Instructor: Moshe Mahler (mo.mahler@gmail.com)
TA: Catherine Luo (catheril@andrew.cmu.edu)
Office hours TBA
General Information
Time: Section A (ETC) - Wednesday from 6:30PM - 8:50PM
Section B (IDeAte) - Thursday from 6:30PM - 8:50PM
Location: Section A (ETC) - PTC 5208
Section B (IDeATe) - CFA 317
Course Number: 60-125a (53-881), 60-125b
Term: Spring 2019
Class Overview
This class will explore computer animation as it pertains to a professional animation production pipeline. The course is designed to give students exposure to key job descriptions that align to the animation industry. Topics covered include: character design, world building, storyboarding, digital sculpture, look development, rigging, layout, animation, cinematography, lighting, and rendering. These topics are taught in 2-4 week sprints that allow a student to learn the fundamentals of each craft. In a mixture of class lectures, critiques, and training workshops, students will become acquainted with the necessary skills needed to create their own characters and animations. By completion of the course, students will be familiar with industry-standard best practices and ready to take advanced courses related to animation, vfx, and video game related pipelines. This course specifically offers insight on how the craft of animation is always evolving at top studios such as Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and Industrial Light and Magic.
Class Policy
Attendance: Tardy or absent days require permission from the instructor. More than 3 unexcused absences results in a lower letter grade.
The School of Art recognizes the diversity of racial identities, religious backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities that is fundamental to our culture. All classes and studios in the School of Art are safe spaces for self-identification, self-expression, and inclusivity.
Grading
Grades will be determined from the overall quality of the assignments, student professionalism, dedication/willingness to learn, ability to meet deadlines, participation, and the quality of the final assignment. A letter grade will be given at the mid semester and end of semester.
Assignments: Full assignments will be posted under the assignments tab of this website. See for more details and submission guidelines. Shorter descriptions are also posted in the syllabus schedule below.
There is an assignment for each week for a total of 15 assignments. Each assignment will build towards the final assignment.
Participation: It is important for everyone to participate during class discussions and ask questions whenever needed. Participation is part of the overall grading, and students are expected to focus on the topic at hand instead of on the internet or texting.
*Plagiarism/Copying work from others will result in an automatic failing grade for the course
Important Links (Please bookmark)
Course Webpage: cmuanimation.weebly.com
Course Piazza: piazza.com/cmu/spring2019/6012553881
Course Box: TBD
TA: Catherine Luo (catheril@andrew.cmu.edu)
Office hours TBA
General Information
Time: Section A (ETC) - Wednesday from 6:30PM - 8:50PM
Section B (IDeAte) - Thursday from 6:30PM - 8:50PM
Location: Section A (ETC) - PTC 5208
Section B (IDeATe) - CFA 317
Course Number: 60-125a (53-881), 60-125b
Term: Spring 2019
Class Overview
This class will explore computer animation as it pertains to a professional animation production pipeline. The course is designed to give students exposure to key job descriptions that align to the animation industry. Topics covered include: character design, world building, storyboarding, digital sculpture, look development, rigging, layout, animation, cinematography, lighting, and rendering. These topics are taught in 2-4 week sprints that allow a student to learn the fundamentals of each craft. In a mixture of class lectures, critiques, and training workshops, students will become acquainted with the necessary skills needed to create their own characters and animations. By completion of the course, students will be familiar with industry-standard best practices and ready to take advanced courses related to animation, vfx, and video game related pipelines. This course specifically offers insight on how the craft of animation is always evolving at top studios such as Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and Industrial Light and Magic.
Class Policy
Attendance: Tardy or absent days require permission from the instructor. More than 3 unexcused absences results in a lower letter grade.
The School of Art recognizes the diversity of racial identities, religious backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities that is fundamental to our culture. All classes and studios in the School of Art are safe spaces for self-identification, self-expression, and inclusivity.
Grading
Grades will be determined from the overall quality of the assignments, student professionalism, dedication/willingness to learn, ability to meet deadlines, participation, and the quality of the final assignment. A letter grade will be given at the mid semester and end of semester.
Assignments: Full assignments will be posted under the assignments tab of this website. See for more details and submission guidelines. Shorter descriptions are also posted in the syllabus schedule below.
There is an assignment for each week for a total of 15 assignments. Each assignment will build towards the final assignment.
Participation: It is important for everyone to participate during class discussions and ask questions whenever needed. Participation is part of the overall grading, and students are expected to focus on the topic at hand instead of on the internet or texting.
*Plagiarism/Copying work from others will result in an automatic failing grade for the course
Important Links (Please bookmark)
Course Webpage: cmuanimation.weebly.com
Course Piazza: piazza.com/cmu/spring2019/6012553881
Course Box: TBD
SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Week 1 - 2D Exploration, Concept art, and Character design
Week 2 - Intro to Modeling
Week 3 - Digital Sculpture
Week 4 - Refine Character Model
Week 5 - Recovery Week
Week 6 - UV Mapping and Texturing
Week 7 - Materials, Lighting and Rendering 1
Week 8 - Materials, Lighting and Rendering 2
Week 9 - Spring Break
Week 10 - Layout
Week 11 - Rigging 1
Week 12 - Rigging 2
Week 13- Rigging 3
Week 14 - Animation 1 (Subject To Change)
Week 15 - Animation 2 (Subject To Change)
Week 16 - Animation 3 (Subject To Change)
Final Crit: Monday, May 6th 5:30PM - 8:30PM, BH A51
Week 1 - 2D Exploration, Concept art, and Character design
- Wednesday/Thursday, Jan 16/17 - Introductions, class overview, general pipeline overview, and character design lecture.
Week 2 - Intro to Modeling
- Wednesday/Thursday, Jan 23/24 - Lecture and demo. Intro to Maya and box modeling.
Week 3 - Digital Sculpture
- Wednesday/Thursday, Jan 30/31 - Demo Zbrush. Digital sculpture workflows, dynamesh, and anatomy.
Week 4 - Refine Character Model
- Wednesday/Thursday, Feb 6/7 - Refine Character Model - Remeshing and Anatomy reinforcement
Week 5 - Recovery Week
- Wednesday/Thursday, Feb 13/14 - Recovery Week. Final model due.
Week 6 - UV Mapping and Texturing
- Wednesday/Thursday, Feb 20/21 - Demo texturing techniques: ZBrush polypaint, Photoshop workflows, Substance Painter demo
Week 7 - Materials, Lighting and Rendering 1
- Wednesday/Thursday, Feb 27/28 - Demo materials. Creating normal maps and bump maps.
Week 8 - Materials, Lighting and Rendering 2
- Monday, Mar 6/7 - History of lighting technology from secularities to global illumination, environment lighting and Arnold. Final character models due.
Week 9 - Spring Break
Week 10 - Layout
- Wednesday/Thursday, Mar 20/21 - Cinematography lecture. Simple ideas that allow you to control an audience.
Week 11 - Rigging 1
- Wednesday/Thursday, Mar 27/28 - Skeleton and control creation. Painting weights.
Week 12 - Rigging 2
- Wednesday/Thursday, Apr 3/4 - IK and reverse foot setup.
Week 13- Rigging 3
- Wednesday/Thursday, Apr 10/11 - Rigging wild card. Specific demos to aid in your character animation.
Week 14 - Animation 1 (Subject To Change)
- Wednesday/Thursday, Apr 17/18 - History of animation and style in animation: from an art to a science.
Week 15 - Animation 2 (Subject To Change)
- Wednesday/Thursday, Apr 24/25 - Vanilla walk. Simple locomotion and body mechanics.
Week 16 - Animation 3 (Subject To Change)
- Wednesday/Thursday, May 1/2 - Block, spline, polish workflow
Final Crit: Monday, May 6th 5:30PM - 8:30PM, BH A51
