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New dates available:
End of May 2012 (course code AA_ad_07)
Exact dates to be confirmed soon.
**Bookings are now being taken**
Company group bookings are accepted
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…You can register on this form: 5-day-short-courses form. For more information on price options go here………………………………
Design and start your own animation sequence or finish a project you are already engaged in, you decide!
Average number of students attending the 5 Day classes is two. This means I can give maximum attention to each student for the entire week. To obtain the maximum benefit from the course it would be great if you have already blocked some animation that you can then go on to develop. This is not essential however.
Sample of student work completed on the 5 Day Course.
Animator: Matthew Fidler
Animator: Eduardo Mateo
.“It was great for me. It gives me more confidence as an animator with the techniques you introduced. I leveled up!” – Friska, UK
“I really enjoyed the course and found the techniques taught very useful and intuitive. I don’t think I had any moment on the course when I found myself thinking, ” oh, i’ve done this before” (a pretty common feeling on courses, even good ones). ” – Marc UK
“Learning a new workflow was a nice surprise.”
“Thankyou for sharing the techniques and tips, I finished my animation 1 day ahead of schedule at work (not showing off!)”
Students watch techniques then try it out for themselves
“Great venue, a nice change from the hustle and bustle of London. For someone coming from London going to a serene spot in the country gives you a different learning experience.”
“It’s a lovely hotel (great food!) and location and it’s nice to be in a peaceful environment out of the city (helped me to focus) and be able to finish the day with a sauna.” – Paul, UK
The two students on the April course.
“Particularly good from a technical approach to creature animation, It was good to see how you were working as well.”
“I understand much better the approach and the way you tweak with timewarps and curve manipulation”
“The course setup with fewer students was great so everyone got their share of time to ask stuff.”
“I learnt a new approach for shots that have alot of cycles in them and things to think about when doing blocking, splining of creatures. I definetly got inspired to do more of creature animation after this.”
“The Venue was really nice. Lots of space in the hotel and really nice to have the pool area with the jacuzzi to relax in afterwards. Food and service was great.”
“Overall I will remember this course as a rewarding and fun experience.”- Tony, Sweden
“I’m very glad with all the things I’ve learnt” – Maria, Spain
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The Creature Animation School is offering 5 day intensive training courses (beginners and advanced) in realistic creature/character animation technique. This is a great opportunity to learn the vital techniques employed to create the highest quality film VFX animation first hand from a highly experienced film professional.
The techniques learnt will help you to create animations from start to finishing, so that you will confidently try creating more complex sequences.
The location is in the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside, a tranquil setting and mix of relaxation and business facilities are designed to enhance the learning experience. Indoor pool, mini-gym, spa bath and sauna will help you to unwind after a long day, you can then relax in the bar, before enjoying a local dish in the restaurant if you so choose.
Venue:
Latimer Place (end of the Met Line) is a magnificent destination set in 30 acres of grounds on the edge of Chiltern’s countryside – It’s just a 35-minute train ride straight into central London, with Heathrow airport also only 19 miles away.
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The aim of the course is to teach each student vital techniques he or she will need to succeed as a 3D animator in the demanding global VFX and games industries.
Much of the art of creating great animation is down to good technique, it is essential to learn, not least so that you can focus more on performance than the technology you use to achieve it.
The excellent working practices taught on this course will enable you to confidently tackle any project.
These methods are not taught at universities or colleges or anywhere because there is no standard approach to VFX realistic animation, 3D animators work in a very individual way and develop their own procedures through years of practice.
Indeed, the 3D techniques being taught on this course are my techniques and mine alone, ones that I have developed and honed through years of working to tight deadlines at the highest possible level in feature film VFX.
*My instruction will involve the demonstration of techniques on the Lcd Projector, then walking round and communicating with each student individually as opposed lecturing in front of the class.
*You will be designing your own animation sequence or finishing a project you are already engaged in, I will then direct your approach to animating/finishing this sequence. You will be required to animate in the various exercises as we progress through the stages of development. Although you may not finish the entire sequence in the time allocated, you will walk way with the knowledge and skills to finish it to the standard expected at film level.
*To help keep costs to a minimum, you are required to bring your own laptop or PC with animation software of your choosing installed, preferably Autodesk Maya.
*Each class will consist of no more than 6 students so that individual attention to each student can be maximised.
*Visiting creature animation specialist working on current feature film project (subject to availability)
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Creature 5 Day Short Course Modules:
*Module 1/Day1
1.Choose creature rig.
You will be working on one sequence, I request that you use either the cat or the dog.
I believe that if you are proficient at animating either of these animals then you can then animate just about any other creature.
2.Storyboard ideas.
Come up with a simple sequence to animate, nothing too ambitious, the idea is to start a short sequence that demonstrate typical creature behaviour,
3.Study online live action movies of relevant creature.
Observe creature behaviour and typical personality traits with close attention to timing and poses. These studies will
be directly related to your storyboard idea.
4.Creation of walk/trot/run cycles.
You will be studying live action reference to help create convincing cycles quickly.
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*Module 2/Day2
AM
1. Use of world locators and TimeWarps.
2.Animation on path
Path animation will help you when you have lots of repetitive cycling action in your sequence, i.e runs. trots etc
I will show you how to setup a unique path system and get high quality animation into you scene fast.
PM
3.Blocking animation.
I will direct you in the use of stepped keys to create important key poses.
4.Inbetween blocking
Adding in more key poses, I will also demonstrate how you can employ some great techniques that enable you to re-time your poses
quickly.
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*Module3/Day3
1.Splining the block poses:
Smoothing the block
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*Module4/Day4
Polishing Techniques1
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*Module5/Day5
1.Polishing Techniques2
2.Weight techinques, simple methods that instantly give your creature/animal some gravity.
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Please direct any questions about these details to:
rob.hemmings@3dhem.com
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You can find the registration form and information on Cost and Package options here.
Creature Animation School