Curriculum for Animation Degree

3D-modeling during my first year in college? Yes, please.

Champlain’s BFA is designed to teach students about current methods and usage of digital media and animation, as well as cultivate storytelling mindsets and collaboration skills between students. Classes introduce students to a number of different animation applications, including game art, film animation, creative tools, and more.

Students won’t just be taught about animation; they’ll learn how the animations they create fit into larger projects like tv shows and movies. With a strong foundation in animation mechanics, and classes on theory, screenwriting, animation history, and more, students will have the background knowledge needed to seamlessly apply their work to any situation and land competitive jobs.

Learning Outcomes for Animation

This curriculum is an example of possible courses in this major. Always check the college catalog for the exact requirements.

3D Design
- MOD 100 3D Modeling & Texturing Foundation
- MOD 245 Character Modeling I
- ANM 220 3D Lighting & Rendering
2D Animation
- ART 125 Figure Drawing
- ANM 101 Storyboarding & Visual Storytelling
- ANM 200 2D Animation
3D Animation
- ANM 175 3D Animation - Fundamentals
- ANM 255 Rigging for 3D Animation
- ANM 275 3D Animation - Body Mechanics
VFX
- ANM 140 Digital Compositing for Animation
- ANM 240 VFX Animation
- ANM 400 Animation Portfolio

Lighting a 3D scene involves more than setting parameters to simulate real world lighting. Lighting should be designed to achieve visual goals, set the mood for the scene and guide the viewer's attention. In this course students will learn the theory and practice of lighting 3D scenes for pre-rendered animation.

Prerequisites	GAA-135
Credits	3

This course explores the principles of animation with a focus on smooth and engaging 2D animation. Students will use industry standard software while exploring the 2D Animation production process from concept to finished shot.

Prerequisites	GAA 175 Introduction to Animation, or GDV 203 Form and Motion, or by permission of the Animation Program Director
Credits	3

This course introduces students to the concepts and techniques used to create efficient control rigs for animating 3D characters. By the end of the course students will be able to apply the rigging techniques learned to a variety of character types, including humans, monsters and mechanical objects for film and game animation.

Prerequisites	GAA 135 or GAA 175, or by permission of the Animation Program Director
Credits	3

Prerequisites
Credits	3

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