3D Animation Jumpstart
Start your animation journey with 3D Animation Jumpstart. Learn core principles, master movement in Autodesk Maya, and create portfolio-ready shots with hands-on projects and expert mentorship.
Get started in 3D animation in just 2 weeks.
For students new to 3D, this 3d Animation Jumpstart course for beginners will jumpstart your career. This course focuses on the basics of 3D computer graphics using Autodesk Maya. Students are introduced to 3d philosophy and the Maya interface, as well as 3D modelling, texturing, lighting, and basic rendering. Skills learnt will be applied in creating simple objects and 3D logos. The course is devoted to instruction and homework, with one-on-one help from the instructor. The final two days will be devoted to your personal project. Click on the button below to download the course brochure for all the details about cost, duration, timing, course outline, etc.
Course Outline
Week 1: The Foundation – Interface & Modelling
Topic A: Introduction to 3D & Interface
- Overview of the 3D Production Pipeline.
- Navigation: Pan, Zoom, Orbit, and Focus (F).
- Interface Tour: Workspaces, Viewports, Shelf, Channel Box, Attribute Editor.
- Project Management: Setting up the directory structure (Crucial first step).
Topic B: Basic Modelling & Primitives
- Creating Polygon Primitives.
- Transformation Tools: Move, Rotate, Scale (World vs. Object space).
- Grouping & History: Grouping (Ctrl+G), Duplicating (Ctrl+D), and Deleting History.
- Component Mode: Understanding Vertices, Edges, and Faces.
Topic C: Advanced Modelling Techniques
- Hard Surface Tools: Extrude, Bevel, Bridge, Multi-Cut, and Boolean operations.
- Topology 101: Quads vs. Triangles vs. N-Gons.
- 3D Text: Generating 3D Logos from Adobe Illustrator vectors.
Week 2: Lookdev, AI Workflows & Rendering
Topic A: UVs & Texturing
- UV Mapping: Understanding the “Gift Wrap” concept (Planar, Cylindrical, Automatic mapping).
- UV Editor Basics: Cut, Sew, Unfold, and Layout.
- Shading: Hypershade Editor overview and Standard Surface Materials (Arnold).
- Map Connections: Connecting Diffuse (Colour), Specular (Shine), and Bump maps.
Topic B: AI Fundamentals & Modern Workflows
- Introduction to Generative AI: A basic non-technical overview of how GenAI models work (Text-to-Image basics) and their role in the creative pipeline.
- Ethics & Best Practices: A brief discussion on copyright, originality, and using AI as a “Co-pilot” rather than a replacement for skill.
- AI-Assisted Texturing: Using AI tools like Nano Banana to generate seamless texture tiles (wood, concrete, fabric).
- AI for Reference: Rapidly generating concept art and orthographic reference views using prompt engineering.
Topic C: Lighting, Camera & Rendering
- Lighting Strategy: The 3-Point Lighting Setup (Key, Fill, Rim).
- Light Types: Skydome (HDRI), Area, Directional, and Point.
- Animation Basics: Timeline, Keyframing (S), and the Graph Editor.
- Rendering: Arnold Render Settings, Sampling, and Output formats (Still vs. Video).
Project Sprint & Course Finale
- Live Debugging: Join a dedicated livestream where instructors troubleshoot render settings and geometry issues in real-time.
- The Final Sprint: Apply AI texturing, lighting, and camera movement during focused studio hours to polish your scene.
- Final Premiere: Submit your fully rendered video for the Virtual Viewing Party, where the class watches and critiques final reels together.
- Certification & Next Steps: Complete the course evaluation to unlock your Certificate of Completion and officially activate your 1-Month Free Mentorship.
System Requirements
