In our very first Introduction to Game Animation class, students had a chance to learn from very skillful animator Jarrod Showers (Carbine Studios), responsible for 12 AAA titles including Star Wars: Jedi Academy, X Men: Origins: Wolverine, Wolfenstein, Doom 4 and his latest title Wildstar that has been published couple days ago.
Students got to work with rigs that meet all industry standards. They were created to prepare the students to work at any serious gaming studio. Their task was to create a situation or conflict between two characters and do all required animation. They finished the term with a Demo Reel that had all the animation required to apply for a job in the gaming industry.
Not only that – they are also prepared to deal with short deadlines, pressure and critiques on their work, as we strongly feel that every student that finishes Animschool represent us at their future studios.
Robert Joseph Vicks – Elwood Animations
INTERVIEW WITH JARROD SHOWERS, THE INSTRUCTOR
What are the challenges that 3D character animators deal when switching to game animation?
I feel the biggest challenges that 3d character animators deal with when switching to game animation is the speed at which you must work. Game animators must often times turn in rough animations in order to test out and get implemented in time. It’s important to learn shortcuts and ways to speed up your workflow. Since there are other departments that depend on each other to stay on schedule, it’s important to not be a blocker to anyone, even if that means coming back to a rough animation later on in the production schedule.
Some people consider game animation easier and less detailed – what do you think about this?
Even though game animations tend to be shorter and with a focus on body mechanics, that just means there is more to convey in a small amount of time. Every frame counts!
It’s important to understand also that being a game animator involves much more that just animating. A large amount of time is spent problem solving that requires a technical side as well.
We just have to ask – do you play games that you’ve worked on?
I do! Some of my fondest memories are of inviting friends over to play co-op together! I think it’s important for game developers to be able to work on projects that they can stand behind, because if they are having fun making the game, that will show in the final product.
What were the assignments that students had to do in order to complete the term?
Students were asked to create the essential animations required for every game animator’s demo reel, which include: walk or run, idle cycles, a player and enemy attack, jumps, pains, and a death. In many assignments, students are given choices so that everyone’s creativity can shine and differentiate themselves from each other.
What awaits the animators in the next term?
Some really exciting things are planned for next term as students move more into the realm of the Game Engine pipeline, using Unity! Students will be asked to import their animations to the engine in order to see for themselves the principals that have been taught.
Another exciting thing to look forward to is the introduction of the first Game Animation quadruped!There are many plans for this course as it continues to develop!
Do you feel our students are a step closer to the job in the gaming industry?
I feel that students are in fact closer to getting a job in the gaming industry with this course. The instructors keep a close eye on staying current with the gaming industry and want to pass along inside information on creating a streamlined path to employment. Students will get back what effort they put into the course by setting goals and staying focused on getting that job!
In Part 1 of AnimSchool’s Webcast Lead animator on The Lego Movie David Williams discusses the time he spent working on this movie. He shares his experience and motivation that led him to inspire life in Lego characters that are anything but simple.
In this clip, Blue Sky animator and AnimSchool instructor Thom Roberts helps to figure out how the body mechanics on a side step work. Watch it below:
This is a clip from AnimSchool’s class Introduction to Animation, the first term of the 3D Animation Program. To find out more, go to AnimSchool.com and apply now!
AnimSchool announces today our three new gaming courses:
Introduction to Gaming Animation
Game Animation Pipeline
Advanced Game Animation
Game animation students learn the animations, tools, and skills specifically required for working in games.
Students learn about game theory, interaction, working with game engines, importing animation into Unity, and working in game cinematics.
AnimSchool animation students can now choose a gaming emphasis, replacing animation classes 5,6 and 7, or take them after completing the program.
AnimSchool is known around the world for flexible, appealing characters. Over 20,000 people around the world use our AnimSchool Picker and “Malcolm” character, which has been used for commercials, short films, and to win dozens of animation awards.
AnimSchool students can learn modeling and rigging as well as animation.
Come join the over 200 students learning with us. www.animschool.com
Today AnimSchool announces Marnie 2.0, a new version of Marnie with mix and match outfits, like the ones shown here, and other rig and model improvements.
Using AnimSchool Picker, students can turn on and off entire costumes or individual parts. You can even make her barefoot, since she has poseable toes!
AnimSchool specializes in appealing characters, from our world re-knowned “Malcolm” character to Coach to Scout.
Students have been using Marnie 2.0 in their animation assignments this term, and enjoying the many clothing options.
Marnie is exclusively for AnimSchool students. To use Marnie and learn
from our amazing instructors, apply to be an AnimSchool student. Come
join the hundreds of students and dozens of world-class instructors at AnimSchool! http://www.animschool.com/Members/NewStudent.aspx
AnimSchool presents the latest animation student work! Congratulations to all the talented students at AnimSchool.
Look for a separate modeling/rigging Showcase later!
To apply to be a student, visit www.animschool.com.
Orem, UT United States – August 20, 2013 — Animschool
announces today their new character, Coach. Coach is a fully
articulated character rig, similar in quality to what a student would
find at top animation studios, capable of a wide range of expression.
Coach is exclusively for AnimSchool students.
Like all AnimSchool character rigs, Coach is designed for maximum
flexibility and appealing poses. Using the most refined, advanced
characters allows AnimSchool student
work to stand out among competitors. AnimSchool Character students can
use Coach to learn the arts of high-end modeling and rigging.
Coach has clothing options: shirt, collar, cleats, shoes, pants or gym shorts, and UV’s for textured rendering.
AnimSchool characters are used by more
than 15,000 users worldwide, and have been used to win numerous
animation contests and for commercial needs. AnimSchool is known as the
most trusted name for appealing 3D characters.
Now with over 200 students, AnimSchool
was founded in 2010 to bring character-focused 3D animation instruction
to students all around the world through live online sessions with the
very best film professionals.
Contact:
Isaac Nordlund
AnimSchool
admissions@animschool.com 560 South State Street, Suite F3
Orem, UT 84058
801 765-7677
Orem, UT United States – June 10, 2013 — For Summer Term, AnimSchool is offering two new 11-week live courses Introduction to 3D Lighting and Environmental Modeling using Autodesk Maya software.
Introduction to 3D Lighting
For the introductory term, Introduction to 3D Lighting students are team-taught by TWO feature film
professionals in approximately 3 hours of live web classes each week, lighters Brandon May and Michael Murdock of Blue Sky Studios.
The class covers the basics of 3D lighting in Maya. Learn the principles of light, shadow, color, composition, and
staging. Learn how to render great images using Maya’s tools.
This
course is designed for AnimSchool animation or modeling students, and also for
students who may want to pursue lighting and rendering as a career path.
The instructors appear on a web camera and share their desktop, so
students are able to see the instructor explain concepts, and can
ask questions as they go.
Environmental Modeling
Environmental Modeling is AnimSchool’s new course to go deeper into hard-surface modeling and learn environments. Students learn how to make sets for their characters.
For this first term, Environmental Modeling is taught by Disney/Blue Sky Studios modeler Brien Hindman, Environmental Modeling Lead for Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.
In this new course, students learn best practices for production modeling, naming, breakout and asset management, and previs, cameras, lights, and resolution handling. Students learn the secrets of set modeling, with instruction in UV’s, Cloth
simming and particle distribution of elements, as well as working in a visual style.
AnimSchool characters and tools are used by more than 15,000 users worldwide,
and have been used to win numerous animation contests and for
commercial needs. AnimSchool is known as the most trusted name for
appealing 3D characters and animation.
Now with over 200 students, AnimSchool was founded in 2010 to bring
character-focused 3D animation instruction to students all around
the world through live online sessions with the very best film
professionals.
Contact:
Isaac Nordlund
AnimSchool admissions@animschool.com 560
South State Street, Suite F3
Orem, UT 84058
801 765-7677
