Adobe Tools for Animators will introduce many of the core Adobe software packages typically used in game production and portfolio creation including Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, After Effects, Premiere and Dreamweaver. As students progress through the GAM program, these applications will provide fundamental tools and complement other graphics and animation software programs.
In Game Industry Overview the history of the game industry will be explored from both the business and art creation perspectives. The wide variety of games, genres, hardware, software and techniques will discussed as well as current and future trends, industry leaders and up and coming technologies.
3D Animation for Animators will cover the basics of modeling, texturing, animation, lighting and rendering. This class will give an overview of the Maya animation software package as well as the animation production environment.
Computer Graphics for Artists provides the fundamental principles of computer graphics. Students will learn how computers and game engines use hardware and software to display graphics and animation.
3D Modeling and Texturing focuses on modeling and texturing techniques. Using a variety of tools including Mudbox, Body Paint, and Painter, students will create fantastic characters and structures. Students will learn UV mapping, 2D and 3D painting techniques, bump mapping, and basic application of shaders.
In Character Animation I students will learn the techniques of animation, including pose-to-pose, blocking, animatics, lip sync and advanced camera composition. Character animation principles will be taught including: weight and balance, squash and stretch, timing, anticipation, staging, follow through and overlap, slow in and out, break downs, arcs and secondary action.
Lighting, Rendering, and Compositing covers both the technical and artistic side of advanced lighting, rendering, and compositing. Lighting, advanced texturing, and shading techniques will be used to generate multi-layer composites for cinematics, lighting with real-time game engines, and advanced rendering engines.
Covering a wide variety of cinema, film history, composition, character development, line of action, story arc, and structure, Visual Storytelling will serve as a foundation for storytelling and animation development.
Game Engine Overview will detail how animation and scripted events are triggered in game engines and will cover various differences encountered between different platforms and game play types. Students will also learn how game engines work and be introduced to the fundamentals of game design, art and animation integration.
Building on what students have learned in previous animation and acting classes, Character Animation II students will focus on advanced character animation techniques. Students will learn how to bring life to their characters, with strong poses, facial expression, and lip sync.
Character Modeling and Advanced Shading builds on the skills learned in 3D Modeling and Texturing I. Students will now add advanced modeling and texturing techniques including: nurbs modeling, displacement maps, shader construction, global illumination, high dynamic range images, ambient occlusion, vertex and pixel shaders, and sub surface scattering. Students will learn to use the ZBrush modeling and texturing tool and integrate their models into the Unreal game engine.
Acting for Animators students will gain first hand experience in performing, pantomime, and interaction. By learning performance arts, students will develop the ability to convey emotion, expression, empathy, and exaggeration. Students will study films and actors ranging from the silent movie era to the strong character roles of our time.
Scripting and Rigging (MEL, Python) students will learn how to utilize Python and Maya's MEL scripting languages that are now commonplace in the animation industry. No prior programming skills are required for this entry-level course. Students will also be introduced to advanced character rigging techniques utilizing scripted and traditional Maya rigging techniques.
Game Engine Assets and Animation Integration includes lecture, lab, and self-directed study. Students will be able to specialize in one of 3 disciplines including Animation, Modeling, and Technical Animation. Students will be able to choose their specialty as well as a mentor from the teaching staff with expertise in their chosen subject area. Students will build and integrate assets and animation into a working game level. Students will also be introduced to production asset management and content creation requirements to build and populate game environments using the latest game engine technologies and techniques.
Drawing for Animators teaches the fundamentals of drawing, with emphasis on animation related curriculum. The study of perspective, shading, storyboarding, figure drawing and traditional animation techniques will be covered.
In Motion Capture, students use a state of the art Motion Capture facility to learn how to setup, operate and integrate motion captured performances. Students will get hands-on experience with the equipment and use Motion Builder to refine data to be utilized in Maya and game engines.
Team Production students are responsible for the organization, management, schedule and final deliverables of their team projects. Students will work together to utilize project and asset management tools, milestone and deliverable schedules, sprint workflow and to give presentations of their results.
In the Portfolio Master Class, students create a complete series of projects highlighting the best of their work. They will create a resume, website, DVD, and show reel. Upon graduation, these tools will be instrumental for the student in landing their first professional position.
The Art and Color Theory course gives a brief history of art, highlighting important milestones. Students will learn color theory, symbolism, and different styles of art.
In Written Communication, students hone their writing skills and practice communicating effectively to a variety of audiences. Each session includes assigned readings, writing projects, and grammar exercises. Topics include reading critically, structuring essays, and creating useful, audience-targeted documents. Students complete projects such as a comparison/contrast essay, a business letter, a memo, and a proposal.
The Speech Communications course helps students develop confidence and professionalism by practicing oral skills in a variety of circumstances. Exercises include researching and preparing persuasive and informative speeches, as well as practicing for professional presentations, customer interactions, and interviews. These activities will emphasize the use of proper grammar and language, while developing organizational and collaborative skills. Other practical in-class exercises for developing skilled speech communication include: role-playing customer interactions, asking questions to probe for information, listening effectively, giving instruction and offering alternatives, and role-playing effective telephone skills.
Statistical Analysis introduces the student to basic statistical concepts and statistical terminology. The course is divided into lecture and lab where the student will utilize a coordinated computer software program to solve statistical problems.
Introduction to Psychology provides students with an overview of the field of psychology, including the history and science of the field; theories of personality; heritage and cultural influences throughout the life span; consciousness and mental states; perception, memory, learning, and intelligence; psychological disorders and treatments; emotion, stress, and health.
Introduction to Sociology introduces basic ideas and concepts of sociology. The fundamentals of the early social thinkers, culture socialization, the difference between psychological and sociological theories of human development, the effects of wealth and poverty on people’s lives, sex and gender, families, and race and ethnic relations
