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An advanced program for students of 3D, this program jumps right into the design and modelling of characters, and prepares the student to create character animations for film, broadcast and games.

This program will teach you advanced techniques for modelling, rigging, texturing, and animating characters, both human and anthropomorphic, in a variety of styles, using traditional techniques in a 3D environment.

This program requires you to have previous education in this field. When you've finished this advanced program, you will have the skills necessary to create and animate original characters for games and various animations. You will be able to rig up a character for you or another animator in your company to animate and you will also be able to enter someone else's environment and animate their character - essential elements for working in an animation team.

Pre-Requisites: 3D Animation Diploma Program (or equivalent)

 

Career Prospects

You could become a character designer for a film company, a motions animator for an MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), or a facial animator for film. Your new-found skills could help you create TV commercials, animate stand-ins for actors in blockbuster hollywood films, or start your own children's animated TV show!

3ds max is the preferred software for creating animation for television broadcast studios, and it has a large share of the market in film special effects. Most TV shows and commercials these days have some sort of special effects, and often they're created using 3D software.

Salary Expectations

Across all of North America and all levels of experience, basic 3D animators earn an average of US $65,107.

A single experienced animator’s salary can be as high as US $86,250

[salary source: gamecareerguide.com]

Career Guidance Program

CD-ED is committed to helping you find employment in the field of your choice. In fact, we’ll start before you even begin as a student! If you call us today, your personal admissions representative will research the job market for this career in your city, and help you decide if this program is the right path for your future.

After graduation, we’ll help you find an interview with your prospective employer in the job market. And of course, your new up-to-date skills will put you at the top of any interviewer’s list!

Below: A student animation created as part of the portfolio design process in the 3D Character Animation diploma program.

Modeling, Texturing, Lighting, Animation & Rendering by Evan Smith, Graduate

What You Get

If you follow our registered course outline and put in the required hours, we guarantee your success. Below are some of the ways we ensure that you will graduate successfully.

 

Unlimited Instructor Support

You will have unlimited one-on-one instructor support via email, chat, online classroom webinars and toll-free phone calls throughout your entire program - and beyond. Our instructors have industry experience and can help you understand how to conquer the job market before you go out into it.

You're never a number at CD-ED - our instructors and guidance counselor will take a personal interest in your progress and will be in touch with you constantly throughout the year, making sure everything is going well with your program and whatever of your home life you wish to share.

Learning Materials Included

Unlike traditional classrooms, you don't need to go out and buy your own textbooks. As part of your tuition, when you become a student you will have all textbooks and registered software shipped directly to your door. A full set of instructions and tutorials will be included, along with access to your customized online learning management system.

We include a “How to Study At Home” learning package with your materials, and along with our exclusive Student Tracking System it will help you schedule your time to ensure a successful student experience.

Equipment Options

You have the option of a brand-new desktop computer on loan to facilitate your education. A computer is simply a tool, and we make sure you have the best tools available, running smoothly to allow you to learn under optimal conditions. And, as a graduation gift, the computer you choose will be yours to keep on the successful completion of your program. NOTE: Accepting computer equipment from CD-ED is optional – not mandatory.

More info about What You Get »

Both cartoon-like and realistic facial features are explored in this program.

 

Program Time Table

Duration: 52 weeks, 1040 hours (Based on a 20-hour work week)

Weeks	# of Weeks	Hours / Week	Total Hours	Subject
1-10	10	20	200	ACA 201 Modeling for Animation
11-20	10	20	200	ACA 202 Rigging Characters
21-31	11	20	220	ACA 203 Animation with Biped
32-42	11	20	220	ACA 204 Basic Character Animation
43-52	10	20	200	ACA 205 Other Characters

Module Summaries

ACA 201 Modeling for Animation

Learn the processes for designing and modeling animatable characters. This includes inventing personality, biography, sketches, and style. Learn to model both simple and realistic human bodies including specific tutorials on heads, hands, eyes and hair. Refresh your skills on UVW Mapping.

ACA 202 Rigging Characters

Learn the process for setting up a model for animation, including building and attaching a skeleton to a model. Learn to skin characters and use vertex weighting for finer control. Study how to create interface and IK controls for animating. Understand how characters will stand, sit, or walk in relation to the camera.

ACA 203 Animation with Biped

Learn to use 3ds Max’s powerful Biped module, with pre-linked and realistically constrained skeletons and suite of motion tools.

 

 

 

ACA 204 Basic Character Animation

Study the traditional animation theories of Motion, Timing, Squash & Stretch, Anticipation, and much more. Learn about the physics of force and motion in order to represent them accurately on screen. Learn to create strong poses and practice several methods of creating walk and run cycles. Explore the processes of expressing acting, emotion,
and dialogue through facial animation techniques.

ACA 205 Other Characters

Learn how to make characters tell believable stories, communicate with the audience and each other, and come alive on screen by understanding the techniques of acting.
Learn to create skeletons for and animate the motions of characters that are not human, and even how to make characters out of inanimate objects! Study directing and filmmaking techniques for developing a short story.

Modeling, Texturing, & Lighting by Robert Saunders, Grad

 

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Christina Atwell, Graduate

• “Everything is going great and when I do get stuck on a problem the staff and school [are] great. I want to let everyone know that if they decide to take a course with CD-ED they are making the right choice. Everyone is great and helpful at the school.”

Kendré LeBlanc, Graduate

• “People think that taking courses from home is easy, but there is a LOT of work involved! You have to read and teach yourself as you go, and that is really different from 'going' to school. But the staff at CD-ED is great, and the instructors are very helpful. I enjoyed my experience, and wouldn't change it for the world. It prepares you, in a way, because you have to be self-motivated, and that is something that employers look for.”

 

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