Click here to view tutorial #1: Polygonal Modeling
Click here to download your course syllabus as a word document
Mondays and
Wednesdays 8:30 to 11:20
Professor:
Eddie Canaan
email: epc@andrew.cmu.edu
Graduate
Assistant: Scott Andrew
email: sandrew@andrew.cmu.edu
Blackboard
login page: http://www.cmu.edu/blackboard/
Optional
Text: Learning Autodeskš Mayaš 2009, Alias/Wavefront available at Amazon.com
Materials:
We will have an art server account for this class but a USB Flash Drive for
backing up your work is strongly suggested.
On successful completion of this
course, you will be able to:
„ Produce work that uses the tools of
animation for self-expression.
„ Critically evaluate your work and the works of others
through formal critique.
„ Critically discuss examples of animation done with and without the
computer.
Week 1
M 8/23 Class
introduction, course introduction, watch animation.
W 8/25 Introduction
to Maya. Project
1: In Maya build at least three objects, environments or characters by
manipulating the primitive shapes provided.
Text
pp. Text pp. 13 – 69
MayaHelp> Learning Resources>
tutorials> Getting Started with Maya> Maya Basics.
MayaHelp> Learning Resources>
tutorials> Getting Started with Maya>Polygonal Modeling
Week 2
M 8/30 Crit on Project 1. Maya overview. Project 2 Work through the Squash
and Stretch exercise (Project One in text) substitute one of your objects for
the ball.
Text pp. 71 – 85, 108 -181. Begin work on Project 2.
MayaHelp> Learning Resources>
tutorials> Getting Started with Maya> Animation> Lesson 1
MayaHelp> Learning Resources>
tutorials> Getting Started with Maya> Animation> Lesson 2
MayaHelp> Learning Resources>tutorials>
Getting Started with Maya> Dynamics
W 9/1 Work on Project 2. Watch Animation.
Week 3
M 9/6 Labor
Day NO CLASS.
W 9/8 Crit on Project 2. Watch Animation.
Week 4
M 9/13 Discuss building objects from
scratch and key framing. Project 3: Build at least two objects from scratch using at least
two construction techniques and create an animation where the objects are
attached, one object moves and the other doesn't.
Text pp. 185 - 217.
MayaHelp> Learning Resources>
tutorials> Getting Started with Maya> Polygon Modeling
MayaHelp> Learning
Resources>tutorials> Getting Started with Maya> Animation> Lesson 3
W 9/15 Work on Project 3. Watch Animation.
Week 5
M 9/20 Crit on project 3 Discuss skinning and skeletons. Project 4: Build at least two
objects from scratch and create an animation where both are moving, skinned and
connected to a skeleton.
Text pp. 240 – 273. 289 – 349, 405 - 415.
MayaHelp> Learning
Resources>tutorials> Getting Started with Maya> Character Setup>
Lesson 1
MayaHelp> Learning
Resources>tutorials> Getting Started with Maya> Character Setup>
Lesson 2
W 9/22 Work
on Project 4.
Watch Animation.
Week 6
M 9/27 Crit on Project 4. Discuss lighting, cameras, IK
(Inverse Kinamatic) and blend shapes. Project
5: Create an animation where at least one light and the camera are moving which
incorporates either an IK movement or a morph. Text pp. 275 – 287.
447 – 459.
MayaHelp> Learning Resources>tutorials> Getting
Started with Maya> Character Setup> Lesson 3
W 9/29 Work
on Project 5.
Week 7
M 10/4 Crit on Project 5. Discuss texture mapping. Project 6: create at
least three separate objects that have been texture mapped, animate and render
them. Text pp.87 – 105, 219 – 237, 462 - 475.
MayaHelp> Learning Resources>tutorials> Getting
Started with Maya> Polygon Texturing
MayaHelp> Learning Resources>tutorials> Getting
Started with Maya> Rendering
W 10/6 Work
on Project 6.
Week 8
M 10/11 Crit on Project 6. Discuss Storyboarding. Project 7: Develop a story board for a project you would like to create in 3-D
Animation.
W 10/13 Work on Story
board. Watch Animation.
Week 9
M 10/18 Crit on Storyboards.
W 10/20 Project
8: Develop the main elements from your story board (Models,
character designs etc.) Text pp.216 – 236, 292 –
308.Watch Animation.
Week 10
M 10/25 Work on Project 8.
W 10/26 Work on Project 8. Watch Animation.
Week 11
M 11/1 Work on Project 8.
W 11/3 Work
on Project 8.
Watch Animation.
Week 12
M 11/8 Crit on Project 8. Project 9: Animate the elements
you created completed with sound to a quick time file or mpeg3.
W 11/10 Work on Project 9. Watch Animation.
Week 13
M 11/15 Work on Project 9. Work In Progress Crit.
W 11/17 Work on Project 9. Watch Animation.
Week 14
M 11/22 Work on Project 9.
W 11/24 Thanksgiving Break - NO CLASS
Week 15
T 11/29 Work
on Project 9.
H 12/1 Last
class to put any finishing touches on your project.
Final Crit
- Date TBA at the end of exam week.
Daily attendance is mandatory,
since all production will be done during class it is essential you arrive by
class time, 8:30 PM. You are required to sign the attendance sheet daily, Three
absences will result in one letter grade lower than the averaged final grade,
if you are late three times that is equal to one absence. Grades will be the
result of averaging class participation and cooperation, performance on
assignments and final quality of the assigned projects.
No Assignment is to be longer than 150 frames except the
final project.
All rendering will be no larger than half screen except for
the final project.
Grading:
The most important thing you can get out of this class is a well animated short.
However, since grades are important to some, here are my
requirements.
Quality of
projects and presentation at crits: 40%
One letter grade will be deducted from projects and assignments turned in late
Participation: 20%
You are expected to assume an active role in critique and presentation
Attendance: 40%
You are
expected to be at every class, if you are late three times that is equal to one
absence
Students
are encouraged to attend the Art School Lecture Series.
Assignment
overview
Project 2 Work through the Squash
and Stretch exercise in the online help, substitute one of the objects you
built in project 1 for the ball.
Project 3: Build at least two
objects from scratch using at least two construction techniques and create an
animation where the objects are attached, one object moves and the other
doesn't
Project 4: Build at least two
objects from scratch and create an animation where both are moving, skinned and
connected to a skeleton.
Project 5:
Create an animation where at least one light and the camera are moving or changing which incorporates
either an IK movement or
Project 6:
Create at least three separate objects that have been texture
Project 7: Develop a story board for a project you would like to create in 3-D
Animation
Project 8:
Develop the main elements from your story board
(Models, character designs etc.)
Project 9:
Animate the elements you created and render them completed to a Quicktime or to DVD with sound.