Diploma in Media Practices specialising in 3D Animation

Well, there is a clinical answer: the illusion of simulating movement using successive images.

And then, there is the preferred one: breathing life, intent and emotion into real or unreal objects, people, creatures, or anything for that matter. Even a leaf blowing in the wind can capture the essence of a particular emotion. Perhaps the leaf is not real, but we have captured the essence of something. This is not limited to just the animation of the leaf. How the movement is framed and focussed with a camera; how the light is utilised to stage and direct the audience; how colour influences the mood; all of this contributes to the experience and interpretation of the animation.

Limiting the Animation specialisation to the discipline of animating is wrong. The word ‘animation’ describes the movement of the character and ‘animated feature’ can also describe a genre of film. In any production; video games, short films, an animated feature or series; a lot more goes into the production pipeline than just the job of animating. Similarly, a lot more is taught throughout this 3 – year diploma. Understanding narrative, storyboarding, learning how to draw the human form, produce interesting characters in 3D and 2D, modelling and texturing environments, creating augmented reality experiences, are but a few modules contributing to this unique specialisation.

While the above areas can be bundled to produce a short animation from concept to final film the above learning points can be applied to other career paths and disciplines.

In a nutshell, we teach students art, illustration and design fundamentals coupled with 2D and 3D tools and software to produce 3D characters, vehicles, environments, AR experiences, imagery and stories using a range of relevant industry skills.

Due to the technical and creative demands of this field, someone talented in drawing and technical problem solving is best suited. The industry’s diverse nature still allows for a heavy lean of either skillset. Only good at drawing? Become a concept or storyboard artist. Only good at technical hurdles? Become a rigging artist. Good at both? Choose your destiny!

To make it easier to understand, treat them as 2 different jobs expecting different responsibilities. From an academic sense, at Boston they are 2 completely different specialisations and courses.

The specialisations both utilise art fundamentals to produce content for very different markets and job descriptions. There is a lot of overlapping and borrowing of skills across these disciplines however the final product and job responsibilities distinguish them.

Need someone to animate a dog running into a meadow of flowers, get an animator. Need a website or interface designed for a mobile app, get a graphic/UX designer. Need an explainer video with some motion art and characters, get an animator that understands graphic design.

Advertising agencies, animation production houses, video game studios, architectural firms, film studios, video and VFX/post-production houses, sculpting studios, due to the advent of 3D printing and additive manufacturing 3D artists can find some work here as well.

• A healthy attitude to constantly learning and growing your skillsets.
• Being able to receive critique and work in a team.
• The 12 Principles of Animation is the keystone to all 2D and 3D animators.
• Understanding human anatomy is helpful for character artists.
• A keen eye for observation.
• Design and art fundamentals are a huge benefit.
• Strong sense of visual literacy.
• Passion! Perseverance! Passion! Perseverance!

• Autodesk Maya
• Blender
• UNITY game engine
• Vuforia Augmented Reality for UNITY
• Adobe Substance Painter
• Adobe Photoshop
• Arnold Renderer
• Adobe After Effects
• Adobe Premiere