ANIMATION AND GAME ART AND DESIGN

DEGREE   JOBS   ABOUT   FACULTY  STUDENT

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE IN ANIMATION

 

To acquire the Associate of Arts Degree in Animation, it is necessary to complete the graduation requirements of the college along with the following.

 

Certificates Of Achievement

Entertainment Art-Digital Environment

 

Entertainment Art students work in a collaborative environment on project based assignments that revolve around creativity and innovation. Students are taught the skills they will need in order to create amazing artwork using the latest digital tools. The curriculum centers on the current production techniques used in designing the visual components found in games, apps, feature films and the web. From the fundamentals of 2D visual development through the pipeline for creating a finished 3D piece, students are guided by industry professionals. Entertainment Art students finish their training with portfolios full of captivating digital environments, vehicles and props.

 

To acquire the Certificate of Achievement in Entertainment Art-Digital Environments it is necessary to complete the following courses:

Required Courses                                                  

ART 170      Introduction to Digital Painting / Units – 3

ANIM 130    Modeling for Games / Units – 4

ANIM 134   Mech and Vehicle Design  / Units – 4

ANIM 135   Environment Design  / Units – 4

ANIM 140   Animation Portfolio / Units – 3

 

Degree Total/ Units Required              19

 

Certificates Of Achievement

Entertainment Art-Digital Characters

 

Entertainment Art students work in a collaborative environment on project based assignments that revolve around creativity and innovation. Students are taught the skills they will need in order to create amazing artwork using the latest digital tools. The curriculum centers on the current production techniques used in designing the visual components found in games, apps, feature films and the web. From the fundamentals of 2D visual development through the pipeline for creating a finished 3D piece, students are guided by industry professionals. Entertainment Art students finish their training with portfolios full of intriguing and elaborate digital characters.

To acquire the Certificate of Achievement in Entertainment Art-Digital Characters it is necessary to complete the following courses:

Required Courses                                                  

ART 170      Introduction to Digital Painting  / Units – 3

ANIM 110    Digital Character Animation / Units – 4

ANIM 130    Modeling for Games / Units – 4

ANIM 133   Character Design / Units – 4

ANIM 140   Animation Portfolio / Units – 4

ANIM 260   Figure Drawing for Animators / Units – 3

 

Certificate Total/ Units Required                22

 

Certificates Of Achievement

Game Development Fundamentals

 

This certificate of achievement is designed for aspiring game developers, passionate gaming enthusiasts, and anyone eager to grasp the foundational principles essential for crafting compelling games. Required courses equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue entry-level positions within the diverse realm of the game development industry.

To acquire the Certificate of Achievement in Game Development Fundamentals it is necessary to complete the following courses:

Required Courses    

ANIM 101 – Introduction to Digital 3-D Animation / Units – 4

ANIM 130 – Modeling for Games / Units – 4

ART 170 – Introduction to Digital Painting / Units – 3

GAD 101 – Introduction to Game Design / Units – 3

GAD 210A – Game Production Studio A / Units – 3

 

Certificate Total/ Units Required               17

 

Certificates Of Achievement

Game Development Production

 

This certificate of achievement is tailored for students who are passionate about game development and gaming. Required courses delve into advanced principles crucial for crafting engaging games, empowering students to solidify their foundational knowledge, and for acquiring the advanced skills necessary for higher-level roles in the game development industry.

To acquire the Certificate of Achievement in Game Development Production it is necessary to complete the following courses:

Required Courses

GAD 102 – Game Concept Design and Visual Development / Units – 3

GAD 103 – Game Technologies and Engines / Units – 3

GAD 104 – Game Level and Environment Design / Units – 3

GAD 106 – Game Prototyping and Mechanics / Units – 3

GAD 203 – Game Technologies and Systems / Units – 3

GAD 210B – Game Production Studio B / Units – 3

 

Certificate Total/ Units Required               18

 

Certificates Of Achievement

Animation for Games

 

This certificate is designed for students aspiring to become animators, gaming enthusiasts, and those eager to master the fundamental principles of crafting captivating cinematic, in-game animation, and motion capture sequences. The required courses offer crucial knowledge and skills necessary for securing entry-level positions within the dynamic game development industry.

To acquire the Certificate of Achievement in Game Development Production it is necessary to complete the following courses:

Required Courses

ANIM 105 – Principles of 3-D Digital Animation / Units – 4

ANIM 110 – Digital Character Animation / Units – 4

GAD 102 – Game Concept Design and Visual Development / Units – 3

 

Certificate Total/ Units Required               14

 

Certificates Of Achievement

Character Design for Games

 

This certificate is tailored for aspiring character artists, gaming enthusiasts, and students eager to grasp the foundational principles of crafting compelling game characters. Required courses provide essential knowledge and skills for entry-level positions in the dynamic game development industry.

To acquire the Certificate of Achievement in Character for Game Design, it is necessary to complete the following courses:

Required Courses

ANIM 130 – Modeling for Games / Units – 4

GAD 102 – Game Concept Design and Visual Development / Units – 3

GAD 103 – Game Technologies and Engines / Units – 3

 

Certificate Total/ Units Required               14

 

 

Class Schedule-Access Rio

 

ANIM 101 / INTRO TO DIGITAL 3D ANIMATION

Articulates to Cal State Fullerton

This course is an introduction to the art of creating digital character animation. Students will be introduced to the concepts of digital sculpting, lighting, rendering, rigging and animating 3-D objects. This course is beneficial for all students in classes related to Graphic Arts (Multimedia, Illustration, Web and Game Design and Film Production) and Industrial Design (Architectural, Automotive, Furniture, Clothing and Product Design).

ANIM 105 / PRINCIPLES OF DIGITAL ANIMATION

Articulates to Cal State Fullerton

This course introduces students to the basic principles that are the foundation for the art form of animation. The topics covered in this course are the starting point for any student interested in becoming a digital animator. Through the use of a computer, solid drawing and 3D software such as Maya, students will learn to master fundamentals like squash and stretch, timing, weight, drag and follow through. This course provides students with the opportunity to build and refine the basic skill set necessary to be a digital animator.

 

ANIM 110 / DIGITAL CHARACTER ANIMATION

This course will provide students with an opportunity to further develop their skills in the art of creating three-dimensional digital character animation. Students will learn how to create short animation sequences and loops using digital characters. This course is appropriate and beneficial for all students in courses related to Graphic Arts (Multimedia, Illustration, Internet Web Design, Game Design and Broadcast Media Production) and Industrial Design (Architectural, Automotive, Furniture, Clothing and Product Design). Students will be introduced to the concepts of storyboarding, Body Mechanics, acting for animators, Pose to pose and straight ahead animation, control rigging, and animating mechanical subject matter.

ANIM 120 / LIGHTING AND TEXTURE

This is an introductory course for all students interested in learning about lighting, rendering and texturing for 3D animation. Students focus on creating lighting scenarios and texture editing systems to generate and render surface details on a variety of 3D objects. This course is beneficial for all students in courses related to Graphic Arts (Multimedia, Illustration, Internet Web Design, Game Design and Film Production) and Industrial Design (Architectural, Automotive, Furniture, Clothing and Product Design).

ANIM 130 / MODELING FOR GAMES

This is an introductory course in the creation of assets and environments for games. The course focuses on the creation of forms to be integrated into a game, and students will begin to grasp the design and digital sculpting of both organic and hard surface game assets. Aesthetics, construction, communication, light, form and quality of work are stressed. This course is beneficial for all students in courses related to Graphic Arts, Multimedia, Illustration, Internet Web Design, Game Design, Film Production, Industrial Design Architectural, Automotive, Furniture, Clothing and Product Design.

ANIM 133 / CHARACTER DESIGN

This class is intended to teach the fundamentals of character design. Students learn the basics in character development by revising and polishing innovative designs of visually intriguing characters. The course helps students’ master and use gesture, construction and anatomy in their designs. Students learn to use digital tools to sketch, paint and build a visually compelling portfolio of characters.

ANIM 134 / MECH AND VEHICLE DESIGN

This class is geared towards designing mechs, and vehicles of all types for the entertainment industry. Centered on digital drawing and rendering using Photoshop, students create and present finished portfolio pages. The course takes students through a clear and efficient design process emphasizing storytelling, gesture, shape, and color.

ANIM 135 / ENVIRONMENT DESIGN

This class introduces students to the artistic and technical requirements needed to work in the entertainment industry as environment artists. Through class projects students learn the latest techniques in the construction of game levels using Maya and Unity. In addition to level design and the practical aspects of modeling and lighting, an emphasis is placed on the artistic merit of the students work through value, color, design and composition.

ANIM 140 – Animation Portfolio

This course will prepare digital artists to talk about and present their artwork in a professional manner. Students will select an area of concentration within Entertainment Design to focus a portfolio project around. Using programs such as Photoshop CC, Premier CC, ZBrush, Maya and the Unity game engine students will create an online portfolio. This course is an excellent opportunity for students interested in developing and presenting a body of work that will help them take the next step in their professional career.

Michael Rivera's 3D Art work

ART 260 – Figure Drawing for Animators

Articulates to Cal State Fullerton

This figure drawing course for animators and art students focuses on gesture and how to capture the essential movement, dynamic expression, and the individual attitude of the model. It provides an introduction to figure drawing for animation and is designed to promote deeper understanding of life drawing that will serve as a foundation for further studies in animation and entertainment arts. Students will refine basic skills in drawing human anatomy while learning to draw the figure in sequential movement, understand weight and balance, facial and body expression, and figure invention. This course may be taken by art majors wishing to further life drawing skills and is recommended for all animation art majors.

Game Art and Design Classes

GAD 101 – Introduction to Game Design

This course is an introduction to the theory and process of designing games. Students critically explore the historical, cultural, economic, and social aspects of the concepts and techniques used in the design of games; discover what the components of games are, including what parts of games are influenced by their design.; and learn several ways to approach the design of a game, including processes and best practices for prototyping, play testing, and balancing a game after it has been designed.

 

GAD 102 – Game Concept Design and Visual Development

In this course, students develop foundational skills for illustration and concept design by creating characters, props, and environments as used in the video game and animation industries. The course will focus on creating thumbnail and final illustrations, composition, value studies, perspective, and digital painting techniques for a concept design workflow.

 

GAD 103 – Game Technologies and Engines

This course is an introduction to the fundamental concepts and vocabulary of computer game tools and techniques. Students employ a variety of digital tools with a focus on game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine) to create playable environments. Included are topics such as introduction to game editors, 3D asset creation and management, and foundational skills in creating playable content.

 

GAD 104 – Game Level and Environment Design

 

In this course, students develop skills in the process of creating environments and level designs for playable media. Students design and construct living environments that include climate, habitat, and ambiance that reflect a level design document.

 

GAD 106- Game Prototyping and Mechanics

 

In this course, students explore the various aspects of game mechanics: what they are, how they can be formed, how they interact with each other, what values they transmit, and how they relate to the application of the overall game design. Students prototype, test, and implement mechanics that meet the limitations of a “target platform.” In the course, a game design document is created that illustrates all aspects of game production, including game description, game mechanics, and identifying problem areas. The game design documents address business aspects of the industry that impact designs, including demographics, economic models, budgets, and marketing.

GAD 203 – Game Technologies and Systems

 

In this course, students develop a fundamental understanding of how the technical aspects of game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine) are applied to the development of games. Topics include animation construction, playable characters, heads up display (HUD) development, and event triggers. In the course, students design a game and, using a game engine, make a basic prototype that includes a major feature, a minor feature, and a level mechanic.

GAD 210A – Game Production Studio A

 

In this course, students explore the process and production in game design and related industries by working in groups on projects. In the course, students closely simulate the roles, responsibilities, and demands of professional work environments such as animation studios, visual effects houses, and game design companies; and work on projects such as animated shorts, interactive content, and video games.

 

GAD 210B – Game Production Studio B

 

In this course, students explore the process and production in game design and related industries by working in groups on projects. In the course, students closely simulate the roles, responsibilities, and demands of professional work environments such as animation studios, visual effects houses, and game design companies. Students also continue development work on projects such as animated shorts, interactive content, and video games.

GAD 210C – Game Production Studio C

 

In this course, students explore the process and production in game design and related industries by working in groups on projects. In the course, students closely simulate the roles, responsibilities, and demands of professional work environments such as animation studios, visual effects houses, and game design companies. Students also take a lead role in development work on projects such as animated shorts, interactive content, and video games.