COURSES
Introduction to Computer Graphics
This introductory course provides a solid background in vector and bitmap graphics creation, translation skills, graphic file management, scanning, and format conversion necessary for every field of computer graphics. These applied skills get you underway in a variety of our core computer graphic applications which are used in ever increasing levels of integration throughout the program.
Foundation of Art and Design
Foundation of Art and Design explores the evolution of imagery from primitive art through to today’s digital creations, with a focus on 20th century North American and European art and elemental themes in design, composition, and content. Developing the oral and written skills with which to discuss or critique works of art, FAD enables students to understand the artistic direction demanded by future clients. Topics include colour, composition, balance, perspective, social context, and visual perception.
Business Technology 100
In order to survive and prosper, businesses must take advantage of the most appropriate technology available. Students receive an introduction to various business technologies including word processing and spreadsheets. The medium to achieve this knowledge will be the Microsoft Office Suite. Building on a foundational understanding of Windows, as well as Internet browsers, students will learn the basic skills for Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Leveraging the interoperability of these applications will also be explored.
Introduction to Video Production
Media convergence has meant a wider group of communication professionals have more requirements than ever to produce video based material. Exposure and hands-on practice with the tools and techniques of video production will allow students to capture and produce video which is to-the-point, meaningful, and has some level of production value beyond the shaky, hard-to-hear home video.
Career Management
This course is specifically designed for those working in the arts and entertainment industry in order to provide them with the tools they need to effectively manage their business and financial needs so that they will be able to follow their passion while avoiding the "starving artist" trap. As students work through the course they build a personal business plan that will be the foundation for building a successful long-term career.
Drawing for Animation Workshop
Talent is a gateway to a successful animation career, but hard work and refined skills are what turn an amateur into an expert. DRAW explores the drawing techniques, skills, and concepts necessary to professional animation. Principles of light and shadow, perspective, composition, and form are studied, with special attention paid to the requirements and restrictions that the final presentation media (video, computer, film or TV) may impose. DRAW is designed to accommodate all skill levels and students are encouraged to develop the long-term commitment necessary to achieve advanced drawing skills.
3D Animation and Modelling 101
This course serves as an introduction to your career in the 3D Industry. Course content will cover all beginner aspects of the current 3D software taught at the Centre, and will consist of the basic software overview, including project file structures and the importing and exporting of files. It will also teach you how to do basic 3D modelling, texturing, rigging, lighting, animating, and rendering.
Introduction to Classical Animation 101
Students develop drawing skills while learning the principles of squash and stretch, follow-through and overlapping, anticipation, timing, key frames, and in-betweening. Lessons in character animation and storyboarding explore the elements necessary to bring an animation to life. Students use 2D animation software to compile and play back animation.
Life Drawing 100
The human form has inspired generations of artists. Drawing from the human model is essential to understanding form, anatomy, gesture, weight, and expression. These weekly life drawing sessions will enable students to render the human form accurately and improve current 2D and 3D skills.
3D Industry Overview
This course explains the positions and roles in the 3D entertainment industry and overviews some of the important issues related to it. Various styles of production are considered, ranging from game animation to visual effects in commercials. This course will also look at other non-traditional areas where animation is used, for instance, from education and medical visualization, to visual game simulation used for training pilots and soldiers.
Character Design 200, 300
Character Design introduces students to the roles that proportion, anatomy, caricature, style, and appeal play in the creation of animated characters, and the methods used to produce industry-standard character designs. Students design characters and create model packs, including mouth charts and size relationships, along with rotations, expression sheets, and action poses.
Career Management (CM)
This course is specifically designed for those working in the arts and entertainment industry, in order to provide them with the tools they need to effectively manage their business and financial needs so that they will be able to follow their passion while avoiding the "starving artist" trap. As students work through the course they will build a personal business plan that will be the foundation for building a successful long-term career.
Storyboarding 101
Storyboarding is the creation of a series of sketches of sequential art used to convey the story and character in visual media (movie, television, or game). Its purpose is to communicate the visual story to the crew, so everyone in the production is clear on how to achieve their goals. Storyboarding is vitally important in developing the blueprint for visual effects for movies, 3D game animation cinematics, animated feature films, and television series. This course will cover the basic building blocks of staging a visual story in a way that the audience is conditioned to view it. We will touch upon tried and true examples from television and film that set up the rules for clean staging, allowing the viewer to take in the story without feeling bogged down by its logic.
3D Animation and Modelling 102, 103
Using what you learned in 3DAM101 you will build upon and learn more about the six basics of 3D modelling, texturing, rigging, lighting, animating, and rendering. In these courses you will create assets and elements that will show you how to design projects that will carry over from class to class.
Introduction to Classical Animation 102
Students work to improve their technical ability to draw, pose, breakdown and in-between characters for 2D animation, focusing on weight, balance, timing, and movement to achieve well structured and fluid animation. Lectures and workshops are conducted to train students in the art of classical animation techniques. Exercises and assignments are engineered to practice the fundamentals of traditional frame-by-frame, hand-drawn character and FX animation.
Previsualization 101
Previsualization is a collaborative process that generates preliminary versions of shots or sequences, predominantly using 3D animation tools and a virtual environment. It enables filmmakers to visually explore creative ideas, plan technical solutions, and communicate a shared vision for efficient production. Today 90% of film special effects, game cinematics, and pitch package ideas are done using low resolution 3D previsualization renderings. This course will show storytellers how to create a 3D version of a written script, by bringing 2D storyboards to life in a renderable 3D environment.
Game Design Pitch 100
Every game needs a starting point and in Game Design Pitch 100 you will create a game pitch package to sell your game to a video game producer. You will deliver weekly presentations of elements needed in a game pitch bible. Game synopsis, character design and bios, marketing strategies, game genres, delivery systems and visual presentation, and rough animations will all be examined in this course, providing future game designers and production team members a practical understanding of the industry they are heading into.
3D Animation and Modelling 104, 105 and 106
Modelling is so important in creating great 3D. These courses will use the knowledge learned in 3DAM101, 102, and 103 and expand on it in order to create professional 3D models. These courses will overlap techniques and technology, teaching you how to model for feature film and console gaming. The courses will cover high and low poly-modelling, modelling for rigging, modelling base meshes for sculpting, organic and hard surface modelling. You will also use this course to create environments and elements that can be imported into game engines. These courses will work in conjunction with ALT 100 and 200, ESAGFVE 100 and 200, and 3DA 204, 205, and 206.
3D Animation 204, 205, and 206
To animate is to give life to something. These courses will teach you how to use the knowledge learned in ICAN 101 & 102 and convert it from 2D to 3D principles. Animating walk and run cycles, gestures and secondary motion, lip sync, and emotions will all be covered in this course. Learning how to make things move is not the only technique a good animator needs in his or her arsenal of tools. Animation courses will also show you advanced skin weighting and rigging techniques, motion capture, and mocap clean up techniques. These courses will work in conjunction with ALT 100, and 200, ESAGFVE 100, and 200, 3DAM 104, 105, and 106.
Advanced Lighting, Texturing and Compositing 100 and 200
A 3D model is lost if it is not textured or lit properly. Advanced Lighting and Texturing teaches you how to make your models look amazing. Photorealism, rendering layers, advanced file type creation, and advanced compositing techniques will be explained.
Life Drawing 200
In LD200, students concentrate on fine-tuning skills such as shading, perspective, anatomy, proportions, and other elements essential to artistically representing the human form.
Employability Skills 100, 200
Having technical skills and talent are no longer sufficient to find and keep high quality jobs. Employers desire candidates with a high level of employability skills that include personal management, communication, problem solving, positive attitudes and behaviours, adaptability, and teamwork skills. Employability Skills courses provide a work environment that allows students to practice their employability skills and technical skills while simultaneously acquiring additional entrepreneurial and employment relevant skills. In all programs, ES courses will be operationalized through regional focuses and this will provide an ideal context for demonstrating and practicing employability skills.
Life Drawing 300, 400
Students in Life Drawing 300 and 400 focus on more expressive techniques. They begin to develop an individual style, and work on strengthening their existing skills by working both from observation and imagination.
Mentored Production Apprenticeship
This will be your time to use your industry mentors and professional instructors' critiques, knowledge, wisdom, and professional eye to put the finishing touches on your final projects that will be assembled and showcased in your final professional demo reel and portfolio. Everything you have learned previously will be applied to building a visual resume of your talents. MPA runs in conjunction with Portfolio Production Workshop and is broken down into course topics that align with previous courses. This course will run in the 7th and 8th quarters of the program and will incorporate a variety of courses, including 3D Modelling 107 and 108, 3D Animation 107 and 108, and Advanced Lighting and Texturing 300.
Portfolio Production Workshop
Portfolios show the world what you can do. Academic portfolios are the final demonstration of acquired learning and are a requirement for graduation at Centre colleges. Portfolios are also one of the most important tools you have for initially getting noticed and landing an interview for a job or contract. This course provides the knowledge and tools required to complete a high-quality academic and professional portfolio in multiple formats and media, e.g., print, Web, DVD, tape.
Professional Development 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 (This is a mandatory course in several quarters)
The Professional Development Program consists of a series of modules spread throughout the academic program that focus on the personal and interpersonal aspects of employability skills required for success at work and in life. Through a combination of instruction and activities including scenario training, individual and group activities, discussions, and reflection students are given the opportunity to discover and develop lifelong values, personal definitions of success and mission statements, and to investigate best practices in achieving their personal and career goals. Awareness of expectations and consequences of actions within business and social situations will be emphasized, providing opportunities to develop into the kind of people that others want to know and work with. This includes behavioural awareness and skills in resolving personal and interpersonal issues, and letting go of schemas that don't support success as personally defined. Practical job skills are also included in the program such as industry research, portfolio criteria, job search, resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, and employment negotiations. Because the acquisition of soft skills requires a significant amount of exposure and practice in diverse situations, each module will build on the core skills, principles, and tools based on individual and group needs as determined by the facilitators in each module.
