CSC 188 – 3D Computer Animation II


Tentative Schedule

LM: Learning Maya book

IM: Instant Maya documentation lessons

DC: [digital] Cinematography & Directing

 

Class

Date

Topics

Readings/Screenings

Assignments

1

1/11

Course Introduction

 

 

Visions of Light

Read: DC, Ch. 1

Project 1 assigned

 

 

 

Lighting Techniques

 

Project 1 references assigned

 

2

1/13

Light Quality

Read: DC, Ch. 5

Project 1 references due

 

 

Color Balance

 

 

 

3

1/20

Project 1 critique

 

Project 1 critique

Project 2 assigned

 

 

 

Motion Fundamentals

 

IM Anim 1, LM4 assigned

Project 2 video reference assigned

 

4

1/25

Keyframe Animation

 

 

IM Anim 1, LM4 due

 

 

Modifying Key Positions

Light & Heavy

Guild Wars trailer

 

Weight study assigned

Project 2 video reference due

5

1/27

Modifying Graph Shape

 

 

 

 

 

Group nodes for animation

 

Weight study due

6

2/1

Camera Effects

 

 

 

 

 

Rendering for animation

Read: DC, Ch. 10

 

7

2/3

Project 2 critique

 

Project 2 critique

 

 

 

Story pre-production

Read: DC, Ch. 3, 4, 9

Toy Story 1 & 2, Bug’s Life

Dinosaur, The Incredibles

 

Project 3 assigned

 

8

2/8

Camera Composition

Read: DC, Ch. 7,8

 

 

 

 

Camera Dynamics

Read: DC, Ch. 6,11

 

 

9

2/10

Project 3 critique

 

Project 4 assigned

 

 

 

Principles of Animation

Pixar Short Films

 

 

10

2/15

Hierarchical Animation

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Linear Deformations

 

 

 

11

2/17

Lattice Deformations

 

Project 4 progress due

 

 

Miscellaneous Deformers

 

 

12

2/22

Studio Time

 

 

 

 

Studio Time

 

 

13

2/24

Project 4 critique

 

Project 5 assigned

 

 

 

Kinematics

 

 

14

3/1

Reactive Animation

 

 

 

 

 

Control Rigging

 

 

15

3/3

Project 5 critique

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Important Dates

Jan 18

MLK birthday, no class

Feb 25

Professional day, no class

 

Other important dates (Academic calendar)