ART/CSC/FST 320 - Computer Animation

Summer Internship Opportunities

Posted by Eric Patterson
/ March 9, 2012 / Leave a comment

Please visit the resources page to see updated postings for some of the many student opportunities for internships that usually roll around in the summer. I’m very familiar with the Sony Imageworks program (which is a great program) and know all of the interns from last summer (several are graduated and employed now). I’ve also heard of people who have participated in others with positive feedback. They are very competitive, and you need a portfolio setup, but it’s definitely worth applying — if you get a chance to do one of these, it’s a great opportunity! If you have questions or would like tips for your portfolio and reel, please let me know.

Posted in Announcements
Optional Extension on Project 2

Posted by Eric Patterson
/ March 7, 2012 / Leave a comment

The project 2 deadline is extended until Tuesday, March 20 (class right after break), if you choose. However, if you present clips tomorrow, you can receive up to 5 bonus points on the project grade if all three are completed. Completed and rendered clips may be uploaded through Tuesday, March 20 and presented then as well.

However, the project 3 deadline will still remain on Tuesday, April 3. With this in mind, you should consider doing your model sheets and maquettes if you have not finished them and begin modeling your character in Maya so that we can spend the two weeks after break on rigging material. We’ll need to keep on schedule with the characters so that we have a comfortable amount of time to animate, light, render, and edit the production in that last month of the semester.

Posted in Announcements, Assignments
More Free Rigs

Posted by Eric Patterson
/ March 5, 2012 / Leave a comment

You may find these rigs fun and useful.

Posted in Announcements
Modeling Reminder

Posted by Eric Patterson
/ March 1, 2012 / Leave a comment

If each of the production unit teams, particularly the director, art director, and model supervisor can get together a list of models (preferably with art direction — reference photos, sketches, color renderings, whatever works to get the visual idea across) by Tuesday’s class, I’ll share these with the 220 sections later in the day as options for their Project 2 where they model, texture, and light. It’s convenient it is lining-up like this during this semester, so take advantage of it and maybe save a little extra work while getting them involved as well.

Incidentally, since the two production ideas have been chosen, the model supervisors and leads should start talking to their modelers whether specifically listed or the whole class to arrange models. And — it would be good to coordinate who is modeling what for their character project to make sure that each character is covered!

Posted in Announcements
Tuesday Lip-Sync Reminder

Posted by Eric Patterson
/ March 1, 2012 / Leave a comment

Please remember to bring a rig that you like and have tried enough that you’re somewhat comfortable with it that also has facial rigging — at least a mouth open/close and stretch/narrow. Also, bring an audio clip (say a favorite movie line, as an example) that is a few seconds long that we’ll use for your lip-sync animation. There is a link in the earlier Project 2 posting to a site that has some .wav files from movies, but there are plenty of other sites, and you can “rip” your own as you choose.

Posted in Announcements
Video Clips Tuesday and Thursday

Posted by Eric Patterson
/ March 1, 2012 / Leave a comment

Here’s a link to a .zip file with all of the video image sequences from Tuesday.

Here’s a link to a .zip file with all of the video image sequences from Thursday.

Posted in Announcements
HP Technology at DreamWorks

Posted by Eric Patterson
/ February 28, 2012 / Leave a comment

So this is a bit of a long commercial for HP, but there are a lot of neat glimpses of the DreamWorks studio in Glendale, CA (which is a really neat place) and some of its hardware, server rooms, etc.

Posted in Inspiration
Project 3: Character Design

Posted by Eric Patterson
/ February 27, 2012 / Leave a comment

See here for details.

Complete and submit by Tuesday, April 3. Be prepared to present your work in class.

Posted in Assignments

Tagged characters
Project 2: Animation Practice

Posted by Eric Patterson
/ February 27, 2012 / Leave a comment
Complete the following:
- Animate a walk or run that communicates a mood such as happy, sad, triumphant, sneaking, etc. See “The Animator’s Survival Kit” or other materials discussed in class for reference.
- Animate a performance clip using video reference.
- Animate a short performance that uses lip-synch and facial expressions performed in time with a short audio clip, perhaps a favorite movie line or such.
You may use a freely available rig, such as those linked in the previous post. There is one less walk/run than previously mentioned to allow for time. Work for polished timing and spacing as well as demonstration of principles of animation. Complete in time to spend at least some thought toward lighting, set, shot composition, and rendering — make something you’d be proud to post on your reel!

Here is a site that you may find useful for finding a fun audio clip. Be creative in whatever you choose and think of something interesting that relates to your audio, perhaps in an unexpected way, for your character to do while talking.

Complete and upload by Thursday, March 8 to present your work in class.
Posted in Assignments
Freely Available Rigs for Project 2

Posted by Eric Patterson
/ February 27, 2012 / Leave a comment

Here are two places to find some freely available character rigs: 11-Second Club and Creative Crash. Look around and choose one that you will have fun using and also wouldn’t mind seeing a lot. Or seeing on your reel — which by the way, if the license accords non-commercial use, you are welcome to use these for your reel. (You should, of course, credit the source for the model and rig — but there is usually a breakdown on your portfolio/reel submission where this is done for every shot in your reel). There are a lot of fun ones, and some of them (such as the Andy Rig) are configurable for different looks.

Posted in Announcements

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