3D Animation (formerly Media Arts) | Victor Valley College

Do you like to play video games? Do you enjoy movie special effects? Are you the creative type that’s looking for a great way to unleash your imagination?

Victor Valley College offers state of the art training in 3D Computer Animation for all age levels and skill sets. Courses range from beginning to advanced, with no previous experience needed for any of the department’s beginning classes. Several certificates are also available for students who complete a series of courses. Talk to a department representative for more details.

The field of 3D animation encompasses a wide range of applications, both in the entertainment industry and in business. Most individuals are familiar with the opportunities that the field of entertainment offers; video games, television shows and commercials, and film-based effects. There are also many other ‘practical’ applications that many aren’t aware of, including the use of 3D animation in architecture, mechanical design, the medical field and the courtroom.

Architects use computer-generated graphics to show visual walk-throughs and flybys of new or upcoming projects. Doctors use 3D animation in both their practices and training facilities to illustrate a wide range of medical procedures, like knee replacements and heart valve surgery. Lawyers reinforce their court cases using 3D animation to convince juries of specific details for insurance lawsuits, or providing forensic evidence for an accident or injury that would otherwise be difficult to visually re-create. Mechanical designers use motion graphics to demonstrate how equipment and new innovations work. Even the military and NASA take advantage of the benefits of 3D animation; visually depicting military strategies and space exploration that might otherwise be hard to visualize.

Victor Valley College’s 3D animation courses teach students how to ‘use the tool’. Students are then given the flexibility to apply the skills that they’ve learned in whatever area or discipline they choose. Individuals learn the important core concepts and principles while being able to concentrate on the applications that most interest them.

New opportunities for skilled 3D animators continue to expand. The field is competitive, as the work is not just fun but also has the potential to be financially rewarding. Although not required in order to be successful, a background in the field of art is helpful. Most importantly, individuals interested in becoming successful as a 3D animator must be willing to use their creativity and imagination. Victor Valley College’s 3D Animation program offers a terrific springboard to the possibilities that the industry offers. Come see what all the buzz is about!

Career Opportunities

Modeler, Texture Artist/Painter, Lighting Specialist, Character Designer, Character Animator, Special F/X Animator, Environment Designer, Game Level Designer, Architectural Animator, Mechanical Design Animator, Medical Visualization Artist, Courtroom Visualization Artist, Web Graphics Animator, Storyboard Artist, Layout Artist, Graphic Designer, Compositor

Faculty

Nelle, Stephen

Transfer

UC campuses offering 3D Animation courses and degrees include UC Los Angeles, Irvine and Santa Cruz.
CSU campuses offering 3D Animation courses and degrees include CSU Fullerton, Long Beach, Northridge, Los Angeles and Chico.
Private schools include Academy of Art College, Art Center, The Art Institutes, Cal Arts, Otis College of Art & Design and the Los Angeles Film School

Because of the need for highly-skilled 3D animators, many state college and universities now offer bachelor degrees in Digital Animation. Some have also branched out to offer more specific degrees within the general discipline, like Video Game Design. Private schools dedicated to the subject of 3D Animation also offer advanced training and degree possibilities. For the most up to date information on these programs and others, visit assist.org, or for private schools, aiccu.edu. Interested students should also consider visiting the college’s Transfer Center in Bldg 23, or making an appointment with a counselor for more in depth planning alternatives. Department instructors can also provide input and additional details.

Programs of Study

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) are statements of the kind of learning a program hopes a student will achieve. The PLOs describe the knowledge, skills, problem-solving, communication and values that apply to all certificates and/or degrees within that program.

Upon completion of this program, students should be able to:

To discuss the key components of design, process, layout, and function as it relates to the real world.
To develop scene aesthetics that emphasizes creativity and storytelling.
To create compelling two and three dimensional projects that meet current industry standards.
Be proficient in the software's taught in CIDG Animation Department.
Show proficiency in a collaborative classroom project.
Have a working Demo reel with credits that can be used for employment or to further their education in a 4 year university.
Demonstrate how to be more critical viewers of media and its presentation of world culture.
Demonstrate how to operate a digital camera.
Complete a short film following industry standards.

3D Animation Courses

ANIM 50 Principles of Animation in Maya (3.0 Units)

Students will learn the basics of 3D modeling in Maya, how to create and apply realistic textures, lighting principles and techniques, camera types and their appropriate usage, and fundamental keyframing procedures. Other topics to be covered include storyboards, the traditional principles of animation, current industry trends and issues pertaining to rendering output for different mediums (film, video, Internet, etc.) (Formerly MERT 50).