ANIMATION & DIGITAL MEDIA DMA 110 DIGITAL SKILLS 3.00 This class deals with building a fundamental understanding of the computer as a tool. The basics of computer hardware and circuitry will be covered along with a more in-depth exploration of operating systems, ways of programming and styles of interface. Introductions to many of the major software packages and their theoretical foundations will be discussed. DMA 121 VISIBLE STORIES 3.00 This class focuses on the basics of telling stories or imparting information within visual time-based media. Concepts of storyboarding and narrative development will be covered. The effect of lighting, camera angles and cinematic pacing will be introduced. (Premier, PowerPoint, Photoshop) DMA 122 ELEMENTS AND CHARACTERS 3.00 This is a drawing-based class that will cover the progression of rendered work from the sketch pad to the digital realm. Concepts of image scanning, image modification, retouching and final resolutions will be covered in depth. DMA 211 INTRODUCTION TO ANIMATION I 3.00 This class will serve as an introduction to time-based work on the Macintosh platform. Along with theoretical dissuasions about sequencing, editing, soundtracks and meaningful organization of elements, the course will begin to build competent use of software packages such as Premiere, After Effects and Form Z. DMA 212 GRAPHIC INFORMATION DESIGN 3.00 This class deals with concepts of clear graphic communication through visual means along with the possibilities of interpretation by various audiences. Ideas and definitions about symbolism, diagrammatic representations, "images as texts" and typography will be presented and explored. DMA 213 VISIBLE LANGUAGE 3.00 This is a class devoted to typography with particular attention to type that moves in an on-screen environment. Typography will be considered in both its purely formal aspects and theoretically as the visualization of language and verbal communication. (Freehand, Quark, Director) NOTE: This is the Sophomore Essay Class. DMA 221 INTRODUCTION TO ANIMATION II 3.00 This class will introduce students to the expanded possibilities of computer animation available through 3-D Studio Max. The class will develop a basic understanding of Max as a program along with general animation concepts of form construction, textures, rendering and fundamental motion. DMA 222 INTRODUCTION TO INTERACTIVE MEDIA 3.00 The basic concepts and theories of information, interactivity and interface will be explored in this class. Particular attention will be paid to ideas of navigation, linking related information sets and multiple paths through virtual communication spaces. The class will also provide a strong basic foundation in Director and Lingo programming language. DMA 223 DRAWiNg AND DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS 3.00 Students will exercise their skills in both hand and computer rendering with particular attention to the kinds of virtual spaces they are creating within which other actions can occur. Skills necessary for feature animation, computer games development and interactive interfaces will be developed. Concepts relating to perspective, viewer position, point of view and "way finding" will be discussed. DMA 311 INTERMEDIATE ANIMATION I 3.00 This class continues on from the Intro to Animation 2 (DMA 221) class and further develops students skills using 3-D Studio Max. DMA 312 SOUNDTRACKS 3.00 This class will supplement skills learned in many other classes to do with the sound element of time-based media. Recording, mixing, editing and synchronization will be covered with particular attention paid to the interpretive modification soundtracks can make to moving images and the effectiveness of interface signaling. DMA 313 CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 3.00 This class will further develop drawing skills for those students interested in traditional animation techniques. It will follow on from the skills learned in Charters and Elements (DMA 122) and Drawn and Digital Environments (DMA 223) and stress professional studio techniques for developing complex, lively and expressive characters which realize and complement the delivery of the script and its narrative goals. DMA 314 INTRODUCTION TO VIDEO TECHNOLOGY 3.00 The basics of analogue video will be introduced in this class. These include basic cinematographic skills, recording, editing and special effects. The class will carry on after these principles have been understood and include an introduction to digital video. DMA 315 INTERFACE DESIGN 3.00 This class is an extension of the Intro Interactive Media (DMA 222) using advanced and experimental applications of concepts of interface design. Theories of action response and metaphor of human/computer interaction will guide students to challenge current conventions of computer interfaces. DMA 316 INFORMATION NAVIGATION 3.00 This class works in tandem with Interface Design (DMA 315) and builds on the concepts introduced in Intro Interactive Media (DMA 222) and Digital Environments (DMA 223). Advanced concepts in how users seek and retrieve messages will be explored along with complex ideas of conventional and unconventional digital environments and ways of moving in them. DMA 321 INTERMEDIATE ANIMATION II 3.00 This class is the final class in the development of 3-D Studio Max skills and will deal with expert and experimental concepts using this program. The class will incorporate concepts which have been delivered through most other preceding classes and allow students a chance to work in teams to develop complete and sophisticated computer animation pieces. DMA 322 CHARACTER DYNAMICS 3.00 This is the final class in a series a specialist drawing classes for traditional animators and will deal with in-depth visualizing and theories of movement, anatomy, dynamics and image sequencing for feature animation. It will build on the skills acquired in Drawn and Digital Environments (DMA 223) and Character Develop Development (DMA 313). DMA 323 WEB DESIGN PROGRAMMING 3.00 Advanced concepts of programming and command languages will be covered in this class, particularly as it pertains to the Internet, CD-ROM and other interactive environments. This class will round out skills in Lingo for Director as well as build proficiency in HTML and Java Scripting which can be applied to senior and professional projects. DMA 324 ADVANCED VIDEO TECHNIQUES 3.00 This class develops the skills introduced in Intro Video Tech (DMA 314) and allows students to create and incorporate sophisticated video pieces either as their own feature presentations or as elements of larger and more complex digital presentations and environments. Analogue and digital techniques will be expanded upon along with more advanced cinematography and editing skills. DMA 411 ADVANCED ANIMATION I 3.00 This class uses the skills which have been developed in the Intro Animation and Intermediate Animation classes (DMA 211, 221, 311, 321) and introduces the possibilities available using the Alias/ SGI platform for animation and form creation. The emphasis of this class will be understanding the differences between 3-D Studio Max and Alias, learning the particulars of Alias interface and capabilities. DMA 412 VISUAL NARRATIVE 3.00 The writing and consequent visual manifestation of a sophisticated script will be the goal of this course. This may be achieved either as a linear feature presentation or as a non- linear interactive piece which may have a number of different interfaces or outcomes. Since this class is open to all DMA students, it will bring students with different skills together to work in teams on advanced projects using Director as a common package for multidisciplinary work. DMA 421 ADVANCED ANIMATION II 3.00 This class continues on from Advanced Animation I and finalizes the Alias training and general computer animation course sequence. Students will be expected to apply the cumulative skills of all previous courses toward the creation of an individual professional/portfolio quality animation piece which highlights their visual, technical theoretical and storytelling talents. DMA 422 TEAM PROJECT AND THESIS 3.00 This is the capstone class for Animation and Digital Media and will involve students from all the option tracks of the department. The goal of this course is for students to work together in teams to create exceptional professional level projects based on departmental research themes. Since it is a special six-credit course, students will incorporate their thesis into studio work by writing about how they are contributing to their team's project, researching the history and context of that effort and position, and identifying the future possibilities in that field. NOTE: This is the Senior Essay (capstone paper) class. DMA 423 ADVANCED PROGRAMMING 3.00 This class offers an opportunity for students interested in interactivity, information design and the future of computer environments to further their programming skills and gain experience in VRML cross-platform programming for use in virtual reality applications. The class will build on the experience of Web Design Programming (DMA 323). Students will be expected to produce a sophisticated piece of work as a display of their design and scripting skills. DMA 424 PROFESSIONAL FUTURES 3.00 The intent of this class is to prepare the student for entry into the next level of work. Future scenarios in professional studios, corporations, research institutions and graduate education will be discussed, general business and ethics will be addressed and portfolios will be prepared according to the students personal aims and objectives. |
