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An advanced program for students of 3D, this program jumps right into the design and modelling of characters, and prepares the student to create character animations for film, broadcast and games.

This program will teach you advanced techniques for modelling, rigging, texturing, and animating characters, both human and anthropomorphic, in a variety of styles.

When you've finished this advanced program, you will have the skills necessary to create and animate original characters for games and various animations. You will be able to rig up a character for you or another animator in your company to animate and you will also be able to enter someone else's environment and animate their character - essential elements for working in an animation team.

Pre-Requisites: 3D Animation Diploma Program (or equivalent)

Career Prospects

You could become a character designer for a film company, a motions animator for an MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), or a facial animator for film. Your new-found skills could help you create TV commercials, animate stand-ins for actors in blockbuster hollywood films, or start your own children's animated TV show!

3ds max is the preferred software for creating animation for television broadcast studios, and it has a large share of the market in film special effects. Most tv shows and commercials these days have some sort of special effects, and often they're created using 3D software.

Salary Expectations

In Canada, basic 3D animators earn an average of CDN $36,774 [source: jobfutures.ca, a government website]

Across all of North America and all levels of experience, that average is US $65,107, and

A single experienced animator’s salary can be as high as US $86,250 [source: gamecareerguide.com].

Career Guidance Program

CD-ED is committed to helping you find employment in the field of your choice. In fact, we’ll start before you even begin as a student! If you call us today, your personal admissions representative will research the job market for this career in your city, and help you decide if this program is the right path for your future.

After graduation, we’ll help you find an interview with your prospective employer in the job market. And of course, your new up-to-date skills will put you at the top of any interviewer’s list!

Below: A student animation created as part of the portfolio design process in the 3D Character Animation diploma program.

Modeling, Texturing, Lighting, Animation & Rendering by Evan Smith, Graduate

If you follow our registered course outline and put in the required hours, we guarantee your success. Below are some of the ways we ensure that you will graduate successfully.

 

Unlimited Instructor Support

You will have unlimited one-on-one instructor support via email, chat, online classroom webinars and toll-free phone calls throughout your entire program - and beyond. Our instructors have industry experience and can help you understand how to conquer the job market before you go out into it.

You're never a number at CD-ED - our instructors and guidance counselor will take a personal interest in your progress and will be in touch with you constantly throughout the year, making sure everything is going well with your program and whatever of your home life you wish to share.

Learning Materials Included

Unlike traditional classrooms, you don't need to go out and buy your own textbooks. As part of your tuition, when you become a student you will have all textbooks and registered software shipped directly to your door. A full set of instructions and tutorials will be included, along with access to your customized online learning management system.

We include a “How to Study At Home” learning package free with your materials, and along with our exclusive Student Tracking System it will help you schedule your time to ensure a successful student experience.

Equipment Options

You have the option of a brand-new desktop computer on loan to facilitate your education. A computer is simply a tool, and we make sure you have the best tools available, running smoothly to allow you to learn under optimal conditions. And, as a graduation gift, the computer you choose will be yours to keep on the successful completion of your program. NOTE: Accepting computer equipment from CD-ED is optional – not mandatory.

More info about What You Get »

Both cartoon-like and realistic facial features are explored in this program.

 

Duration: 52 weeks, 1040 hours (Based on a 20-hour work week)

Weeks	# of Weeks	Hours/ Week	Total Hours	Subject
1-10	10	20	200	Modeling for Animation
11-20	10	20	200	Rigging Characters
21-31	11	20	220	Animation with Biped
32-42	11	20	220	Basic Character Animation
43-52	10	20	200	Other Characters

Modeling for Animation

You will learn the processes for designing likeable characters, including personality, biographies, sketches, style decisions and animatability. Includes a review of modelling and mapping techniques keeping character bodies and optimization for animation in mind, and with focuses on bipedal bodies and hands.

Rigging Characters

Learn the process for setting up a model for animation, including building a skeleton using bones and attaching ("skinning") it to the model. Create interface controls and IK solvers. Poses and staging are fundamental building blocks of animation. Focuses on traditional animation rules to learn digital techniques.

Animation with Biped

Master the customization of pre-made Biped skeletons and animations. Learn the theories of Squash & Stretch, Anticipation, Follow-through, and much more. Learn to create walk cycles and dialogue animation and explore the processes of expressing acting through facial animation techniques.

Basic Character Animation

Character animation is about storytelling: motivation, conflict, and a path of action. You will learn to develop a story through premise, script, and storyboard, as well as techniques for making characters seem alive. You will learn to control the physics of force and motion.

Other Characters

You'll learn how to create skeletons for and animate the motions of multi-legged animals, and even out of inanimate objects! Finally, you will learn how to animate within the restrictions of game software, including limited detail, shared animation cycles, standard game moves, and dealing with platform limitations.

Modeling, Texturing, & Lighting by Robert Saunders, Grad

 

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Christina Atwell, Graduate

• “Everything is going great and when I do get stuck on a problem the staff and school [are] great. I want to let everyone know that if they decide to take a course with CD-ED they are making the right choice. Everyone is great and helpful at the school.”

Kendré LeBlanc, Graduate

• “People think that taking courses from home is easy, but there is a LOT of work involved! You have to read and teach yourself as you go, and that is really different from 'going' to school. But the staff at CD-ED is great, and the instructors are very helpful. I enjoyed my experience, and wouldn't change it for the world. It prepares you, in a way, because you have to be self-motivated, and that is something that employers look for.”

 

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