Intermediate Digital Animation
Middle Tennessee State University
Department of Electronic Media Communication
Marc J. Barr, Professor
Office Comm 147 - Telephone (615) 898-5118
A. Department: RA/TV/Photo - Number: 331
Title of Course: Intermediate Digital Animation - Credits: 3
B. Description
This course will serve as a continuation of Introduction to Digital Animation for the development of two and three dimensional computer data and animation. The animations produced are intended for use in the areas of Television News, Entertainment, Advertising, and for Public Service Announcements. This class will further the students understanding of the aesthetics and techniques for building, lighting, assigning surface attributes, and rendering of three dimensional models. These models will be used in the designing and producing of three dimensional computer generated animations. Completed animations will be recorded onto videotape.
Along with reinforcement of the materials covered in the introductory class, the students will gain greater understanding of complete animation production. The students will be introduced to the creation and modification of customized lighting models. They will learn about the design and development of customized surface and bump mapped textures. The students will also learn about the techniques involved in the compositing of live action video tape, sound, and computer generated images.
C. Topics Covered
Students will be expected to have a competent working knowledge of all terminology covered in the Introductory class.
1. The students will work in an integrated environment to become familiar with the elements of a production crew. The roles and responsibilities will be;
* Director, Assistant Director,
* Writer, Storyboard, Character design,
* Background design, Layout, Animator,
* Assistant animator, Inbetweener,
* Camera operator, Checker, Editor, Technician,
* Liaison with other staff members from Corporate and Broadcast Production, and Journalism.
2. Script development
* Concepts of Visual Communication
* Story
* Characters
* Storyboarding; Camera placement, Visual and physical organization
3. Producing
* Budgets
* Assignment of responsibilities
* Scheduling
4. Production
* Blocking
* Lighting
* Variety of Camera positions
* Compositing and Event layering; Dissolves, Cuts, Fades, Tempo and Rhythm
* Rendering Effects; Atmospheres and Reflectance Maps
* Sound Recording and Editing
* Manipulation of the Viewer
5. Post Production
* Review and Editing of Video and Sound
* Character Generation and Credits
D. Activities Required of Students
1. Attendance at all lectures and demonstrations
2. Minimum of six 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, daily system maintenance
* b. Complex wire frame modeling
* c. Application of surface attributes, shadow, and ray tracing files
* d. Assignment of complex motion paths
* e. Multiple lighting of models
* f. Image rendering to files
* g. Display of image files
* h. Multi layer compositing to videotape
* i. Inclusion of Sound Track
* j. Class presentation of finished animations on videotape
5. Presentation of finished tutorial exercises viewed on the computer and 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 storage media, journal book, other items as suggested and required during the semester.