Foundations of Digital Animation

View all Courses

Foundations of Digital Animation

Introduction to 3D modeling, surfacing, rigging, and animation.

Sequence: Digital Arts and Animation

Grade: Seventh: Digital Animation Track

Hours of Instruction: 60 - 70

Print Share Preview
Quote

Course Description

Students gain familiarity with the production process of 3D animation using industry-standard software.

Students learn and apply 3D modeling and sculpting, surfacing, rigging, and 3D animation skills and techniques using the Maya and Mudbox software programs, both of which are standard tools among professionals in the digital animation industry. Students will be introduced to Maya’s material and texturing tools, as well as different texturing resources and approaches. Students learn about the character rigging process including creating an armature, FK/IK setups, paint-weighting meshes, and creating controls. Students then apply these techniques to the rigging of a simple ball model. Students apply the principles of traditional 2D animation to the 3D environment and utilize Maya’s keyframe animation tools to produce and render a simple bouncing ball animation using the rigged ball model.

Educational Standards

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

Chapter Subchapter Course Application
126.43.1 B Identify and apply color theories, including harmony rules, tints, shades, gradients, color mixing, new color creation, and the visual impacts of specific color combinations using a digital format.
126.43.1 C Apply texture, transparency, skinning, and contour along a 3-D object surface.
126.43.1 F Evaluate the fundamental concepts of 3-D modeling and design such as composition, perspective, angles, lighting, repetition, proximity, white space, balance, and contrast.
126.43.1 J Use the basic principles of design such as proportion, balance, variety, emphasis, harmony, symmetry, and unity in type, color, size, line thickness, shape, and space.
126.43.1 L Identify pictorial qualities in a design such as shape and form, space and depth, or pattern and texture to create visual unity and desired effects in designs.
126.43.4 A Distinguish between and use the components of 3-D animation software programs such as cast, score, environment, the X-Y-Z coordinate system, and the animation manipulation interface.
126.43.4 B Distinguish between and use the different 3-D modeling techniques such as box modeling, transformation, and polygon primitives using extrusion and rotation.
126.43.4 C Distinguish between and use the different 3-D animation techniques such as path and rendering using dynamics and physics.

 

Key Objectives

Students will:
  • Develop an understanding of the 3D animation production process.
  • Practice 3D modeling, sculpting, surfacing, rigging, and animating techniques.
  • Utilize 3D modeling, sculpting, and surfacing skills to create a custom, textured character model.
  • Apply the 12 animation principles to 3D keyframe animation.
  • Utilize rigging skills to give animations the ability to react to their physical environment, generating a more lifelike appearance.

Materials/Supplies

  • Foundations of Digital Animation Classroom Activity Kit

Other Required Resources

  • Computer, one per student
  • Adobe Creative Cloud applications (Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Animate)
  • Autodesk (Maya, Mudbox)

Compatibility

Apple Windows