12/12/2024 7:53:28 AM	APTE 65 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  APTE 65	Title:  ADV 3D ANIM WORKSHOP
Full Title:  Advanced 3D Animation Workshop
Last Reviewed:10/8/2018

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	4.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.50		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	61.25
Minimum	4.00	Lab Scheduled	1.50		8 min.	Lab Scheduled	26.25
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	5.00			Contact Total	87.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  122.50

Total Student Learning Hours: 210.00

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  APTECH 65

Catalog Description:

This class focuses on animation production for professional portfolio development using Autodesk 3ds Max and other complementary software. Students work individually and collaboratively to develop complex 3D (three dimensional) models, textures, visual effects and animations. This course also includes an investigation of career options, and enables students to produce demonstration reels showcasing their specific skills.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of APTE 63 OR APTE 64 OR APTE 162

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This class focuses on animation production for professional portfolio development using Autodesk 3ds Max and other complementary software. Students work individually and collaboratively to develop complex 3D (three dimensional) models, textures, visual effects and animations. This course also includes an investigation of career options, and enables students to produce demonstration reels showcasing their specific skills.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of APTE 63 OR APTE 64 OR APTE 162
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Spring 2011	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Create original 3D animation elements suitable for use in film, broadcast, or computer games.

2.  Prepare and present effective application materials for employment in the 3D animation

    industry.

3.  Participate effectively in a group production environment, including the evaluation of

    animation projects.

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Present class project proposals in a simulated professional environment.

2. Develop and adhere to project production schedules.

3. Produce project development materials.

4. Use various software to fulfill  individual and group project functions.

5. Participate in class critiques and incorporate appropriate suggestions in subsequent work.

6. Prepare and present an effective employment application package.

Topics and Scope

I. 3D Animation Industry Analysis

    A. Job titles and responsibilities

    B. Company size: generalists vs. specialists

    C. Demo reel survey: appropriate elements for specific jobs

II. Class Pipeline Overview

     A. Design visualization

    B. Pre-production

    C. Production

    D. Post-production

    E. Production break down and scheduling      

III.  Survey of Available Software: Appropriate Uses and Best Practices

    A. 3ds Max

    B. Mudbox

    C. After Effects

    D. Premiere Pro

    E. Photoshop

IV. Project Categories and Components

    A. Visual Development

         1. Character and set design

         2. Layout/scene design

         3. Lighting design

         4. Visual effects design

         5. Storyboarding/animatics

    B. Modeling/Texturing

         1. Organic

         2. Hard-surface

         3. Characters

         4. Architectural and environmental

         5. Product

    C. Rigging and controls

         1. Character animation toolkit rigs (CATRigs)

         2. Custom rigs and user interfaces

         3. Maxscript

    D. Animation

         1. Character

              a. Animating to storyboards and video reference

              b. Lip-synching to dialogue tracks

         2. Environments

    E. Visual effects and compositing

         1. Multipass rendering

         2. Greenscreen compositing

         3. Motion matching and tracking

         4. Real-time compositing

V. Project Development Sessions

    A. Project proposal pitch sessions

    B. Classroom production meetings

    C. Ongoing project critiques

VI. Vocational Preparation

    A. Survey of employment opportunities

    B. Application materials development

    C. Demo reel design and execution

         1. Editing basics

         2. DVD authoring

VII. Final Portfolio Review

 

The above Topics and Scope apply to both lecture and lab course components in an integrated format.

Assignments:

Lecture-Related Assignments:

1. Project development materials/elements (e.g., storyboards, animatics, meshes, character test,

    test animations/renderings, etc.)

2. Quizzes (1-3)

3. Final Project: completed group and/or individual projects will be screened during a final

    portfolio review

 

Lecture- and Lab-Related Assignments:

1. Employment application package, including survey of job opportunities, cover letter, resume,

    demo reel, shot breakdown sheet, and other supplemental materials

2. Develop and pitch a project proposal

 

Lab-Related Assignments:

1. Project reviews: ongoing class critiques of project development materials

2. Skill development projects: Students perform common animation production procedures

    specified by the instructor

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 20%
Project proposal, employment application package, and vocational survey
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 40 - 60%
Project development and review of materials/elements
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 5 - 15%
Quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 20 - 40%
Final project, demo reel, and employment package components

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

The Animator's Survival Kit. 4th ed. Williams, Richard. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2012 (classic)

Inspired 3D Short Film Production. Cantor, Jeremy and Valencia, Pepe. Cengage Learning. 2004 (classic)

 

Instructor prepared materials

 

STUDENTS PLEASE NOTE: Do not buy textbooks before checking with the SRJC Bookstore. These titles are representative only, and may not be the same ones used in your class.

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