Advanced Digital Animation
Middle Tennessee State University
Department of Electronic Media Communication
Marc J. Barr, Professor
Office Comm 148 - Telephone (615) 898-5118
Course Outline
A. Department: RA/TV/Photo - Number: 430
Title of Course: Advanced Digital Animation - Credits: 3
B. Description
This course will serve as a continuation of Intermediate Digital Animation for the development of two and three dimensional computer data and animation. This class will further the students understanding of the aesthetics and techniques for visually communicating information for Television Journalism, Advertising, and Entertainment. This class will serve as a final classroom laboratory in preparation for the recommended Internship class.
Along with reinforcement of the materials covered in the introductory and intermediate classes, the students will gain greater understanding of complete animation production and more complex methods for the integration of composited of computer generated images with live action video tape and sound.
C: Topics Covered
Projects will include the creation of animated graphics for;
Opening, closing, and bumper sequences for news and entertainment productions
The visual illustration of data and other information
Commercial spots for the advertisement of products
Public Service Announcements for the University and community
The lengths of the animations will correspond to the particular application. Program introductions could be thirty seconds in length which would equal nine hundred frames of animation. Commercials and Public Service Announcements could be up to sixty seco nds in length which would equal eighteen hundred frames of animation. The students would be able to work on projects as a team and would be able to work with students from other areas.
D: Activities Required of Students
1. Attendance at all lectures and demonstrations
2. Minimum of nine hours per week additional laboratory time
3. Equipment operation and daily system administration
4. Tutorial exercises demonstrating competency in the areas of;
* a. Hardware and software operations
* b. Multiple part wire frame modeling
* c. Development and application of surface attributes, shadow, and ray tracing files and the creation of individual material libraries
* d. Assignment of parenting hierarchies and complex motion paths
* e. Development and application of custom lighting models and the creation of individual lighting libraries
* f. Image rendering to files
* g. Display of image files
* h. Complex compositing to videotape with inclusion of live action and layered effects
* i. Integration of appropriate sound tracks
* j. Class presentation of finished animations on videotape
5. Presentation of finished projects viewed in segments on the computer and fully on videotape.
E. Evaluation Procedures
1. Individual testing of students on operating procedures, vocabulary, and concepts covered
2. Student journal of activities including evaluation of individual projects from conception to completion
3. Presentation of videotape containing completed projects
4. Individual and group critiques
F. Text
A variety of texts, magazines, and web based materials will be used.
G. Materials
Videotape (your choice), various types of storage media, journal book, other items as suggested and required during the semester.