School Of Animation & Visual Effects Program Brochure
School ofAnimation & Visual Effects
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SCHOOL OF ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTSContentsProgram Overview . 5What We Teach. 7The School of Animation & VFX Difference. 9Faculty . 11Degree Options. 13Our Facilities . 15Student & Alumni Testimonials . 17Partnerships . 19Career Paths . 21Additional Learning Experiences .23Awards and Accolades .25Online Education . 27Academy Life .29San Francisco . 31Athletics .33Apply Today .35 Student work by Jenny Wan3
SCHOOL OF ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTSProgramOverviewThe School of Animation and Visual Effects (VFX) is one of the most dynamicprograms in the country. Join us, and get hands-on experience with the fullanimation and VFX production pipeline.OUR MISSIONIn the School of Animation and Visual Effects, you’lllearn traditional skills and storytelling abilitiesthat can then be applied to digital technology. Ifyou aspire to be a storyboard artists, visual effectartists, or a 2D or 3D animator, we’ll help youobtain the skills you need for a career in thisvibrant and growing industry.Our San Francisco campus puts you in the heartof the animation industry, giving you opportunitiesto meet and mix with professionals. You’ll rubelbows with experts from both in and outsidethe Academy who will mentor you and help youperfect your skills. In fact, Academy graduates areoften recruited by companies like Pixar, ElectronicArts, Industrial Light and Magic, Blue Sky, Laika,Sony, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Marvel, CoSA Vfx,Ingenuity, Atomic Fiction, DNEG, The Mill, andIllumination Entertainment.academyart.eduWHAT SETS US APART Studio X offers hands-on production experienceworking on real projects that are faculty mentored.Recent projects: Beasts of the Southern Wild,Theeb, Fruitvale Station, and Soar (2015 GoldMedal Student Academy Award winner) Instructors teach marketable skills that succeed inthis exciting and lucrative field as they are activemembers of the animation industry themselves Interact and collaborate with outside animationand VFX studios on group projects, contests, portfolio reviews, and guest lectures FAT Tuedays, (Feature Animation Training), istaught by Academy alumni animators who arecurrently working in the industryStudent work by Alyce Tzue, MFA
GOLD WINNERBest Animated FilmSTUDENTACADEMY AWARDS2015WINNERWINNERUSA FILM FESTIVALMEDIA AWARDSBest Animated Short Film20152015WINNERBest 3D Animated ShortSCHOOL OF ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTSSPRING AWARDS2015WINNERRUNNER-UPFINALISTPALM SPRINGSUS STUDENTFILM AWARDSBest Student AnimationAudience Award Best Animation ShortINTERNATIONAL SHORTFESTINTERNATIONAL SHORTFESTPALM SPRINGS20152015BAFTA20155
SCHOOL OF ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTSWhat We TeachOur curricula reflect the latest industry standards. You will learn by utilizing thenewest technology and by participating in collaborative projects among programs.3D MODELING3D ANIMATIONModelers digitally build objects for manipulationin a 3D environment - these could be models ofcharacters, both cartoon and realistic, naturalshapes like animals and plants, or solid object likebuildings and cars. Models must be specially builtin a way so that they can be moved, painted, and litproperly for use in CG imagery.A 3D animator creates movement by utilizing computer graphic imagery including characters andinanimate objects such as robots or cars, for usein television, feature films or games.academyart.edu
VISUAL EFFECTS2D ANIMATION & STOP MOTIONThe Visual Effects program is designed toprovide students with expertise in directing acomplete, short animated film. This includes fullyintegrating visual effects shots from concept topost-production.A 2D animator creates 2D images by either handdrawing each frame or digitally manipulatingflat media for games, television, the web, orfeature films.STORYBOARDINGADDITIONAL TOPICSThe storyboard artist takes the printed word andtranslates it into cinematic images. Storyboardartists must be able to draw people, buildings,costumes, vehicles, guns, horses, spaceships - allexecuted quickly with attention to draftsmanshipand perspective. They provide the first look atwhat the final film or video game might look likeand a career track to directing.Modeler, rigger, dynamics animator, puppetfabricator, lighting animator, producer and more.7
SCHOOL OF ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTSThe Schoolof Animation &VFX DifferenceAcademy of Art University and the Junior Giants, the youth baseball programof the San Francisco Giants’ community fund, have partnered on an innovativeanimated video series aimed at helping underserved youth learn essential lifeskills. Plus, Studio X gives you real-world career preparation.STUDIOXACADEMY OF ART“ANIMATES” THE JUNIOR GIANTSOften students coming straight out of school lackthe practical real-world experience to be able tohandle demands of the production—this includesworking on a team and under a deadline. For thisreason, we have developed what we call “StudioX,”which are a series of advanced level classes thatemulate a production environment and is facultymentored. In these classes, the students areworking on real shows, with real deadlines, andencounter real problems and challenges that comeup in the course of making a film.The video series, called Foodiecats, featuresdelightfully animated cats in the shape of differentfoods – an apple, carrot, broccoli, egg, sandwichand cheeseburger -- that teach youth ages 5-18 theJunior Giants’ four bases of character development:Confidence, Integrity, Leadership, and Teamwork.The videos also highlight the Junior Giants’emphasis on the importance of good Health andEducation as well as Bullying Prevention.“The students learn to work together as a team,how to work well under pressure, and how tocreatively solve problems. The work that hascome out of the these classes speaks for itselfbut beyond that, the experience students gain inthese StudioX classes (the X stands for eXperience)has been tremendously important in preparingthem to be ready to go from school and into astudio job.”– Derek Flood, Associate Director of VFXacademyart.eduWorking with the Junior Giants, more than 250Academy of Art School of Animation & VisualEffects students developed the Foodiecats conceptand created seven educational and entertainingvideos. For example, the Health video is the storyof couch potato EggCat who finally starts movingso he can catch a baseball flying around him likea helicopter. The Bullying Prevention video showsbully CheeseburgerCat continually ruining the funthat AppleCat and SandwichCat are having. AfterCheeseburgerCat stumbles and breaks apart,AppleCat and SandwichCat put him back together,and all three become friends and play baseball.
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School of Game DevelopmentSCHOOL OF ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTSFacultyOur instructors don’t just teach you about the Animation and VFX industry, theyare the Animation and VFX industry. They are nationally recognized professionalswho maintain careers on the leading edge of industry trends. They will challengeyou to reach your creative potential.Chris ArmstrongExecutive DirectorTom BertinoGraduate DirectorChris Armstrong worked as an animator and animationsupervisor at Industrial Light & Magic for more than 10years prior to joining the School of Animation & VisualEffects in 2004. He worked on many major projects atILM, including Star Wars: Episode I, Star Wars: EpisodeII, The Mask, and Galaxy Quest. His work experienceincludes CG supervisor, senior CG animator, directorand more.Tom Bertino is a renowned animator and directorwith more than three decades of experience. Heworked at Industrial Light & Magic for nearly 20years and was nominated for an Academy Awardand a BAFTA Award for Best Achievement in VisualEffects for the CG imagery he created for The Mask.He is credited with animation direction on Men inBlack II, Star Wars: Episode I, and many others.
Charles KeagleOnline DirectorCharles Keagle’s animation and storyboardingcredits include FernGully: The Last Rainforest, TheRen & Stimpy Show, Toy Story 2, and South Park:Bigger, Longer & Uncut. As story supervisor forPulse Entertainment, he oversaw the production ofKung Fu 3D, an online series for Warner Bros., andco-designed an interactive Coyote and Roadrunnerproject for the studio.David NetheryOnline Director 2D AnimationSherrie H. SinclairMFA Director 2D AnimationDavid Nethery has amassed 25 years of experience inthe field of classical animation, specializing in theatricalfeature film projects as an animation artist for variousstudios, including a long stint at Walt Disney FeatureAnimation. His work has been featured in animatedfilms such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, The LittleMermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Mulan,Lilo & Stitch, and more.Sherrie Sinclair joined Academy of Art Universitymore than 10 years ago, after spending nine yearsas a clean-up animator with Walt Disney FeatureAnimation in Orlando, Florida. Her film creditsinclude The Lion King, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tarzan,and Lilo & Stitch.11
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SCHOOL OF ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTSDegree OptionsCERTIFICATEThe four-year certificate program provides studentswith a disciplined approach to the study of Animation& Visual Effects. Student portfolios will demonstratethe variety of skills and creativity developed.ASSOCIATE OF ARTS (AA)Our AA program offers students a strong introductionto the core principles of animation production. Coursesinclude visual effects, 3D animation, 3D modeling, 2Danimation, stop motion, and storyboarding.BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS (BFA)Gain the skills to master today’s digital technology.Students choose one primary area of emphasisbetween visual effects, 3D modeling, 3D animation,2D animation and stop motion, and storyboarding.MASTER OF ARTS (MA)Focus on storytelling, exhibiting technical skills, andeliciting emotional responses. In our MA program,students work on 2D animation and stop motion, 3Danimation, 3D modeling, or visual effects.MASTER OF FINE ARTS (MFA)Our MFA program educates students in all aspectsof animation and visual effects, from ideation to postproduction. Students develop skills in any one of themany areas of expertise within the animation andvisual effects industry. Student work by Alice Jeongmin Lee13
SCHOOL OF ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTSOur FacilitiesLearning to use the software, tools, and equipment used by the industry isessential to preparing you to enter the work force. That’s why we make it a pointto keep our facilities as up-to-date as possible with current advancements intechnology and equipment.FULL ARRAY OFDIGITAL EQUIPMENTIn the largest green screen in Northern California,you’ll use real-time composite monitors and a fullarray of lighting equipment, including grid lighting,scrims, gel frames, green props, key lights, andmore to bring your creations to life.DIGITAL WORKSTATIONSUse the latest high-end PC and Mac workstations,along with Cintiq tablets, scanners, and a largeformat printer.VOICEOVER AND SOUNDRecord voiceover tracks and sound effects in ourindustry-standard sound booth.VIDEOEdit and process video on Mac workstations withFinal Cut Pro for input and output. In our video lab,get access to a control room for production andhigh-end transfers and rent cameras, lenses, andlighting kits for all your assignments.academyart.edu
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SCHOOL OF ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTSStudent andAlumni TestimonialsOur 50,000-plus Academy alumni are some of the most successful and soughtafter professionals in art, entertainment, and design today. But we’re just gettingstarted. Our current pool of creative and innovative students are preparing toredefine the future.academyart.edu
“I can say from experience, that the Academyoffers a multitude of class options in exciting,industry-leading, fields. They equipped me andall other students with the resources neededto follow our dreams.”Shaun DunnAnimation Student“This degree is tailored towards a specificfield with enough electives to keep it flexibleand unique for every student. I was able to takeclasses in different departments withoutneeding to change my program.”Olga RudiModeler Student work by Olga Rudi“Academy of Art allowed me to collaboratewith other artists, some of whom are my bestfriends today. Those friendships I made havesupported and motivated me every step of myprofessional career.”Alvin GenoAnimation Alumn“StudioX is the one place where, as an animationstudent, you are given the opportunity to workon real world collaborative projects and get real,unique shots on your reel before you graduate.I found this extremely beneficial and important.”William SokoloskiDynamics Alumnus17
SCHOOL OF ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTSPartnershipsWe are located in the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the capitals of the animationindustry. Thanks to our location, we offer some of the most exciting industryexperiences you will find at any school.THEEBThe School of Animation’s Studio X had theopportunities to collaborate with industry expertsand work on visual effects for various projectsand films, such as Advantageous, Fruitvale Station,Saving Lincoln, and Oscar nominated films Beastsof the Southern Wild and Theeb.Shaheen—a StudioX vet who collaborated onprojects including the films Advantageous, FruitvaleStation, and Saving Lincoln while at the Academy—was able to steer the production of Theeb’s VFXassets at StudioX by working closely with RupertLloyd, the film’s producer. Lloyd, whose creditsinclude the Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker, turnedto StudioX after learning about the work otherstudents did on Beasts of the Southern Wild, anothercritical darling. “I was impressed by the quality of[those students’ VFX] work, and the huge role ithad played in bringing this low-budget indie to life.”academyart.eduFor Shaheen, the experience of working onprestigious films such as Theeb as a student atAcademy of Art University was invaluable. Tocollaborate on, “not a school project but an actual,real-life project,” was incredible, she says. “I appliedto the Academy on a lark, after a friend told meabout the school, and I found out about the qualityof its faculty.“Once I got to class, I couldn’t believe I couldlearn how to make things like 3D models andwork on all these advanced projects, with thebest technology at my fingertips. It’s an awesomeschool that teaches you art and how to applyart to business and to the real world. Without theAcademy, I wouldn’t know how to perform in ananimation studio.”
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SCHOOL OF ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTSCareer PathsAs one of the top art and design schools in the country, Academy of Art Universityhelps prepare graduates for a range of career opportunities. Our facilities, faculty,and hands-on learning approach are designed to provide you with the tools youneed to succeed as a professional in the animation and visual effects industry.TECHNICAL ARTIST: LIGHTERSTORYBOARD ARTISTCreate mood, illuminate objects or surfaces,and direct where or what the audience should payattention to.Translate script and story into cinematic images.CHARACTER ANIMATORBring characters to life using your deepunderstanding of the subtleties of movement.MODELERModelers digitally build objects for manipulationin a 3D environment - these could be models ofcharacters, both cartoon and realistic, naturalshapes like animals and plants, or solid objectlike buildings and cars.MATTE PAINTERCreate photorealistic environments toimmerse the audience in imaginary worlds.PUPPET FABRICATORCreate elements in stop motion animated films usinga diverse range of sculpting and materials expertise.WHO IS HIRING OUR ALUMNIAtomic FictionAmmunitionBlizzard EntertainmentBlueSkyCartoon NetworkCoSAD-NegDisney StudiosDreamworks AnimationElectronic ArtsFacebookIngenuityIllumination Ent.LaikaNaughty DogNickelodeonMarvelParamountPixarRiot GamesSonyThe MillSTOP MOTION ARTISTCreate a television, film, or advertising piece usingframe-by-frame manipulation of posable puppets.RIGGERCreate the skeletons of 3D models—the bones thatform and animate specific parts of the character—so they can be controlled by the animators.
3D ANIMATORFocus on the movement in computer graphicimagery including characters, inanimate objectssuch as robots or cars, or cameras for television,feature films, or games.2D ANIMATORA 2D animator is concerned with creating 2Dimages by either hand drawing each frame ordigitally manipulating flat media for games,television, the web, or feature films.PRODUCERSupervise all aspects of production, ensuringthe director’s creative vision is realized.COMPOSITORSAssemble all the elements that were shot andstitch them together to create a seamless result.TECHNICAL ARTIST: DYNAMICSCreate natural phenomena; a large body of water,air, smoke, explosions, and more.Student work, top right, by Dixing Sun, top left, by Sarah Marschman, bottom, by Seo Ryong Jaw21
ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITYAdditionalLearning ExperiencesAcademy of Art University has a hands-on program for every interest at every level.If you are looking to upgrade your career, explore something you have never triedbefore, or hone existing skills, we have a program for you.academyart.edu
PRE-COLLEGE ART EXPERIENCE (PCAE)This dual-scholarship program allows current highschool students to take art and design courses atno tuition charge. In addition, they earn scholarshipdollars towards future undergraduate studies atAcademy of Art University.Visit ge-art-experience-program or call415.274.2200 for more information.CONTINUING EDUCATIONTime for a career upgrade? Want to follow yourpassion? Learn, be inspired, and expand your creativepotential by taking hands-on courses from industryexperienced faculty. Flexible art and design coursesare available online and in San Francisco.Visit ucation or call 415.274.2200 formore information.STUDY ABROADOne of the best ways to learn about the world is tosee the world. Take advantage of one or all of theseexciting Study Abroad opportunities.The Liberal Arts Seminar in Europe is a threeweek intensive traveling course visiting some ofEurope’s greatest cities and collections.The Fine Art Intensive in Italy takes you toFlorence, Italy, for seven and a half weeks duringSummer semester.The School of Fashion at awards scholarships tostudy in Paris with Studio Berçot and L’École de laChambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne.The Illustration Department also has a summersemester in Florence emphasizing culturalawareness in painting and drawing.For more information about these Study Abroadopportunities, including cost and visa matters, visitwww.academyart.edu/academics/study-abroad23
ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITYAwardsand AccoladesAcademy of Art University is committed to the highest standards of achievement inart and design. Here’s a small sampling highlighting some recent accomplishmentsof our outstanding students, faculty, and alumni.academyart.edu
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ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITYOnline EducationTake any online course at the Academy, and experience the visual, interactive,and dynamic courses we’re known for. You will have the same quality instructors,th
Our AA program offers students a strong introduction to the core principles of animation production. Courses include visual effects, 3D animation, 3D modeling, 2D animation, stop motion, and storyboarding. BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS (BFA) Gain the skills to master today’s digital technology. Students choose one primary area of emphasis
1. Traditional Animation - Cel Animation or hand drawn Animation 2. Stop Motion Animation – Puppet Animation, Clay Animation, Cut-out Animation, Silhouette Animation, Model Animation, Object Animation etc. 3. Computer Animation – 2D Animation, 3D Animation Unit-2: The 12 basic
gamedesigninitiative at cornell university the Animation Basics: The FilmStrip 2 2D Animation Animation is a sequence of hand-drawn frames Smoothly displays action when change quickly Also called flipbook animation Arrange animation in a sprite sheet (one texture) Software chooses which frame to use at any time So programmer is actually the one doing animation
Here you'll use the Create Time Layer Animation dialog box to create a time layer animation in the display, using a feature class layer as input. 1. If the Animation toolbar isn't present, click View, Point to Toolbars and click Animation. 2. Click Animation and click Create Time Layer Animation.
an interest in animation techniques such as hand drawn or stop-frame, and use of design software such as Photoshop or more advanced 3D modelling for Animation (VFX). Include character animation in any technique where possible. 3D modeling is particularly relevant for Animation (VFX). Creature designs are encouraged, particularly for Animation .
4.1 Action design in 2D animation Because of its plane characteristics, two-dimensional(2D), animation can often use more exaggeration than three-dimensional(3D) animation. The exaggeration of character modelling in two-dimensional(2D) animation has evolved from imitating real characters and animals for a long time.
Second Animation Press the button to create a new animation in Blender Name the animation "Standing" and press the shield icon Delete the existing keyframes (A, X, Delete Keyframes) Ensure that Standing animation is selected Pose Clear Transform All Create animation as previous. Add head bob in middle
3D character animation teaches students the basic principles of char- acter animation and applies them to their own 3D work. Projects will let students to review and reinforce skills learned in pre-request courses, which includes 3D Animation software and animation workflow. In this course students will learn the essential principles of animation.
Thomas Coyne, LEM, Dir. Greg Lesko Nina Mascio Debbie Walters, LEM Faith Formation Lori Ellis, LEM, Religious Education Baptism/Marriage Please contact Lori Ellis at 412-462-8161 Confession Schedule Mondays at St. Therese at 7:00 p.m. Saturdays at Holy Trinity from 3:00-3:45 p.m. Saturdays at St. Max from 3:00-3:45 p.m. Hall Rentals Please call 412-461-1054 Website www.thomastheapostle.net .
