Animation & Visual Effects (Certificate)

Program Learning Outcomes

Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Visual Communication and Problem Solving

• Make effective design choices to support narrative, character, and/or mood
• Demonstrate the ability to research for inspiration, reference, accuracy, and incorporate findings into design solutions
• Create digital elements/effects appropriate to assignment parameters
• Demonstrate an understanding of cinematic continuity through sequential imagery
• Demonstrate proficient drawing and/or modeling skills: composition, perspective, proportion, and anatomy
• Successfully convey motion and interaction of character and/or object kinesis

Technical Skills

• Demonstrate facility and flexibility with animation and/or VFX technology and software
• Demonstrate facility with digital media

Professional Readiness

• Assemble a professional digital or portfolio demonstrating an understanding of the target market
• Demonstrate an understanding of the production pipeline through successful participation in the collaborative / pipeline process

Specialty Skills: Storyboarding

• Create and pitch stories and concepts through the use of sequential imagery
• Demonstrate an understanding of cinematic continuity by creating sequential imagery that supports narrative, character, and/or mood
• Demonstrate proficient drawing skills: composition, perspective, proportion, and anatomy

Specialty Skills: 2D Animation

• Apply the principles of animation to effectively communicate character action, emotion, and mood
• Convey motion (biped and quadruped) and the interaction of moving objects
• Demonstrate proficient drawing skills: composition, perspective, proportion, and anatomy
• Demonstrate facility and flexibility with both relevant character and asset creation tools

Specialty Skills: Modeling

• Model with appropriate use of form, proportion, and anatomy
• Create and apply texture and lighting consistent with the overall look of the project

Specialty Skills: 3D Animation

• Apply principles of animation to effectively communicate character action, emotion, and mood
• Convey motion (biped and quadruped) and interaction of moving objects

Specialty Skills: Visual Effects Compositing

• Design and generate digital elements and effects that meet the needs of the imagery
• Combine digital effects and elements from diverse sources to create a fine degree of visual believability and consistency

Specialty Skills: VFX Producing

• Exhibit an understanding of how VFX pipeline skills and tools support animation by clearly and effectively presenting project management work samples

Specialty Skills: Rigging

• Create efficient and effective integration of rigs into original or collaborative projects

Specialty Skills: Stop Motion Animation & Fabrication

• Apply the principles of animation to effectively communicate character action, emotion, and mood
• Convey motion (biped and quadruped) and interaction of moving objects

Specialty Skills: Dynamics

• Apply appropriate integration dynamics into professional-quality shots or sequences

Specialty Skills: Texture & Lighting

• Create and apply texture and lighting consistent with the overall look of the project
• Apply appropriate integration of lighting and texturing skills into professional-quality shots or sequences

Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
2. Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
3. Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
4. Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
5. Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
6. Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
7. Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
8. Engage with a variety of communities beyond the classroom through internship opportunities, study abroad programs, athletics, student interest clubs as well as collaborative, civic and pro bono projects.