COURSE CURRICULUM

In Semester 1 of the Digital Animation Program, students will dive into the fundamentals of both 3D and 2D animation, beginning with 3D Animation 1, where they'll explore the principles of animation through classical exercises. They'll also be introduced to 3D Modelling and Rendering 1, covering essential concepts in 3D modeling, lighting, and surfacing. In 2D Animation 1, students will apply the principles of animation and performance using industry-standard digital tools and storyboarding software. To complement these technical skills, Communication Foundations will enhance students' written, oral, and information literacy, preparing them for professional and personal success. The Pre-Production 1 course will focus on developing strong drawing skills, storyboarding, and understanding the production pipeline. Cinematic Arts will introduce visual storytelling, storyboarding for animation, and image/video editing basics. Finally, in Drawing Anatomy, students will study the human figure, focusing on skeletal and muscle structures, which is essential for character design and animation. This semester builds a strong foundation for the creative and technical aspects of digital animation.In Semester 2 of the Digital Animation Program, students will further develop their animation skills with 3D Animation 2, where they will focus on character performance that incorporates both personality and physicality. Similarly, 2D Animation 2 will deepen their understanding of character performance in 2D animation. The Character Posing course will enhance students' ability to create strong characters by studying different body types, personality traits, and emotions in various situations. In 3D Modelling and Rendering 2, students will continue their exploration of character modeling, surfacing, lighting, and rendering, with an introduction to rigging techniques. The Pre-Production 2 course will teach perspective techniques and design principles to create functional layouts, location designs, and props, with an emphasis on environmental narrative and staging. In Cinematic Scene Anatomy, students will learn cinematic direction and apply these principles to 3D animation sequences. Lastly, the Story and Gesture Drawing course will strengthen students' observational skills through life drawing and gesture techniques, which are essential for animating expressions, poses, and actions. This semester builds on technical skills while expanding creative abilities in both 3D and 2D animation.In Semester 3 of the Digital Animation Program, students will further refine their animation skills and expand their technical knowledge. In 3D Animation 3, students will focus on applying the principles of animation, including posing, timing, and staging to express emotion and tell a story, with an emphasis on using the graph editor. 2D Animation 3 will continue the exploration of character movement, with a focus on personality-driven animation and physical forces. In 3D Game Animation 1, students will delve into animating characters for video games, learning to create humanoid action sequences and explore quadruped walk cycles. 3D Modelling and Rendering 3 will advance students' skills in surfacing, lighting, and rendering, with a focus on advanced ray-tracing and sculpting techniques. Face Animation will teach students to create and rig 2D characters for traditional animation performances using industry-standard techniques. Cinematic Sequences will challenge students to direct and produce a chase scene, deepening their understanding of scene anatomy and screen direction. Finally, the Indigenous Elective will provide students with an opportunity to explore and engage with Indigenous perspectives in the field of animation. This semester integrates technical skills with creativity to prepare students for diverse animation industries.In Semester 4 of the Digital Animation Program, students continue to build on their animation and technical skills while focusing on more advanced techniques and industry-specific applications. In 3D Animation 4, students will refine their 3D character performances, integrating body and facial animation while incorporating sound and working from storyboards and animatics, exploring different animation styles. 2D Animation 4 will focus on executing comprehensive animated character performances, emphasizing clear emotional communication and its impact on audiences, with advanced techniques in 2D character creation and rigging. In 3D Game Animation 2, students will continue to explore character animation for video games, creating cinematic creature sequences and advanced loop animations. 3D Modelling and Rendering 4 will introduce students to more complex 3D modelling, surfacing, lighting, and rendering techniques, including advanced procedural materials. The Pre-Production Portfolio course will guide students in creating professional portfolios, including demo reels, resumes, and digital art portfolios, while addressing job search processes, interview skills, and contract negotiations. In Pre-Production 3, students will focus on set design for entertainment, learning about design, shape language, story, color, and light to bring environments to life. Finally, the Compositing course will delve into advanced production and compositing techniques, allowing students to explore and implement their own artistic projects. This semester prepares students for real-world applications and equips them with the skills needed for a successful career in digital animation.In Semester 5 of the Digital Animation Program, students further refine their animation skills with an emphasis on creating comprehensive projects and exploring advanced animation techniques. In 3D Animation 5, students will create detailed animated character performances, studying real-world motion and physics to produce short animated pieces. 2D Animation 5 will focus on developing in-depth 2D character performances and projects, with a strong emphasis on performance, acting, and motion to enhance storytelling through animated films. The Motion Capture Studio course introduces students to driving characters with motion capture data, allowing them to convert motion capture points into 3D animations, producing lifelike movements quickly. In 3D Modelling and Rendering 5, students will engage in comprehensive 3D modelling projects, applying techniques in surfacing, lighting, rendering, and exploring personal styles related to appeal, shape, color, and mood. The Portfolio and Pipeline course guides students through the production pipeline, helping them tailor their career goals within animation, while enhancing their portfolios, resumes, and cover letters. Pre-Production 4 allows students to begin the pre-production phase for their independent projects, generating designs for characters, props, locations, and layouts specific to their chosen discipline. Additionally, students will choose a General Education Elective course to supplement their studies. This semester prepares students for professional work in animation and helps them fine-tune their portfolios and career direction as they approach the end of the program.In Semester 6 of the Digital Animation Program, students continue to refine their skills and produce industry-standard work. In 3D Animation 6, students create strong acting performances in 3D animation, applying the principles of animation and incorporating body mechanics concepts to create lifelike characters. Similarly, in 2D Animation 6, students work on perfecting comprehensive 2D animated character performances, producing projects that meet industry production quality standards. 3D Modelling and Rendering 6 challenges students to produce high-quality 3D models, surfacing, lighting, and rendering, whether as standalone modelling projects or as part of a 3D animation performance. The Portfolio and Reel Production course offers individual mentorship, helping students refine their portfolios and reels while learning professional compositing and editing techniques. In the Capstone Production course, students apply and integrate their knowledge from previous semesters to complete a self-directed project, showcasing their skills and creativity in their chosen field. Additionally, students will choose a General Education Elective course to supplement their studies. This semester is designed to prepare students for professional work in the animation industry, providing them with the tools and guidance to create polished, high-quality projects and build strong portfolios for their careers.