In the Film Academy’s 3-Week 3D Animation Workshop, classes are held every day, Monday through Friday. Students learn the major concepts of animation in class, and the bulk of students’ time outside of class is spent in supervised labs. Lab time is used to complete and to expand upon assignments, as well as to create extra work for final animated films. The students’ final animation is output digitally and projected at a celebratory screening upon successful completion of the workshop.
This workshop teaches students the principles of animation (movement, timing, weight, character development, etc.) using the Oscar-winning software Maya — the industry-standard 3D computer program that has been used in every film to win an Oscar for best visual effects since 1997. Familiarity with Maya is an essential skill in animation, and building proficiency with the software is the focus of the workshop. Throughout their three weeks, students progress through basic modeling, motion and rendering exercises en route to the completion of a short 3D computer animated film (with sound), of their own design.
As with all New York Film Academy courses, the focus of the 3-Week 3D Animation Workshop is hands-on learning. While lectures are part of the curriculum, students are expected to commit themselves wholeheartedly to their projects to gain as much actual, working animation experience as they can.
Offered exclusively at Harvard University, the 3-Week 3D Animation Workshop offers students the chance to learn the essentials of 3D animation in the gorgeous surroundings of the Ivy League campus of Harvard University. While the workshop demands hard work, students will still have time to explore historic Cambridge, Boston, and the surrounding area.
No prior experience is required to enroll in the 3-Week 3D Animation Workshop, but the pace is intense and students should be prepared to fully immerse themselves in the world of 3D animation for the duration of their studies.