Digital Animation
The Animation curriculum focuses 3D modeling, character animation, motion capture, character rigging, texture and lighting, compositing, etc. Finishing classes in surface texturing, rendering, dynamics, particles and MEL scripting will combine all that students have learned into an animation portfolio that will demonstrate their ability to create professional quality assets for film, television, video games, and more.
This is an advising track only and not an official program as recognized by the University of Montana (UM) or the Montana University System. This information will not appear on your UM transcript, diploma, university lists, student data system, or university publication. You do not fill out a major change for a track.
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Media Arts; Track: Digital Animation
College of Visual & Perf Arts
Catalog Year: 2014-2015
Degree Specific Credits: 72
Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0
Note: B.F.A. Digital Animation.
Prerequisite courses (MAR 101L, MAR 112A, MART 102, MART 111A) must be completed or be in the process of completion before applying to the B.A. program.
The first year requirements of the B.A. program (MAR 210, MAR 251, MAR 300, MART 221, MART 302, MART 325) must be completed or in progress before applying to the B.F.A. Digital Animation program.
Lower Division Core
Rule: Complete all courses.
| Show All Course Descriptions | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Show Description |
MAR 101L - Intro to Media Arts
Offered every term. Overview of the media arts and their interaction, integration and development in the creation of story beginning with the early years of photography and movie-making through the introduction of radio and television up to the digital revolution.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MAR 112A - Intro to Non-Linear Editing
Offered every term. Study of the history, process and philosophy of narrative film/video editing and an introduction to Final Cut nonlinear editing software.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MAR 210 - Creation of Media Story
Offered autumn. Media Arts majors only. An introduction to screenwriting and visualization for media story. Focus is on developing visual writing skills and effective utilization of critical story elements.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MAR 251 - Dig Video Prod Tech
Offered autumn. Media Arts majors only. Intermediate study of digital video cameras, lighting, sound, and their use in specific production situations.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 102 - Digital Technology in the Arts
Offered every term. An introduction to the relationship between aesthetics and the emerging capacities of digital technology. The course will explore the basic evolution of hardware, system software, and the Internet and will present a brief history of the pioneers of both traditional and digital art. It will also look at contemporary and emerging trends in the artistic application of digital technology.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 111A - Integrated Digital Art
Offered every term. A project-oriented editing and design course that focuses on artistic expression and its relationship to digital technology. Using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe After Effects, students will create audio/visual work in both the still image and time based mediums.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 221 - Fund of Digital Image Design
Offered autumn. Media Arts majors only. Introduction to the fundamental concepts, principles and practices of digital still imaging in order to establish a common aesthetic and technical language necessary to develop quality designs on the computer.
|
3 Credits |
| Minimum Required Grade: C | 21 Total Credits Required | |
Upper Division Core
Rule: Complete all courses.
| Show All Course Descriptions | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Show Description |
MAR 300 - Visions of Film
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only. Study of major film theories that led to the constitution of visual film language and their application in contemporary film narrative and direction.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MAR 323 - 3D motion Design
Offered autumn. Media Arts majors only. Introduction to fundamental concepts, principles and practices of digital compositing and rendering in order to establish a common aesthetic and technical language necessary to develop quality time-based art and design.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MAR 326 - Intro to Cinematography
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only. Preliminary study of digital cinematography including color theory, composition, lens choice, continuity, camera movement/support, lighting for film and video, and grip in both studio and location situations.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MAR 465 - Special Projects
Offered autumn. Media Arts majors only. Focus on the production of short commercial works, including advertisements, industrial work, “how to” videos, as well as paper projects with potential clients. Students develop a DVD/Web portfolio for entry into the profession upon graduation. The class serves as a synthesis point for analysis and presentation of techniques and principles learned throughout the program.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 302 - Intro to Motion Design
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only. This project-oriented course will introduce students to the basic technical and aesthetic components of digital motion design using the industry standard software programs Photoshop and After Effects.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 305 - 3D Animation I
Offered Autumn. This course is an introduction to fundamental concepts, principles, and practices of 3D digital modeling with Maya. Students will develop 3D modeling techniques, including production of geometric and organic objects. Through lectures, tutorials, in-class exercises and projects, students will be exposed to various techniques that may be used for innovative and artistic content such as filmic animation and compositing. Open to Media Arts majors only.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 325 - Fund of Digital Animation
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only. Introduction to two-dimensional digital animation, focusing on character and motion design animation fundamentals including: cell animation (frame by frame), motion-tweening, working with key frames and motion paths, moving elements on a 2D stage, object choreography and text animation.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 330 - Principles of Sound Design
Offered autumn. Media Arts majors only. Introduction to fundamental concepts, principles and practices of digital sound recording and editing in order to establish a common aesthetic and technical language necessary to develop quality audio design.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 333 - 3D Animation II
Offered Spring. Building on the modeling skills learned in 3D Animation I, this course teaches students how to animate, texture map, add visual effects and render. The course will also cover advanced rigging techniques. As a continuation of this series, students will be introduced to animation, dynamics (including particle and fluid systems), and MEL scripting. Open to Media Arts majors only.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 335 - Experimental Animation
Offered spring. This course focuses on the development and creation of experimental animation projects using traditional stop motion animation techniques such as hand drawn, silhouette, object and clay. Projects created in this class may have elements created using iStopmotion, Dragonframe and other digital capture platforms. Open to Media Arts majors only.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 340 - Princ of Interactive Media
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only. This course is designed to help students gain the skill sets necessary to successfully create work in the constantly evolving internet environment. It covers the fundamentals of website structure, content design and navigation and focuses on directory structure, visual design, user navigation, audio/video integration and domain management.
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3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 416 - Preproduction for Animation
Offered Autumn. This course offers a thorough look at storyboarding/previsuals, idea sketches and writing synopsis, as well as identity and promotion of finished animated works. Promotional imaging, treatments and festival entry work will also be a focus in this class. Open to Media Arts majors only.
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3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 425 - Tech of Digital Animation
Offered autumn. Media Arts majors only. Advanced techniques of 2D animation using Macromedia Flash as well as integrating those techniques with the basic 3D digital animation capabilities of Adobe After Effects, including virtual lighting and the virtual camera.
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3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 440 - Tech Interactive Media Design
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only. Pre-requisite MAR 340. Advanced interactive media design class that builds on the foundation of principles taught in MAR 340.
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3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 450 - Topics in Film/Media Studies
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only. Research and exploration of contemporary film, video, digital art and design. Focus on areas of student research both in commercial and non-commercial venues and styles.
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3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 457 - Postproduction for Animation
Offered Spring. This course covers the principles and techniques of finishing projects/animations. Students will focus on advanced rendering tools and applications, refined editing and titles/credits, enabling students to leave with a well polished finished animation project. Open to Media Arts majors only.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
MART 499 - Senior Project
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only. This capstone course gives the student an opportunity to create an integrated senior project which brings together all of the elements of their course of study.
|
3 Credits |
| Minimum Required Grade: C | 51 Total Credits Required | |