This course will focus on consolidating the concepts delivered in previous animation courses as well as continued exploration of visual effects content creation using Maya's dynamics toolset. Mentalray basics will be explored through lectures and class exercises.

As well as technical demonstrations and exercises, lectures will include viewing and discussion of live-action and animated works, and also review of major project development stages. Students will develop professional proposal writing and researching skills. This course will continue to fine-tune the students' animation production skills through class work, assignments and the delivery of a major animation project.

At the completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate skills in the advanced processes of animation production, across a number of Maya's toolsets: ie animation, modelling, surfaces, rendering, and dynamics.
2. apply a variety of animation processes seamlessly in the development of an animated work
3. demonstrate skills in animation project development and management
4. show an awareness for modes of dissemination of animated work
5. present resolved work to an audience

Assessment is by a series of assignments and a final presentation of the major project to the Viva Examination panel

Assignments (50%), Major Project (50%)

All sessions take place in a computer laboratory:

3 hours of seminar / studio practice per week

Students are expected to do at least an extra 4 - 6 hours of independent studio practice each week

DART3001 Dynamic Visual Effects for Film & Broadcast

Maya Character Animation, Jaejin Choi (2002), Sybex

Digital Lighting and Rendering, Jeremy Birn (2006), New Riders.

Animation Art - from Pencil to Pixel, the World of Cartoon, Anime and CGI, Jerry Beck (Ed.), (2004), Flame Tree Pub.

• Learning Dynamics, Alias/Wavefront Publishing, 2003.
• Ng, Kian Bee. Digital Effects Animation Using Maya, Charles River Media, 1999.