ClassInfo

ANI 231 3D Animation

Mary Omelina

Office: Daley 9th Floor
Spring 2012-2013
Class number: 34947
Section number: 602
MW 11:50AM - 1:20PM
DPAUL C106B Loop Campus

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Summary

This is an introductory course in 3D animation. It will emphasize traditional animation principles as applied to 3D animation. Topics will include: principles of animation, transformations and deformations of 3D objects, rigging, cameras and lights, and rendering. You must have successfully completed ANI 230 to participate in this class.



Texts

REQUIRED TEST:
The Animators Survival Kit - Richard Williams, Publisher: Faber and Faber Inc. 2001


Grading

Grading Policy
Assignments: 100 points
Bouncing Balls (2): 10% (10 points)
Self-propelled Ball: 5% (5 points)
One-Legged Jump: 10% (10 points)
Basic Rigging ? (Tale): 5% (5 points)
Fist Pound 10% (10 points)
Advanced Rigging: 10% (10 points)
Lower Body Walk: 10% (10points)
Walk Animation: 10% (10 points)
Final Animation: 30% (30 points)
_________________________
Total 100 points

A = 100-93 A- = 92-90
B+ = 89-88 B = 87-83 B- = 82-80
C+ = 79-78 C = 77-73 C- = 72-70
D+ = 69-68 D = 67-63 D- = 62-60
F = 59-0

Standards for Achievement:

Grade A:
Student performs in an outstanding way. Student exhibits achievement and craftsmanship in all work. Criteria is exceeded and student challenges him/herself in project design. Student exhibits commitment to expanding ideas, vocabulary and performance.

Grade B:
Student performs beyond the requirement of the project. Student exhibits above average progress and craftsmanship. A design criterion is exceeded. Student exhibits above average interest in expanding idea, vocabulary, and performance.

Grade C:
Criteria of assignment is met, and all requirements are fulfilled. Student shows average quality work and minimum time and effort on projects. Student shows moderate interest.

Grade D:
Student performance is uneven and below average. Requirements for projects are only partially fulfilled. Minimal interest is shown and attendance, participation and involvement are inadequate.

Grade F
Student fails to meet minimum course requirements and shows no interest. Levels of participation and craftsmanship are extremely poor. Student's attendance is inadequate.

Requesting an incomplete grade:
An incomplete grade may only be assigned to a student if the student has experienced an extenuating circumstance near the end of the term, the student is in good standing in the class, and the request is made by the student


Prerequisites

Successful completion of ANI 230


Assignments & Critiques; Participation; Academic Integrity

Assignments must be turned in on time. You will be given the option of revising/redoing ONE of your assignments to improve the grade you were given for that assignment if you so choose. You MAY use that ONE assignment allotment for handing in an assignment that you did not turn in on time. You will receive PARTIAL CREDIT for turning in the missed/late assignment. You may not turn in a late assignment AND revide/redo another assignment.
ALL REVISED, REDOS, LATE or MISSING assignments are due WEEK 8. No exceptions.

Submission of work in this course constitutes a pledge that the work is original. While you are encouraged to help each other out through critique or sharing software tips, you are discouraged from direct collaboration on your work and are expressly forbidden to share files with anyone. If you have any questions at all about what constitutes collaboration, ask.

Assignments must be handed in on time. On time is submitted through COLWeb BEFORE class starts on the date that the assignment is due. Students who use class time to finish assignments the day they are due will forfeit the right to hand in that assignment. Class time is for working with the material at hand, not finishing late assignments.

Late work will not be accepted unless approval is granted PRIOR to the class in which it is due or accompanied by a valid excuse.

Digital Assignments: All assignments that are to be handed in digitally must be in the following format (please note upper and lower case usage)
o lastnameFirstname_projectname.extension
o example: maryOmelina_projectOne.mb

* Special Accommodations: If you have any special considerations please see the instructor before it becomes an issue.

BACK UP YOUR WORK: Failure of computer software and or hardware will not be accepted as an extenuating circumstance for late projects or incomplete grades so back up your work daily.


Critiques
Unless I tell you otherwise, assigned work must be completed and submitted through COLWeb BEFORE class starts. This will keep us from wasting valuable class time. In most cases (except when noted), I request that you use QuickTime format. AVIs are difficult to watch frame by frame (something we will be doing a lot of). Handing in something unfinished is always better than nothing at all.

Laptop computers must be closed during all critiques. Please come equipped with alternate materials to take notes during critiqes. Computer monitors are to be turned off during critiques and anytime the instructor requests that you turn them off. If you do not comply with the first request to turn off your monitor, you will receive a letter grade reduction for the assignment being critiqued. If it becomes necessary to make a third request that your screen be turned off, you will receive a zero for the assignment.

Attendance, Participation & Conduct

Attendance

Student absences are not expected to exceed more than 4 absences. A 5th absence will result in the lowering of your final grade one full letter. Any student missing more than 5 classes will be given a grade of "F" for the semester.

Tardiness is defined as not in the classroom when attendance is called or departing before the class has been formally dismissed by the instructor. Tardiness that exceeds thirty minutes will be counted as an absence. TWO late arrivals or early departures, or a combination of both, are counted as one absence. If you arrive late for class, it is your responsibility to make sure that you have been marked tardy rather than absent.

The allotted absences are to accommodate routine illness, weddings, car trouble, etc. Doctor appointments, advisor conferences, trips to supply stores and employment, etc. should not be scheduled to conflict with class. Faculty cannot be placed in the position of determining which absences are excusable and which are not. All students are expected to attend class on a regular basis. Prolonged illness should be verified by a physician and may require the student to withdraw from class if he/she cannot complete work in a comprehensive and timely manner.

The student is responsible for any lectures or assignments missed. If an assignment is due a week that you are absent, it is your responsibility to make sure it still arrives on time.
If you must miss a class it is your responsibility to arrange for meeting with one of your classmates to go over the material with you.

You may not miss the final class date. Doing so will equal an automatic two letter grade reduction of your final grade. If for some reason you cannot make one of these dates you must contact your instructor BEFORE the class that you must miss. Excuses given after the fact will not be accepted.

No incompletes will be given without documented proof of circumstances beyond your control.

Participation

One of the best ways to learn in a classroom environment is through active participation in discussions and critiques. In general, we will be following a pattern of creating content and then discussing it in critique sessions.
Use of cell phones in the class is prohibited. Please turn your phone off before entering class. Mistakes will happen (to me too), but repeated failure to turn your phone off will result in a lowered grade for the class.
Laptop computers must be closed during all critiques. Please come equipped with alternate materials to take notes during critiqes. Computer monitors are to be turned off during critiques and anytime the instructor requests that you turn them off. If you do not comply with the first request to turn off your monitor, you will receive a letter grade reduction for the assignment being critiqued. If it becomes necessary to make a third request that your screen be turned off, you will receive a zero for the assignment.

Talking to your classmates during critiques and demonstrations is discouraged. Excessive and repeated talking to your classmates during critiques and demonstrations may result in penalty points off your final grade.

Academic Integrity Work done for this course must adhere to the DePaul University Academic Integrity Policy, which you can review in the Student Handbook or by visiting http://studentaffairs.depaul.edu/homehandbook.html.
Read the policy.


Weekly Schedule

The assignments in this syllabus may be adjusted over the course of the quarter

1

4/1 & 4/3 - Intro to 3D animation basics
1.Introduce basic settings and tools for animating in Maya
2.Setting Keyframes - Timeline, Channel Box
3.Discuss animating POSE-TO-POSE
4.Discuss TIMING & SPACING
5.Playblasts
6.Discuss animating STRAIGHT-AHEAD

Assignment: Animate TWO SPECIFIC Bouncing balls (Basketball, Bowling Ball, Beach Ball, etc.) using the TWO techniques you have learned. Animate one ball using POSE-TO-POSE technique and animate the other ball going STRAIGHT-AHEAD.

Animate Y & Z translation for both balls. Run playblasts and adjust timing for both balls. When you are happy with the TIMING AND SPACING for both balls - Submit 2 Maya files zipped up ONLINE by Monday 4/8 @ 11:50am.

Read: ASK pp. 36-39 on "Timing & Spacing" (also up in Documents section on COLWEB)

Read: In Documents section on COLWEB "Principles of Animation"

Read: In Documents section on COLWEB "Squash & Stretch"

Watch: Ani Survival Kit 02: Timing & Spacing 00:00 to 22:30

http://cdmflash.cdm.depaul.edu/coltube/movie

Principle Concepts to wrap your head around: Timing/Spacing/Arcs/Ease In Ease Out

2

4/8 & 4/10 - Self-propelled Ball; Lighting & Rendering
1.Discuss SQUASH & STRETCH
2.Add Squash & Stretch to ball
3.Discuss ANTICIPATION
4.Introduce Self-propelled Ball assignment
5.Camera, Lighting & Rendering Demo

Assignment: 3 QT Movies of all 3 balls DUE: 4/15 @ 11:50am. Add SQUASH & STRETCH to the 2 balls from week 1, and animate a 3rd ball (self-propelled, jumping), adding the principle of ANTICIPATION to give the 3rd ball a life of its own.



Watch: Ani Survival Kit 12: Anticipation & Accents 00:00 to 9:17

http://cdmflash.cdm.depaul.edu/coltube/movie

Principle Concepts to wrap your head around: Squash & Stretch; Anticipation

Other skills learned: Cameras, Lighting, Rendering.

3

4/15 & 4/17 - Character Jump
1.Introduce one legged rig
2.Basic blocking for a jump

Assignment: One legged jump DUE: 4/22 @ 10:50am

4

4/22 & 4/24 - Basic Rigging, Overlapping Animation
1.Introduce basic rigging: joints; parent; constraint; layers; basic skinning)
2.Add TAIL to Lou character rig
3.Animate Tail (can create new animation or add tail motion to the jump from week 3

Assignment: Animate TAIL - either add tail motion to the previous animation or create a new animation from scratch using the ball w/ tail. DUE 4/29 @ 11:50am.

5

4/29 & 5/1 - Intro to Walks
1.Walking Basics? contact, down, passing, up
2.Focus on Balance/Weight and hip movement
3.Introduce operation of more complicated foot setup - discuss pivots
4.Focus on good hip and foot movement

Assignment: Animated lower body walk. Emphasis will be on hitting the major poses, establishing good timing and footwork, good hip movement. Push having fun with passing poses and timing to give character. DUE: 5/6 @ 11:50am.

Watch: Ani Survival Kit 05: Building Walks 00:00 to 26:00

http://cdmflash.cdm.depaul.edu/coltube/movie

6

5/6 & 5/8 - Intermediate Character Animation
1.Successive breaking of joints
2.Flexibility

Assignment: Fist pound DUE: 5/13 @ 11:50am

Watch: Ani Survival Kit 08: Flexibility 13:52 to 34:33

http://cdmflash.cdm.depaul.edu/coltube/movie

7

5/13 & 5/15 - Character Rigging
1.Introduce operation of full body rig (IK legs & FK arms)
2.Creating parented objects and basic parented rigs
3.Create cheap full body rig by parenting objects to completed rig (MaxForMaya)

Assignment: Create Complete Full Body Parented Rig. Come up with character design. Model basic pieces and parent objects to completed rig. Include one blend shape driven by an added attribute. DUE: 5/20 @ 11:50am.

8

5/20 & 5/22 - Advanced Walk
1.Complete character w/ full body rig
2.Create full body walk

Assignment: Create a full body walk using your character. DUE: 5/27 @ 11:50am

9

5/27 & 5/29 - FINAL PROJECT: Character Animation
1.Introduce Final Project - full body character animation. 1 shot, simple action with emphasis on good poses, good blocking, good timing. Do not attempt more than 10 seconds.
2.Creating a ?key all? button
3.Blocking for full body animation
4.Working with stepped tangents
5.Using dope sheet and graph editor to experiment with timing

Assignment: Block out character animation for Final Project DUE: 6/12 @ 11:50am.

10

6/3 & 6/5 - Final Project

Work in class. Individual critiques.

Assignment: Complete character animation for Final Project DUE: 6/12 @ 11:50am.

FINAL EXAM (CRITIQUE)

6/12 - Final


Online Teaching Evaluation
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely separate from the student?s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect at http://campusconnect.depaul.edu
Email
Email is the primary means of communication between faculty and students enrolled in this course outside of class time. Students should be sure their email listed under "demographic information" at http://campusconnect.depaul.edu is correct.
Academic Integrity Policy
This course will be subject to the faculty council rules on the Academic Integrity Policy
Plagiarism
The university and school policy on plagiarism can be summarized as follows: Students in this course, as well as all other courses in which independent research or writing play a vital part in the course requirements, should be aware of the strong sanctions that can be imposed against someone guilty of plagiarism. If proven, a charge of plagiarism could result in an automatic F in the course and possible expulsion. The strongest of sanctions will be imposed on anyone who submits as his/her own work a report, examination paper, computer file, lab report, or other assignment which has been prepared by someone else. If you have any questions or doubts about what plagiarism entails or how to properly acknowledge source materials be sure to consult the instructor.

Incomplete
An incomplete grade is given only for an exceptional reason such as a death in the family, a serious illness, etc. Any such reason must be documented. Any incomplete request must be made at least two weeks before the final, and approved by the Dean of the College of Computing and Digital Media. Any consequences resulting from a poor grade for the course will not be considered as valid reasons for such a request.
Resources for Students with Disabilities
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you contact the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Student Center, LPC, Suite #370
Phone number: (773)325.1677
Fax: (773)325.3720
TTY: (773)325.7296



School policies:

Changes to Syllabus

This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.

Online Course Evaluations

Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.

All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.

Academic Policies

All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.

Students with Disabilities

Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296