The course itself would be more encompassing of VFX creature anim than just Lion King based. Although animation-wise, the process is very similar to other shows El Suliman has had at MPC.

The two-week dedicated experience builds lectures and exercises around animating animals’ body mechanics, FACS based facial animation and lip-sync, and also guide you through a piece of their own during the second week incorporating all the things taught in the first week. You will particularly focus on animal anatomy and how the approach to animate different creatures based on their physiology. Ideally one herbivore rig (horse etc) and a carnivore (tiger, cat, etc) with FACS based face rig to do in-depth facial animation.

Before jumping into making the animal move, an animator needs to know/decide as much as he or she can about the natural behavior of the creature from video referencing. Nailing down these attributes and sticking to them will inform everything about how they will be posed, gestures they will make, and how they will ultimately move. Direct/indirect, strong/light, sudden (quick) / sustained, etc.. These are clear choices we can make for every animal before a pose is created. Taking a look at lots of live-action references, you will use this language to describe and interpret action acting for ourselves.

You will then use Maya and focus on animating the animal action itself as a real animated shot in 3D.

Intermediate 3D character Animators seeking to boost their creature animation skills or character animators hoping to move into creature animation segment. 

Requirements

• Working knowledge of Autodesk Maya with particular focus on animation tools
• Prior experience animating CG characters (minimum 2 years)
• Openness to learning new approaches and topics
• Communication skills in English

Selection criteria

• Portfolio 3D character animation works
• Working knowledge of Autodesk Maya

All participants will get well-respected qualification within the industry, demonstrating you’ve studied an industry-based course and have the practical, hands-on skills studios are looking for.

Our students go on to work in many areas of the industry. See some of their success stories.

You can consider junior level opportunities as 3D character animator on completion of the course.

The advantage of this course, as compared to online training, is that you will get direct interaction with the mentor, with dedicated answers, tailored to your needs. This will not only give you the chance to build on your own strengths quicker, but also to lean out and clarify immediately the concepts that would otherwise take days to grasp.

You will also benefit from a strong interaction with other students. Having different views on how to tackle a problem is key in learning this software, as more often than not, there are many different ways to achieve the same thing in Houdini. So this will give you the chance to challenge yourself with each other and learn faster and more efficiently.

Fees: 1 900 EUR

The fee covers the fee of the course and 21% VAT. It doesn’t cover accommodation, meals, and travel.
Approximate living costs during your stay in the Czech Republic:

• Accommodation at the venue: 12 EUR / night
• Breakfast at the hotel – 5 EUR
• Restaurant meal between 5 – 10 EUR
• Grocery in general – 50 EUR per person a week

We would like to assure you that our courses are just for small groups of people and we care about all hygiene recommendations. If the courses have to be canceled for reasons related to COVID-19, your money will be refunded. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that nothing will stop us!