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Animation & VFX · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

3D Animation Director

This capstone leadership course prepares students to steer a 3D production from concept to completion. Bridging the gap between creative vision and technical reality, students will learn to direct animators, manage the “Pipeline,” and make critical artistic decisions. The curriculum covers cinematography in a virtual space, reviewing “Dailies,” and ensuring quality control across all departments.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Oversee the entire 3D production pipeline (Pre-pro, Production, Post)
  2. Translate a script into a visual "Layout" and "Previs" (Pre-visualization)
  3. Direct animators effectively using "Dailies" and constructive feedback notes
  4. Master virtual cinematography: Camera lenses, composition, and staging in 3D
  5. Manage render budgets, deadlines, and technical constraints
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Role of the Director in Animation
  2. 02Script to Screen: Storyboarding & Animatics
  3. 03Art Direction: Establishing the Visual Style
  4. 04Pre-visualization (Previs): Roughing the Movie
  5. 05Layout: Staging & Environment Planning
  6. 06Audio Direction: Voice & Music
  7. 07Directing the Edit: Pacing & Rhythm
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Managing the Pipeline: Asset Tracking
  10. 10Running "Dailies": The Feedback Loop
  11. 11Directing Performance: Acting Notes
  12. 12Virtual Cinematography: Camera Language
  13. 13Tech-Check: Solving Pipeline Bottlenecks
  14. 14Lighting & Comp Review: Final Look
  15. 15Post-Mortem: Analyzing the Process
  16. 16Final Project: Directing a Short Film

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: Directing a Short Film

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Directing the Story by Francis Glebas
  2. Ideas for the Animated Short by Karen Sullivan and Gary Schumer
  3. Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animated Features by Nancy Beiman
  4. The Visual Effects Producer by Charles Finance
  5. Cinematography: Theory and Practice by Blain Brown
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