3D Animation

Introduction to 3D Animation

• Understanding the basics of 3D animation
• Difference between 2D and 3D animation
• Overview of the 3D animation pipeline

Core Topics in 3D Animation

1. Fundamentals of 3D Animation

• Principles of animation (Squash & Stretch, Timing, Anticipation)
• Keyframing and motion paths
• Frame rate and smooth animation

2. 3D Modeling

• Creating basic 3D objects (cubes, spheres, cylinders)
• Polygonal modeling and edge flow
• Sculpting and high-poly modeling
• UV mapping and texturing

3. Rigging and Character Animation

• Basics of rigging (bones, joints, controllers)
• Creating character rigs for animation
• Facial animation and expressions
• Inverse Kinematics (IK) vs. Forward Kinematics (FK)

4. Texturing and Shading

• Applying materials and textures
• PBR (Physically Based Rendering) workflows
• Bump maps, normal maps, and specular maps

5. Lighting and Rendering

• Basics of 3D lighting (point, directional, ambient)
• Global illumination and shadow effects
• Rendering engines (Arnold, V-Ray, Blender Cycles)

6. Dynamics and Visual Effects

• Particle systems (fire, smoke, explosions)
• Cloth and hair simulations
• Water and fluid dynamics

7. Camera Animation and Cinematics

• Camera movements and framing shots
• Depth of field and motion blur
• Storytelling through camera angles

8. Software for 3D Animation

• Blender – Free and powerful 3D tool
• Autodesk Maya – Industry standard for animation
• Cinema 4D – Great for motion graphics
• 3ds Max – Used in gaming and architecture

9. Game Animation vs. Film Animation

• Differences in animation for games vs. movies
• Real-time rendering (Unreal Engine, Unity)
• Pre-rendered animation for films

10. Post-Production and Compositing

• Editing animations in After Effects or Premiere Pro
• Adding VFX and final color grading
• Exporting animations for different platforms

Learning Formats

• Online and offline courses available
• Hands-on projects, assignments, and portfolio building

Course Prerequisites

• No strict prerequisites; creativity and interest in animation help
• Basic understanding of digital art tools is beneficial

Course Duration

• Ranges from a few weeks to a few months depending on depth and learning pace

Certification and Career Opportunities

• Some courses offer certificates for completion
• Career paths: 3D Animator, Character Animator, VFX Artist, Game Animator, Motion Graphics Designer