Syllabus

The Art Institute of California – San Francisco
Course Syllabus

Course Number: CA640
Course Title: Animation Technical Direction II

Class Meetings: Thursday, 8am - noon, Main 512
Session/Year: Winter 2012
Instructor Name: (Greg Lemon
Email Address: (glemon@edmc.edu)
Phone: email me!
Instructor Availability Outside of Class: (email me!)

Animation Technical Direction II

Course Description:
A continuation of in-depth analysis and advanced study of technical direction with associated topics and solutions. An advanced review of animation skills, editing and design constraints, and complex problems is also included.

Course Length: 11 Weeks
Contact Hours: 44 Hours
Lecture: 22 Hours
Lab: 22 Hours
Credit Values: 3 Credits

Course Goals : Two major concentrations of this course are Maya(or like software) Dynamics and Particle Systems, including Paint Effects. The course will cover all aspects within the areas from basics to advanced features.
This class will combine lectures with tutorials to demonstrate the mechanism of Particle Systems and Paint Effects. Students explore beyond 3D paint effects into advanced Dynamic particle effects to produce complex images. The class experiments also include dynamic animation using particle system to create realistic motion. Students are directed to put the concept to work right away in class activities and then apply to their projects in the form of Film, video and commercials. Term grade will be based on animation level achieved in the project rather than testing on concepts.

Course Competencies:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
Structure the creative phase of animation projects.
Apply appropriate effects to portray natural phenomenon.
Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of dynamics
Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of particle systems and their uses.
Demonstrate applications of particles combined with geometry.
Apply dynamics to a scene convincingly.
Complete a project using dynamics and particles.

Course Prerequisite(s): CA 610 Animation Technical Direction I

Materials and Supplies: Storage Medium , Notebook, writing and drawing supplies.

Estimated Homework Hours: 4 Hours

Technology Needed:

Hardware: PC Linux / Windows , (Mac as applicable) , microphone, DV video camera

Software: Final Cut Pro, Maya or Other 3D Software as needed , After Effects, Shake , Renderer (Mental Ray / Renderman Mtor & Slim), Photoshop / Gimp. Vegas (X) ,. Additional tools as needed.

Grading Scale:
All assignments must have clear criteria and objectives to meet. All students shall be treated equitably. It will be that student’s right to know his/her grade at any reasonable point that information is requested by that student. The criteria for determining a student’s grade shall be as follows (on a percentage of total points basis):

A 100-93
A- 92-90
B+ 89-87
B 86-83
B- 82-80
C+ 79-77
C 76-73
C- 72-70
D+ 69-67
D 66-65
F 64 or below

Process for Evaluation:

Students should define three (3) technically challenging shots/problems related to Thesis production/completion. Each shot/problem should be defined in a manner that states both the existing challenges and hurdles related to shot completion, as well as the criteria that would define the problem as solved and the shot finaled.

Students will then solve each shot/problem, with a goal of attaining a final quality shot for each instance.

Class Participation: 10%

Problem/Shot completion 1: 30%

Problem/Shot completion 2: 30%

Problem/Shot completion 3: 30%

Student Evaluation/Grading Policies:
Class time will be spent in a productive manner.
Grading will be done on a point system.
Points for individual activities will be announced.
All work must be received by the set deadlines.
ABSOLUTELY NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE FINAL CLASS MEETS WEEK 11.

Classroom Policy:
No food allowed in class or lab at any time. Drinks in sealable bottles allowed in classroom.
Edible items brought to class or lab must be thrown out.
If student elects to eat/drink outside class or lab door, missed time is recorded as absent.
Attendance is taken hourly. Tardiness or absence is recorded in 15-minute increments.
Break times are scheduled by the instructor at appropriate intervals.
No private software is to be brought to lab or loaded onto school computers.
No software games are allowed in lab (unless in course curriculum).
Headphones are required if listening to music during lab. No headphones are allowed in lecture.
Any student who has special needs that may affect his or her performance in this class is asked to identify his/her needs to the instructor in private by the end of the first day of class. Any resulting class performance problems that may arise for those who do not identify their needs will not receive any special grading considerations.

Disability Policy Statement:
It is our policy not to discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities in its educational programs, activities, or services. If you have a disability-related need for adjustments or other accommodations in this class, contact the Disabilities Services Coordinator at 415-276-1060.

Academic Honesty Policy:
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty while pursuing their studies at AiCA-SF. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: plagiarism and cheating; misuse of academic resources or facilities; and misuse of computer software, data, equipment or networks.

Student work that appears to violate AiCA-SF’s standards of academic honesty will be reviewed by the Committee on Academic Honesty. If the work is judged to have violated standards of academic honesty, appropriate sanctions will be given. Sanctions include but are not limited to course failure and academic termination.


Suggested Course Outline

Week 1:
Course overview

Define shots/problems to be completed for course.

Homework: Work on shot/problem 1.

Week 2:
Work with instructor to strategize and implement technical and aesthetic solutions to shot/problem 1.
Homework: Work on shot/problem 1.

Week 3:
Work with instructor to strategize and implement technical and aesthetic solutions to shot/problem 1.
Homework: Work on shot/problem 1.


Week 4:
Work with instructor to strategize and implement technical and aesthetic solutions to shot/problem 1.
Homework: Complete work on shot/problem 1.


Week 5:

DUE: shot/problem 1 delivery.
Work with instructor to strategize and implement technical and aesthetic solutions to shot/problem 2.
Homework: Complete work on shot/problem 2.

Week 6:
Work with instructor to strategize and implement technical and aesthetic solutions to shot/problem 2.
Homework: Complete work on shot/problem 2.

Week 7:
Work with instructor to strategize and implement technical and aesthetic solutions to shot/problem 2.
Homework: Complete work on shot/problem 2.

Week 8:

DUE: shot/problem 2 delivery.
Work with instructor to strategize and implement technical and aesthetic solutions to shot/problem 3.
Homework: Complete work on shot/problem 3.

Week 9:
Work with instructor to strategize and implement technical and aesthetic solutions to shot/problem 3.
Homework: Complete work on shot/problem 3.

Week 10:
Work with instructor to strategize and implement technical and aesthetic solutions to shot/problem 3.
Homework: Complete work on shot/problem 3.

Week 11:

DUE: shot/problem 3 delivery