Program Curriculum
The DAVE School teaches a single program in four 12-week blocks, and can be completed in just less than one year. It is often very common for animators to specialize in specific areas, thereby limiting their career options. This program is designed to give students practical skills in most aspects of computer animation. The diversity of our program provides the student with well-rounded skill sets. This gives our graduates an advantage in the job market.Our program is taught with the assumption that each student is computer literate, but has no experience in computer animation. Programs start with the very basics. Students with extensive 3D skills may find the first two weeks easy, but by the end of the third week, classes become challenging for everyone regardless of their background.
Block 1
Hardware Modeling
Most professionally-constructed computer models fall into one of two categories: hardware or organic. Typically hardware consists of manmade objects such as props, sets, robots, vehicles things that will not undergo any form of deformation when animated. This class starts with the construction of basic real-world objects, and then advances to using professional modeling techniques (scale, measurement, and extensive reference) to create computer-generated environments and virtual sets. A major project in this block is vehicle modeling. This may require constructing a conventional vehicle such as a helicopter, however past assignments have also included the Matrix APU, Star Wars AT-AT Imperial Walkers and MechWarrior Mechs.
Technical Direction & Hardware Animation
In this course, the emphasis is on taking models the students have made and moving them, or moving the virtual camera to create a simple animation. Basic lighting techniques are covered, as are keyframes, motion handlers, expressions, rendering, and data storage.
Texturing and Adobe Photoshop
An important tool in creating convincing computer-generated imagery is texturing, or surfacing, the model. Students begin by learning to use procedural textures, then move on to photographic textures and original, "hand-painted" digital images. Image manipulation, painting and texture map preparation will be taught using the current version of Photoshop. It is the industry standard package for this type of work and is published by Adobe. Use of this program continues throughout the rest of the year.
Organic Modeling
Organic Modeling refers to things that will be deformed in some way during the animation process. People, creatures, cartoon characters or things found in nature dominate this group. Students add to their modeling toolkit with a set of tools and techniques for the creation of organic objects. The human body is one of the most difficult things to draw, sculpt or model on the computer and it is where this portion of the class begins. Using an innovative hands-on approach, students learn techniques that produce professional character modeling results..
Lighting
This course is designed to give students a primer in lighting 3D models and how to set up a scene and adjust lighting properties to create desired effects, generate realistic shadows, volumetric lights, and bounce lighting.
Demo Reel Construction
A demo reel is a video presentation designed to showcase your talents to a potential employer. The idea is that the employer can see what you are capable of based on the examples you have supplied. This course teaches mechanics of compiling, editing, and authoring a DVD containing work samples from the first 11 weeks of class as well as the design and creation of demo reel packaging.
Block 2
Fundamentals of Animation
Before diving into advanced animation, students get their feet wet by learning the fundamentals that will help build a strong foundation in animation and allow them to bring things to life. Animation fundamentals such as the posing, arcs, staging, timing, key frames, break downs, weight, balance and more are included in this course.
Camera and Vehicle Animation
In this course, the emphasis is on moving virtual cameras and vehicles to create believable animations. Weight transfer, speed, velocity and other key principles are covered to create realistic motions for vehicles. Students will also learn how to properly animate the camera and the names and definitions of different types of shots to use so they can draw from them for their work
Character Animation
Using a variety of both school-provided and student-created models, students learn and practice the fundamentals of character animation. Starting with various biped walk cycles, the program advances to emotionally-driven character performances. Facial animation, including morphs, facial expressions, and lip sync are put into practice.
Rigging
In this portion of the course, an introduction to rigging as well as animation preparation for characters are covered. General theory, weight mapping, bone creation, Inverse Kinematics, and deformations are explored to allow the students to create rigs for characters they will animate.
Demo Reel Revision
Once again students will re-edit their demo reel to include their best work of this block to be critiqued by the instructor and/or school director.
Block 3
Visual Effects Animation
In both fully animated programs and visual effect shots, illusions are greatly enhanced with smoke, dust, snow, explosions, debris and special lighting tricks. In this program students learn to use particle systems, volumetric rendering, and additional motion plug-ins.
Visual Effects Compositing
A key part of the creation of special effects is the combining of elements (some photographed, some animated) to complete the illusion in a given shot. This class presents the basic functions of Eyeon Fusion and Boujou camera tracking software by 2d3. Students gain practical experience performing, split screens, color correction, matting and basic rotoscoping, wire removal, chromakey, motion tracking, and virtual sets.
Motion Capture Project
Motion Capture is playing an increasingly important role in animation and visual effects as seen in movies like Beowulf, Monster House, The Hulk and other blockbuster movies. Using our state-of-the-art, on-site 24 camera Vicon system, students direct a performer in the production of a scene and learn the techniques of performance enhancement, error correction, and motion editing in Motion Builder. Students also carry out every function of the animation process from planning, execution, post production, editing, and sound effects in their final Block 3 project.
Demo Reel Revision
Students will re-edit their demo reel to include their best work of this block to be critiqued by the instructor and/or school director. Repeating this exercise is critical to each student's future success.
Block 4
Final Group Project - Make a Movie
This is what the DAVE School is really all about; working with creative forces fresh from the industry. During this project, students are assigned specific tasks on a live-action or animated production and learn what it means to work as a professional. Student responsibilities are based on individual areas of strength demonstrated in previous blocks. Each project receives an original score and a sound effects mix. It is then presented on the big screen at a special graduation ceremony held in one of Universal's movie theaters.
Employment Strategies
In this two-day class, students learn about the leading animation and visual effects companies of the day. Students are presented with their employment options and identify which employers match their particular career goals. Demo Reels, web sites, employer psychology, and more, are covered.
Demo Reel Final
At the end of our program students will add work samples from the final project to their demo reels. This is the reel they will use to launch their post-graduation job search. Once they mail out the first wave, we recommend they create something new for their reel, re-edit and re-send a new revision to employers and repeat until employed.
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