Animation and vfx course

Lesson 1 • History and Evolution of Animation

Traces animation from hand-drawn cells to digital VFX blockbusters. Establishes context for understanding why modern tools and techniques exist.

Lesson 2 • Core Principles of Animation

Covers the twelve foundational principles that govern believable motion. Applies each principle through observational exercises before digital work begins.

Lesson 3 • Industry Pipeline Overview

Maps pre-production, production, and post-production stages in animation and VFX projects. Students understand role handoffs and deliverable formats.

Lesson 1 • Exporting and Rendering 2D Projects

Covers render settings, frame rates, and codec selection for 2D output. Students deliver broadcast-ready and web-ready files from completed scenes.

Lesson 2 • Rigging and Puppet Animation

Introduces bone-based and mesh-deformation rigs for efficient character reuse. Students rig a character and animate it through multiple actions.

Lesson 3 • Scene Composition and Backgrounds

Covers layout, parallax scrolling, and colour theory for 2D environments. Compositional choices directly support storytelling and character readability.

Lesson 4 • Drawing for Animation

Builds gesture, line quality, and construction skills specific to animated characters. Strong draftsmanship directly improves digital animation output.

Lesson 1 • Hard-Surface and Organic Modelling

Applies polygon and subdivision skills to both mechanical and character assets. Students complete a full character model ready for rigging.

Lesson 2 • UV Unwrapping and Texturing

Teaches UV layout, seam placement, and texture baking for 3D assets. Proper UVs are prerequisite for all shading and rendering chapters.

Lesson 3 • Subdivision Surface Modelling

Covers control cage design and crease weighting for smooth organic forms. Students model a character head using subdivision workflow.

Lesson 4 • Polygon Modelling Techniques

Teaches edge loops, extrusion, and retopology for clean mesh construction. Students model a hard-surface prop with production-quality topology.

Lesson 1 • Compositing Render Passes

Assembles beauty, shadow, and specular passes into a final composite. Students gain control over look development without re-rendering full scenes.

Lesson 2 • Lighting Design for 3D Scenes

Covers three-point, HDRI, and area lighting setups for interior and exterior scenes. Lighting choices define mood, depth, and material readability.

Lesson 3 • Render Settings and Optimisation

Teaches sampling, denoising, and render pass configuration for efficient output. Students balance quality and render time for deadline-driven production.

Lesson 4 • Physically Based Rendering Concepts

Explains energy conservation, microfacet theory, and light transport fundamentals. These concepts underpin every shading decision in modern renderers.

Lesson 1 • Skinning and Deformation

Teaches smooth skinning, weight painting, and corrective blend shapes. Clean deformation is essential for believable character performance.

Lesson 2 • Control Rig and Animator Tools

Builds FK/IK switching, space switching, and custom animator controls. A well-designed rig directly accelerates animation production speed.

Lesson 3 • Keyframe Animation Workflow

Applies blocking, spline refinement, and graph editor polish to character shots. Students animate a full acting performance from scratch.

Lesson 4 • Skeleton and Joint Systems

Covers joint placement, orientation, and hierarchy for bipedal and quadruped characters. Correct skeleton setup prevents deformation errors downstream.

Lesson 1 • Procedural Effects with Node Graphs

Uses node-based procedural tools to build reusable, art-directable VFX setups. Procedural workflows reduce iteration time on complex effects.

Lesson 2 • Fluid and Smoke Simulations

Covers voxel-based fluid solvers for liquid and gaseous effects. Students simulate and render a hero explosion and a liquid pour.

Lesson 3 • VFX Shot Integration

Combines simulations, particles, and renders into a cohesive VFX shot. Students match lighting, motion blur, and depth of field to plate footage.

Lesson 4 • Particle Systems and Dynamics

Builds emitter-based particle systems for fire, smoke, sparks, and rain. Particle control is the gateway to all simulation-based VFX work.

Lesson 1 • Colour Grading and Look Development

Applies primary and secondary colour corrections to match shots and build a cinematic look. Colour consistency across shots defines professional output quality.

Lesson 2 • Motion Graphics and Title Design

Builds animated typography, lower thirds, and broadcast graphics using keyframe and expression-driven animation. Students deliver a complete graphics package.

Lesson 3 • Tracking and Camera Matchmoving

Covers 2D point tracking, planar tracking, and 3D camera solve workflows. Accurate tracking enables CG elements to lock to live-action footage.

Lesson 4 • Keying and Rotoscoping

Teaches chroma keying, spill suppression, and manual rotoscoping for clean extractions. Accurate mattes are critical for seamless VFX integration.

Lesson 1 • Job Application and Interview Prep

Prepares resumes, cover letters, and technical interview responses for studio roles. Students practise presenting work and answering production-scenario questions.

Lesson 2 • Online Portfolio and Personal Brand

Builds a professional website, social media presence, and artist statement. A cohesive brand increases discoverability and recruiter engagement.

Lesson 3 • Polishing and Presenting Work

Covers final render quality, audio sync, and title card design for reel presentation. Polished presentation signals professional standards to hiring teams.