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3D Character Animation with Maya


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Create a 3D Animation and Illustration Portfolio!

Pathway: Creative Design Stage: Advanced
Age:  12-18 Grade (US): 8-12
Pathway: Creative Design
Age:  12-18
Stage: Advanced
Grade (US): 8-12

In this course, students will develop an understanding of the storytelling and character animation process with the industry-standard 3D software, Autodesk Maya. Students will bring characters to life, using lighting, settings, and camera angles. Students will learn a workflow that will take pre-rigged models and animate them in an original short sequence that tells a story.
Building on existing knowledge of the basics of 3D modeling, students will take their design skills from modeling into animation just like the pros. By the end of the week, students will have an understanding of keyframing, facial expressions, character poses, object modeling, and the pre-production process.

Course Guide

The Course Guide contains all information required to deliver this Digital Media Academy Pro course. 

 

 

Standards Alignment

This course is aligned to national and international standards for technology education. Standards include: International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), International Baccalaureate , UK National Curriculum, New Zealand Curriculum, and more!

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to…

1

Use Maya as a tool for animation

2

Develop Keyframes and interpolations in Maya’s graph editor

3

Develop digital puppets known as character rigs

4

Explain the process of planning for and executing an animation

Students will create...

1

Several animations of a bouncing ball to display mastery of keyframes, weight, and timing

2

Images of characters in expressive poses, displaying subtle control of the complex character rigs

3

An animated shot using professional-level character rigs

4

A demo reel showcasing their work

 

Career Pathways 

Producer, Director, Filmmaker, Photographer, Animator, Illustrator, VFX Artist, Graphic designer, Video Game Designer, Marketing (advertising, publicity, media relations, brand manager)

Here is the course outline:

Unit 1: Intro to Maya

Learn the fundamentals of using Maya, and create your first 3D animation!

5 sections
Lesson 1.1: Welcome & Intro to Interface/Camera
Lesson 1.2: Object Manipulation
Lesson 1.3: Creating Custom Layouts
Lesson 1.4: My First Animation – Bouncing Ball
Lesson 1.5: Pendulum

Unit 2: Preparing Your Rig

Now that you have the basic tools, it's time to create some more animations and tell a story!

4 sections
Lesson 2.1: Intro to Puppeteering Characters
Lesson 2.2: Making Our Rig Animation-Friendly
Lesson 2.3: Animating with Poses
Lesson 2.4: Tell a Story in 5 Poses

Unit 3: Cycles, Props, and Faces

Add more complex elements to your animations and start building towards your Final Project!

6 sections
Lesson 3.1: Using Custom Shelves
Lesson 3.2: 5-Pose Story OR Make a Cycle
Lesson 3.3: Rig Customization
Lesson 3.4: Basic Prop Modeling
Lesson 3.5: Making Good Facial Poses
Lesson 3.6: How to Plan a Project

Unit 4: Project Pre-Production

It's time to unleash your creativity and start on your Final Project!

5 sections
Lesson 4.1: Project Pre-Production
Lesson 4.2: Using Video Reference
Lesson 4.3: Props & Scenery
Lesson 4.4: Polish Key Poses
Lesson 4.5: Create Our Breakdowns

Unit 5: Finalizing Your Project

Put the finishing touches on your Final Project and learn about creating a portfolio to showcase your work!

4 sections
Lesson 5.1: Finalizing Animation
Lesson 5.2: Picking Up or Putting Down Props
Lesson 5.3: Render or Playblast
Lesson 5.4: Portfolio Creation

Student Showcase

Now it's time to show off your projects!

2 sections
How to Lead a Student Showcase
Student Showcase