prepared by someone else. If you have any questions or doubts about what plagiarism entails or how to properly acknowledge source materials be sure to consult the instructor.
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Materials and Supplies
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All assignments in this class will be either transmitted digitally online or via CDROM or DVD. Instructor will notify preferred method of submission for each assignment.
Any assignment handed in late or when not present in class may be put on a CDROM or DVD and sent to my mailbox on the 4th floor of CTI.
All CDROM's and DVD's must be labeled clearly with the following information:
-Your name
-The name of the assignment
-The class number and name you are submitting the assignment for
-The term (ex. Fall 2006)
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Schedule
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This schedule is subject to change throughout the semester, and will be adapted to fit the needs of the students.
Unless otherwise noted, all assignments will be submitted in digital format online 1 hour prior to class. Assignments may be submitted earlier.
Lecture Assignment
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Week 1
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Lecture: Introduction to 3D animation, how it relates to other ways of animating. Establishing character.
Lecture: The 12 Principles of animation
Review animation basics...setting keys, graph editor, dope sheet.
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For Week 2: Animate bouncing ball "character" animation. Assignment must be fully rendered and lit.
Read Animator's Survival Kit (ASK) "Intro" pg. 1-10 , "bouncing ball" pg. 35-39, and "history" pg. 11-20
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Week 2
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Review Ball animations
Lecture: Discussion of pose-to-pose and straight ahead animation styles. The CG animation process. Timing, staging, anticipation, follow through.
Using a stopwatch.
Introduce character and discuss Inverse Kinematics vs. forward Kinematics.
How to watch animation.
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For next Thursday's class: Study for quiz on 12 principles.
For Week 3: Time out the animated clip given in class. Use Generi to copy exact poses and timing. Key poses, anticipations, and follow throughs due next week as a playblast with sound. Use stepped tangents.
Read ASK "Spacing" pg. 84-99. Read ASK "Anticipation" pg. 273-284 and "Reaction" pg. 294-296.
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Week 3
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Critique poses
Lecture: Spacing, slow in/slow out, breakdown poses, moving on arcs, overlapping action. Using the graph editor to create subtlety with slow in and slow outs.
Arm slapping table exercise.
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For next class: Do breakdowns and finish Generi animation for next week. Must be submitted as a rendered quicktime movie with sound.
Read ASK "flexibility" pg. 227-245 and "overlapping action" pg. 249-251.
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Week 4
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Critique final Woody animation
Lecture: Character expression. Eyes, eyebrows, and blinks. Changing expression
Review for Midterm
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Study for midterm
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Week 5
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Midterm
Lecture: Continue with expression. Basic lip sync.
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For next class: Head shot animation. Must be lit and rendered as a quicktime movie for next week.
Read ASK "Dialogue" pg. 304-313.
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Week 6
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Critique head shot animations.
Review midterm exam.
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Read ASK "The Walk Cycle" pg. 102-124.
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Week 7
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Lecture: The walk cycle. Different walk styles. Giving your characters weight. Giving walks character.
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For next class: Complete generic and character walk cycle for next week. Submit animation as rendered quicktime movie.
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Week 8
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Critique walk cycles
Lecture: Shifting weight and maintaining balance.
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For next class: Find a sound clip from www.moviesounds.com (or similar website) that you want to use for your final piece. Thumbnail out a storyboard including all key poses for the action.
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Week 9
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Lecture: Bringing more life into characters. The A to X to B theory.
Review key poses.
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Read ASK pg. 217-227
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Week 10
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Individual progress critiques
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Week 11
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Individual progress critiques on final
Note: Class will only meet on Monday of this week. No class is scheduled for Tuesday or Thursday.
Final project due
ATTENDANCE MANDATORY
NOTE: CLASS WILL BE HELD IN SAME ROOM at same time, Thursday Nov 19th from at 6:00 p.m.
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Due: Final Project. Rendered and lit.
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