Course Descripons - The Art Institutes

Course Descrip� ons
sound and apply it for audio enhancement of their anima� ons.
Students will also learn how to produce appropriate audio eff ects
and transi� on in computer anima� on.
MAA123 Drawing for Anima� on (4 credits)
Building on knowledge from preceding drawing courses, students
will develop their drawing skills in the context of professional
media arts and anima� on applica� ons as well as their fi gure
sculp� ng skills. This course will place emphasis on advanced
drawing techniques and strengthening skills through real world
observa� on. (Prerequisite: ART111)
MAA217 3D Modeling (4 credits)
Through cri� cal analysis, the student will apply basic design
principles to the solu� on of visual problems using elements of
3D design. The student will conceptualize 3D coordinate systems,
construct 3D models, and apply them to geometric construc� on.
(Prerequisite: DPH242)
MAA221 Storyboarding (4 credits)
This course focuses on applying industry-standard storyboarding
and scrip� ng techniques to anima� on. Contents to be covered include
the various purposes and formats of storyboards, the basic
terminology and concepts used in storyboarding, and the applica-
� on of storyboarding techniques to the crea� on of storyboards
with or without a wri� en script. Sequence: follows ART111 for
GAD and MAA majors.
MAA224 2D Anima� on Principles (4 credits)
Students will study � ming and weight through a series of projects
designed to demonstrate the principles of anima� on. Issues such
as keyframing, in-betweening, and cycling will be addressed.
(Prerequisite: ART111)
MAA227 Materials & Ligh� ng (4 credits)
In this class students will be introduced to materials, textures and
ligh� ng strategies to add detail and realism to objects without
adding complexity to the model. Students will simulate real world
surfaces and textures. (Prerequisite: MAA217)
MAA228 3D Anima� on (4 credits)
Students are introduced to basic 3D anima� on techniques. Topics
to be covered include hierarchical linking, keyframing, func� on
curves, animated modifi ers, basic morphing, animated cameras,
and an introduc� on to character anima� on. (Prerequisite:
MAA217) Sequence: follows MAA101 for MAA majors.
MAA234 Digital Ink & Paint (4 credits)
This is course is an introduc� on to the computer as an ink and
paint media for anima� on. Basics of scanning, clean up, ink
and paint, and camera will be explored. (Prerequisite: MAA224,
MAA101)
MAA336 3D Visual Eff ects & Composi� ng (4 credits)
Eff ects anima� on takes students through the basics of making
special eff ects. Students will be using such tools as par� cles,
95 Academic Programs
so� bodies, dynamics and expressions to create several scenes.
(Prerequisite: MAA228)
MAA337 Hard Surface & Organic Modeling (4 credits)
This course covers advanced modeling techniques used for building
organic and hard surface objects and environments. (Prerequisite:
MAA217)
MAA338 Intermediate 3D Anima� on (4 credits)
Using 3D anima� on so� ware, students further explore character
anima� on techniques using bone systems and inverse kinema� cs,
as well as con� nuing to refi ne their ligh� ng, camera, and � ming
techniques. (Prerequisite: MAA228)
MAA344 2D Anima� on (4 credits)
Students will apply basic anima� on principles to produce a sequence.
Emphasis will be placed on � ming and performance. Use
of a capture device, pencil tests, inking and other 2D anima� on
skills will be explored. (Prerequisite: MAA234)
MAA346 Mo� on Graphics (4 credits)
This course is an introduc� on to the use of � tling in the theatrical
and broadcast graphics. Techniques for design and implementa-
� on will be covered. Students will produce � tle sequences and
montages integra� ng image manipula� on applica� ons and other
image processing support. (Prerequisite: MAA234)
MAA347 Advanced Ligh� ng & Texturing (4 credits)
In this course students will con� nue to develop ligh� ng and texturing
skills. (Prerequisite: MAA227)
MAA451 Por� olio Founda� ons (4 credits)
In this course, students begin produc� on of their digital portfolio
and explore career development concepts. Through class
ac� vi� es, students organize their work to refl ect and enhance
their individual strengths in computer anima� on. (Prerequisite: 4
quarters or less from gradua� on)
MAA454 2D Anima� on Studio (4 credits)
Students work with team members on actual anima� on jobs from
the fi eld, or create a completed anima� on that demonstrates
storytelling techniques. (Prerequisite: MAA344)
MAA458 3D Anima� on Studio (4 credits)
Students will use advanced anima� on techniques to create,
design, produce and edit a fully realized concept. (Prerequisite:
MAA338)
MAA461 Por� olio Produc� on I (4 credits)
This course will focus on the refi nement of previous work into a
comprehensive collec� on representa� ve of Media Arts & Anima-
� on skills. Emphasis will be on development, design, cra� smanship
and presenta� on. This course begins the process of examining
the student’s strengths and building upon them to produce
a marketable por� olio. (Prerequisite: MAA451 – Second to Last
Quarter)